Cook up a storm without heating up the house

It may be official barbecue season and that may draw many of us outside to cook, but sometimes you just don't want to. As delicious as grilling may be, sometimes it is convenience we want. Problem is, cooking in the house can be just as time-consuming. If you are using more than the microwave to cook an entire meal, you usually have to turn on the oven. Which, in turn, heats up the kitchen. With the kitchen being uncomfortably hot, we are, once again, drawn outside. This cycle of cooking confusion can be brought to a halt with the right indoor equipment.

The DeLonghi BQ100 Indoor Grill won't replace your outdoor grill of course, but for quick-and-easy meal making it serves as a good compromise. While many indoor grills favor a clamshell design, this model brings a dual-cooking method to the table. The top of the unit features a grill plate meant for searing food. When seared to your liking, your steak, chicken, or fish can be moved downstairs into the broiler to finish cooking.

With a cooking surface measuring 12.5 inches by 9 inches, the grill offers a fair amount of space to cook up a meal. Considering this unit does double-duty with a broiler and a grill plate, it certainly is built for multitasking. Easy to use with three thermostat settings and easy to clean with a removable drip tray, the indoor grill makes it a breeze to get down to cooking.