Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill Review: Indoor Grilling Without The Smoke
Grilling season is upon us, but what if you live in an apartment or condo that prohibits outdoor grilling? Or perhaps you love the char-grilled flavor but can‘t stand the billowing smoke and lingering odors that come with it. Enter the Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill – an indoor grill that promises the taste of an outdoor BBQ without the excess fumes.
As a self-proclaimed grill master, I was skeptical that an electric indoor appliance could match the performance of my trusty Weber. However, after putting the Bella Pro through its paces, I‘ve come away impressed by its capabilities. In this comprehensive review, I‘ll break down everything you need to know about the Bella grill – from its key features and cooking performance to real customer feedback and comparisons to other popular indoor grills.
Whether you‘re a seasoned pitmaster looking to expand your arsenal or an apartment-dweller craving smoky flavors, read on to see if the Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill is the right fit for your indoor grilling needs.
What Is The Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill?
The Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill is an electric indoor grill made by Bella Housewares, a New York-based manufacturer of small kitchen appliances. Billed as an "indoor BBQ grill", the Bella Pro is designed to replicate the high-heat searing and grilling capabilities of an outdoor grill, but without the smoke that usually comes with it.
Here are the key features and specs of the Bella Pro Series grill:
- 1500-watt heating element that can reach temperatures up to 450°F
- 112 square inch non-stick grilling surface (roughly 12" x 16" in size)
- Built-in smoke-capture fan and filter system to minimize smoke and odors
- Removable dishwasher-safe cooking surfaces and drip tray for easy cleaning
- Cool-touch handles and housing to prevent burns
- Compact 14" x 20" footprint that fits on most countertops
- Temperature probe for precise cooking control
- Includes bonus recipe book
At a reasonable price point of around $60-80 (check latest price on Amazon), the Bella Pro aims to bring authentic grilling indoors with the convenience of an all-in-one electric appliance. But how well does it actually perform? Let‘s dive into the details.
How The Bella Pro Smokeless Technology Works
Indoor grilling has been around for decades, with the George Foreman grill being the most well-known example. However, most indoor grills still produce a fair amount of smoke, especially when cooking fatty meats or food at high temperatures.
The Bella Pro Series grill differentiates itself with its "smokeless" technology, but how exactly does it work? According to Bella, the key is a built-in fan and filter system that sucks up smoke and grease before it has a chance to escape the grill.
Specifically, the Bella Pro utilizes what‘s called a "water tray" – a small metal tray that sits below the heating element and above the drip pan. As grease and juices drip off the food, they fall onto the hot water tray and immediately vaporize into a fine mist, which is then pulled into the fan and passed through a charcoal filter before being expelled out the back of the unit.
The result is significantly reduced smoke and food odors compared to an open grill or even a typical indoor grill. In my testing, the Bella Pro did an admirable job capturing the majority of smoke, even when I cranked it up to the maximum temperature. There was still a faint whiff of a cookout, but no lingering smell or haze that required opening windows or turning on a fan.
It‘s important to note that "smokeless" is a bit of a misnomer – there is still some smoke produced, just much, much less than a traditional grill. Additionally, the water tray needs to be refilled every 15-20 minutes during longer grilling sessions to maintain the smoke filtration. But overall, I was impressed by how well the smoke-capture system worked.
Cooking Performance And Taste Test
Of course, the real test of any grill is how well it cooks food. For this review, I put the Bella Pro through a gauntlet of grilling staples – burgers, chicken breasts, ribeye steaks, shrimp skewers, and vegetables. My goal was to see how close the Bella could get to my outdoor grill in terms of searing, juiciness, and overall flavor.
Heating Power And Consistency
With 1500 watts of power, the Bella Pro gets scorching hot – I measured temperatures up to 450°F on the highest setting. That‘s more than enough to achieve a dark sear on meats and veggies and get those coveted grill marks. The heating element also spans the entire cooking surface, providing edge-to-edge heat with no noticeable cold spots in my testing.
Searing And Grill Marks
Speaking of searing, the Bella Pro excels in this department. Burgers and steaks developed a gorgeous crust that rivaled what I get from my gas grill. The non-stick grates have a slightly raised grid pattern that creates Instagram-worthy grill marks, although they were a bit more faint on delicate items like shrimp.
Flavor And Juiciness
Ultimately, grilling is all about flavor, and this is where the Bella Pro surprised me the most. No, it doesn‘t quite capture the same depth of flavor as charcoal or wood-fired grilling. But the combination of high heat and continual smoke production infuses food with a distinctly "grilled" taste that‘s leagues beyond a stovetop skillet or oven broiler.
Meats and veggies retained their natural moisture as well. Chicken breasts (a notorious grill killer) stayed remarkably juicy on the Bella thanks to the precise temperature control of the built-in probe. Asparagus and zucchini emerged crisp-tender without a hint of mushiness.
Grilling Times And Learning Curve
One downside of the Bella Pro (and electric grills in general) is slightly longer cooking times compared to an open-flame grill. On average, I found that meats took 5-8 minutes longer on the Bella vs. my gas grill, likely due to the more indirect heating style. Veggies were a bit quicker, but still required a couple extra minutes.
There‘s also a bit of a learning curve to using the Bella since it grills differently than a traditional BBQ. In particular, it takes some trial and error to dial in the right temperature and timing for different foods, especially since the "smoke" can obscure visual doneness cues. But after a few sessions, I felt comfortable with the settings and process.
Design And Ease Of Use
Measuring 14" wide by 20" deep and 6" tall, the Bella Pro is about the size of a large toaster oven. While not exactly petite, it‘s still small enough to fit on most countertops and tucks away easily in a cabinet or closet when not in use. Weighing under 10 pounds, it‘s also far more portable than a full-size grill for taking to parties or tailgates (where permitted).
The grill has a durable stainless steel housing with stay-cool black plastic handles on the sides. The top opens on a rear hinge to access the cooking surface, which is divided into two interlocking non-stick grates. Underneath is the removable water tray and dishwasher-safe drip pan.
Controls are minimal but intuitive, consisting of a large front-mounted temperature dial (200-450°F range), a power button that illuminates when the unit is on, and a small analog probe thermometer for monitoring meat temps. I do wish the temp dial had more granular markings for easier reference, but it gets the job done.
Overall, the Bella Pro feels well-constructed and designed with user-friendliness in mind. The non-stick grates and included accessories all pop out easily for cleaning, and the cool-touch housing means no singed fingers or mitts. My only real gripe is the lack of side handles for easier transport, but it‘s a minor quibble.
Cleaning And Maintenance
One of the biggest selling points of the Bella Pro is how easy it is to clean compared to a traditional grill. With no grates to scrape or grease to scrub, most of the components can simply be tossed in the dishwasher after each use. The stainless housing also wipes down easily with a damp cloth.
The only part that requires a bit more effort is the fan filter, which Bella recommends replacing every 2-3 months depending on use. It‘s not difficult to swap out, but it is an ongoing cost (around $10 for a 2-pack) that outdoor grill owners don‘t have to contend with.
What Customers Are Saying
The Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill has amassed a sizable fanbase online, with glowing reviews from customers on Amazon, Wayfair, and other retailers. At the time of this writing, it boasts an impressive 4.6 out of 5 star average rating from over 9,300 reviewers on Amazon.
The vast majority of positive reviews praise the Bella Pro‘s ease of use, true smokeless operation, and surprising grilling performance. Many buyers also appreciate the health benefits of the drip tray, which allows fat and grease to drain away from food. Here are a few standout quotes from verified customers:
"I was very skeptical about this grill, but it totally exceeded my expectations! Super easy to use and clean up is a breeze. The food tastes like it was cooked on an outdoor grill without all the smoke."
"This thing grills steaks better than any indoor grill I‘ve used in the past. The smoke reduction is no joke – I grilled ribeyes for 20 mins and couldn‘t even tell from inside the house. Easy to clean too!"
"Love this grill!! I am 73 yrs old and live in a small apartment, this is perfect for me. Heats up quickly, cooks all my favorite foods, and the non-stick surface is truly non-stick unlike others."
Of course, no product is perfect, and the Bella Pro has its share of detractors. The most common complaints cite issues with uneven heating, flimsy construction, and lack of true smoky flavor. A few reviewers also received faulty units that stopped working after a few uses. However, these negative experiences seem to be the exception rather than the rule based on the overwhelming amount of positive feedback.
How The Bella Pro Compares To Other Indoor Grills
The Bella Pro is far from the only smokeless indoor grill on the market. Popular alternatives include the PowerXL Smokeless Grill, the Cuisinart Griddler, and the George Foreman Grill. So how does the Bella stack up to the competition?
In terms of price, the Bella Pro falls in the middle of the pack. It‘s a bit more expensive than the George Foreman (around $60) but cheaper than the PowerXL and Cuisinart (both over $100). Features-wise, the Bella Pro offers similar wattage and cooking surface area to most of its rivals.
Where the Bella Pro really shines is in its smokeless performance. In side-by-side tests, the Bella consistently produced less smoke and odor than the others thanks to its water tray design. The Cuisinart and PowerXL come closest in terms of smoke reduction, but both employ a different method (a built-in fan and splatter guard, respectively) that isn‘t quite as effective.
The George Foreman grill, while a classic, simply can‘t compete with the Bella Pro‘s smoke capture abilities. It‘s also a much more basic appliance overall, lacking the adjustable temperature control and dishwasher-safe parts of the Bella.
Ultimately, the Bella Pro strikes an excellent balance of price, performance, and features compared to its competitors. If smokeless operation is your top priority, it‘s hard to beat the Bella‘s innovative water tray system.
Pros And Cons
To summarize, here are the main advantages and disadvantages of the Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill based on my testing and research:
Pros
– Significantly reduces smoke and odors compared to other indoor grills
– High-heat searing capabilities produce excellent grill marks and flavor
– Precise temperature control and included probe for perfectly cooked meats
– Non-stick grates and dishwasher-safe parts for easy cleaning
– Compact, lightweight design fits in most kitchens
– Affordable price point
Cons
– Slightly longer cook times than outdoor grills
– Some smoke/odor still produced, especially at high temps
– Requires replacing the filter every few months
– No side handles for carrying
– Drip pan and water tray need refilling during extended grilling sessions
Bottom Line: Is The Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill Worth It?
If your mouth is watering at the thought of juicy burgers and charred steaks but your living situation prohibits outdoor grilling, the Bella Pro Series Smokeless Grill is absolutely worth considering. While it can‘t fully replicate the flavor and experience of a charcoal or gas grill, it comes impressively close for an electric indoor appliance.
The Bella Pro‘s standout feature is its highly effective smoke-capture system, which allows you to enjoy grilled meals without setting off the smoke alarm or stinking up the whole house. The precise temperature control, non-stick grates, and dishwasher-friendly design also make it incredibly easy to use and clean.
Priced fairly and constructed durably (backed by a 2-year warranty), the Bella Pro offers excellent value for anyone looking to bring grilling indoors. Whether you‘re a city dweller with limited outdoor space or a year-round grilling enthusiast, the Bella Pro is a worthwhile addition to your kitchen arsenal. Just be prepared for your neighbors to come knocking when they smell the mouthwatering aromas wafting from your "smokeless" indoor BBQ!
