Modern cooking devices are designed to make life easier for the housewife and help ensure that the food turns out tasty and healthy. These include an electric grill, a device used for heat treatment of food. You can bake, fry, stew, smoke foods in it, preserving their beneficial properties.
What is an electric grill?
It is equipment for preparing food. An electric grill is a device that allows you to heat food without using oil, making it less greasy and harmful. With the help of the device, dishes get a beautiful, appetizing crust; they can be cooked to the desired condition. An electric grill can be built into a regular oven or microwave. It is often used as independent equipment, presented in a portable form.
Electric grill device
The equipment is a metal cabinet with horizontal placement. A network grill has an external resemblance to an oven; its doors are often made of heat-resistant glass, and stainless steel is used to make the working chamber. The working chamber is heated by tubular systems. Many electric grill models are equipped with illuminated elements, thanks to which you can control the food processing process.
When preparing food from rotating structures on which food is placed (on skewers or in special baskets), juice and fat flow into trays located at the bottom of the chamber. The front panel of the device is equipped with regulators, through which the backlight, electric motor, heating elements are turned on and the desired degree of power of the elements is selected.
The principle of operation of an electric grill
Heating elements are used to heat the products loaded into the working chamber. Electric grills for home use and models used on an industrial scale are driven by an electric motor. After turning on the device, the heating elements begin to heat up, which increases the temperature in the chamber and causes the food to cook.
Principles of using the grill function in the oven
To prepare dishes, hot air circulation is used in the internal space of the appliance, called convection. Before you begin cooking the selected product, you should install a metal stand under the food element you are using. A specially designed tray is always included with the purchased stove.
What does the grill icon look like on the oven - possible designations
To turn it on, you need to press the special icon with the “grill” function on the device panel. The icon is a black square with three triangles at the top, the point of which is directed downwards. Typically, all manufacturers place functional buttons on a conveniently located top panel.
Then you should set the timer for the time necessary to process the selected product. To fully cook delicious grilled chicken, you need to set the timer for 30 minutes. The grill function in the oven allows you to cook meats, poultry, and vegetables with the desired golden brown crust. Its main advantage is that the meat and vegetables will be soft and juicy inside.
An important consumer characteristic when operating a grill is always the correct choice of temperature. Please note that low temperatures are only suitable for shallow frying of foods. To fully prepare a high-quality dish, it turns out to be painfully long and, as a rule, useless.
What can you cook on an electric grill?
The device can be used to heat food. You can use an electric grill at home for heat treatment of the following products:
- Meat. It can be baked, fried. Any types of meat, poultry, sausage are used.
- Fish You can use the same cooking methods for it as for meat, but it is recommended to take fatty varieties or select a marinade that will make the fish juicy.
- Fruits, vegetables. They can be baked or fried. To obtain juicy dishes from nature's gifts, it is recommended to use foil.
- Flour products, baked goods - pizza, pancakes, pancakes, pies, cheesecakes. An electric grill is a device in which these dishes are cooked quickly and are less caloric due to the absence of oil.
- Kash. In this device they become crumbly, with an appetizing aroma and taste.
- Sandwiches, hot snacks with a crispy crust.
How does a grill differ from a grill, a barbecue and an air grill?
Today there is an unprecedented variety of devices for cooking meat on the market: traditional barbecues, grills, foreign barbecues and completely incomprehensible air grills. And each site offers its own rating. You can become completely confused when you learn about the existence of raclette makers, kebab makers and smokers. Eh, I still remember the times when they used just four bricks on which they placed skewers...
The grill differs from the grill and barbecue in the way the product is cooked: it has a lid that provides strong heating, due to which the food turns out juicy and crispy. While on the grill and barbecue food simmers more slowly at lower temperatures.
The difference between a barbecue and a barbecue is only in the way the ingredients are placed: in the first case they are strung on skewers, and in the second they are placed on a grill.
By choosing an air fryer, you will find a universal assistant that can replace several items at once: oven, microwave, multicooker, steamer. Heat treatment occurs due to convection blowing - the movement of hot air masses. The list of its functions is quite wide, and they include a grill mode. However, an air fryer cannot impart a characteristic smoky flavor to a steak.
The kebab maker, on the contrary, is very limited in functionality, and as the name implies, you won’t be able to cook anything other than kebab (meat or vegetable) in it.
The rakletnitsa is another interesting specimen. In the traditional sense, it is designed to melt cheese, but now they are successfully combined with grill panels, pancake makers and mini-frying pans.
Have you ever heard of a smoker? It seems like a scary name, but it turns out that this is a smokehouse configuration where food is cooked using smoke. This results in a completely different procedure and final taste of the dish.
It turns out that the grill is the undoubted leader in its vocation, and other devices are either focused on other tasks or “do not reach” it.
Pros and cons of an electric grill
The device has many advantages:
- Convenience and ease of use.
- Save time on cooking.
- Appetizing, rich taste, aroma of dishes.
- Multifunctional device. You can cook food in it (bake, stew, fry), defrost food, and reheat ready-made dishes.
- The ability to cook food without oil, thanks to which it can be consumed on a diet, in the presence of problems with the digestive system, or in the treatment of various diseases that require a special approach to nutrition.
- No unpleasant odors during cooking.
- Compactness of the device. It does not take up much space and can be stored away after use. You can take the device with you on a picnic or to the country house.
Even the best electric grill has some disadvantages:
- High level of energy consumption. Even a reduction in food processing time does not compensate for energy costs.
- Vulnerability of the device to voltage surges. A slight jump can cause equipment failure.
- The need to control the cooking process. Having a timer does not guarantee that the dish will not burn, so you need to constantly monitor it. Without control, it may remain uncooked.
- The electric grill requires constant thorough but gentle cleaning of the surfaces. In the absence of proper care, the device loses its performance properties.
Which is better, a grill pan or an electric grill?
To answer this question, you should compare two devices according to a number of criteria:
- Construction
. An electric grill is a more massive device compared to a grill pan. The latter can have a rectangular or square shape, which does not significantly affect the quality of food. There are floor and tabletop electric grills. The second is a more compact option, but the choice of device type depends on the user’s preferences. - Dishes
. The same recipes can be used for both devices. The quality and taste of the prepared food does not differ significantly. - Functionality
. An electric grill oven can perform more tasks compared to a grill pan. In the first, you can defrost food, and after preparing food, store it in the device for some time so that it does not get cold. With its help you can process a larger number of products. - Cooking process
. An electric grill makes it less labor intensive. The presence of a temperature and time regulator increases the chances of an optimal level of heat treatment. In the case of a frying pan, the cook requires more control and attention paid to the process. - Transportation
. It is more convenient to transport a grill pan than an electric grill, even if the latter is a compact model. - Smoke, smells
. When using an open type electric grill, in this criterion it is comparable to a frying pan. If it is closed, little smoke and foreign odors are released. - Care
. The grill pan is easier to clean. There are electric grill models with removable elements. Caring for them is easier compared to caring for solid structures.
Which is better, an air fryer or an electric grill?
Both devices do an excellent job of cooking. They differ in their design and application:
- In an air fryer, food is processed with warm air, which circulates in a glass bowl where the food is placed. The food turns out healthy and does not require the use of oil to prepare it. The available processing methods in the device are boiling, frying, baking, stewing, and steaming. At the same time, you should choose an electric grill for steaks if you are a fan of this dish. In it, food is processed with heat received from the surface of the device elements. Both devices perform the function of heating and defrosting.
- The smell, the smoke. When using an air grill, they are not present, but when using an electric grill, they can spread throughout the apartment.
- Degree of processing. In an air fryer, food is cooked evenly on all sides. In an electric grill, cooking may be uneven.
- Transportation. Both devices are cumbersome to move, but it is possible to do so. An electric mini-grill is easier to transport.
- Convenient cooking process. When using an air fryer, constant supervision from the cook is not required, but in the case of an electric grill, it is needed.
Turbo grill in the oven
The function of a turbo grill is to jointly turn on two heating elements located on top of the oven. Each of them does their own work. The first is a grill itself, the second is a heater with a fan. With the help of a fan, heat and infrared radiation are distributed throughout the entire volume of the oven. In this way the dish is evenly fried.
Turbo grill in the oven
The turbo grill frees the cook from the need to lay out the dish being prepared or place it on a stand under the heater. Devices are produced by manufacturers in two categories:
- Electrical. They are found in any oven, regardless of their heating method.
- Quartz. Used for built-in grill designs. The heater can be hidden in an independent housing under the ceiling of the room.
Advantages of turbo grill:
- the temperature coming from the two upper heaters, thanks to the ventilated air, spreads throughout the volume of the oven evenly and constantly;
- using a fan, there is no need for a spit;
- This function allows you to cook various dishes much faster without drying out or burning;
- it’s easy to achieve an appetizing golden brown crust on a dish;
- the soft, juicy structure is preserved inside meat, vegetable, and fish dishes.
Using a grill in the family, for a group of friends, guests, acquaintances, on vacation and while traveling will significantly diversify your menu and allow you to enjoy a wide variety of mouth-watering dishes: meat, fish, vegetables. The grill is a simple, unpretentious appliance available to each of us. Buy ovens with a grill function and let it delight you with excellent taste!
Types of electric grills
The device can be stationary or portable, floor-standing or tabletop. Home electric grill is divided into the following types:
- contact;
- contactless.
Contact electric grill
This device involves cooking food on heated surfaces. Thanks to this, food is processed faster and more deeply. Contact home electric grills come in the following types:
- One-sided
. A grate, stone or Teflon surface can be used as a heated element. The last two options can be divided into zones - corrugated (for fish, meat), flat (for vegetables, fruits, baked goods). - Double-sided
. In addition to the main surface, it is equipped with a press. The distance between these elements is adjusted depending on the dish being prepared. - Combined
. It combines single-sided and double-sided options.
Contactless electric grill
The principle of its operation is similar to the work of a kebab maker. Products are placed in the work cabinet in special baskets (vegetables, fruits) or skewered (meat, fish). In this form they rotate around the heating element. When choosing the best electric grill for your home, you can pay attention to this option, it all depends on the user’s preferences. This type of device has one drawback - the inability to cook baked goods in it.
Features of the location of grills in the oven
Microwave, gas, and infrared cookers produced by modern industry are equipped with many options that are extremely useful for housewives, novice cooks, and ordinary families. People are happy to develop their culinary talents, delight their households with interesting dishes of their own creation, and come up with something new every day.
Grilling in an oven has long been no longer a novelty for the modern cook. This system for preparing delicious food is often installed in premium cookers and even in many budget models. How necessary is such a function in everyday life and how are the main structural elements of the grill located in the oven?
Many boiled and stewed dishes do not always have a presentable, appetizing appearance. The grill function is created in order to obtain a golden side on meat and poultry, and a golden brown crust on fish baked with vegetables and lemon juice. A person who sees such an amazing effect, the desire to immediately taste this dish increases many times over. That's what the grill effect is!
In the oven, the grill is not installed in the form of a poultry spit. Its design is slightly different. An additional heating block is installed on the top panel of the oven. Enabling this element creates the highest temperature possible. This favors the appearance of the desired crust on the processed product.
The top structure of the product is sealed. Thanks to this technology, under the influence of high temperatures, dishes retain their internal juiciness, remaining tender and soft, pleasant to the taste. The following foods are prepared on the grill in the oven in the same way:
- toast;
- hamburgers;
- hot sandwiches;
- vegetables, poultry, fish;
- meat.
You can fry vegetables on the grill in the oven.
The grill function is not always welcomed by housewives. When turning over meat and fish, especially fatty varieties, fat may sometimes splash onto the walls of the oven and heating elements, causing smoke. For such work the chef must have high professional qualifications.
After each preparation of tasty and healthy dishes, all working surfaces of the grill must be treated with special detergents and cleaning agents. In this case, special attention is paid to places with difficult access. Carefully and thoroughly wipe all metal parts, spit, and surfaces in contact with food products.
For wiping, special soft flannel napkins are used, soaked in liquid to remove grease and burnt residues. Rubbing vigorously and using hard objects is not recommended. Regular maintenance will prevent your grill from wearing out prematurely. The device will always delight your family with fresh, delicious dishes.
The amazing view, wonderful taste, and healthy qualities of grilled food are designed to compensate for those small difficulties that arise when true culinary virtuosos create these culinary masterpieces.
How to choose an electric grill?
During the purchase, a number of criteria are taken into account. There are recommendations on how to choose an electric grill for your home:
- Power. The optimal indicator is 0.7-2.2 kW. The higher this value, the faster the cooking process, but the energy consumption also increases.
- Dimensions. The quality of operation of the device and the amount of food processed do not depend on them, so they are selected according to the needs of the user.
- Materials. Inexpensive models use heat-resistant plastic, which is inferior in quality to stainless steel. It is advisable that the surfaces be equipped with a non-stick coating.
- Adjustment of time, convection, temperature, delayed start. The presence of these options makes the cooking process easier.
- Availability of a temperature maintenance function in a certain mode.
- The removable tray makes it easy to clean.
- The presence of thermally insulated handles allows you to move the device when it is hot.
Electric grill functions
The device has many useful options that need to be taken into account when choosing an electric grill:
- Lid height adjustment.
- Availability of trays for fat. It is desirable that these elements are removable.
- Timer.
- An electric grill with attachments that supports the “barbecue” option is popular.
- Temperature indicator.
- The presence of a delayed start function, thanks to which you can set the start time of cooking in advance.
Weber electric grills
And finally, Weber electric grills. They are suitable for working on balconies of city apartments and small terraces where coal or gas cannot be used. You can comfortably cook on these grills for a company of 4-6 people. Models of the Q series are equipped with a lid and boiler made of heat-resistant cast aluminum, cast iron grates coated with porcelain enamel, a heat regulator - that is, everything necessary that distinguishes a full-fledged grill.
Charcoal, gas or electric - whichever Weber grill you choose, legendary quality, known around the world, guarantees you years of great food and a great experience.
In the next article we will tell you more about one of the most popular models - the Weber Master-Touch GBS charcoal grill.
Electric grill rating
The following models have proven themselves to be reliable and high-quality:
- Electric grill Tefal GC306012
. The device has high power (2 kW), removable panels, and large work surfaces. - Delonghi Multigrill CGH 1030D
. The device has an attractive design and is equipped with replaceable panels. It is possible to adjust the height of the lid and legs. - Tefal Optigrill+XL GC722D34
. A model that has sensors for operating parameters, replaceable elements that can be cleaned in a dishwasher. - GFgrill GF-100
. Compact electric grill with large working surfaces and fast heating elements. - ProfiCook PC-KG 1029
. Device with high power (2 kW), removable panels, tray.
How to cook on an electric grill?
During this process, you need to follow a number of recommendations:
- When using the device, you need to turn on the hood or open a window.
- Do not use the device if it is placed on an uneven surface.
- Users are often interested in whether it is possible to cook in foil on an electric grill. This is allowed. The dish will turn out juicier and softer.
- When cooking vegetables, it is recommended to cut them at least 1 cm thick.
- For meat and fish, the optimal temperature is 200°C, for vegetables and fruits – 180°C.
How to wash an electric grill?
In this matter, follow these recommendations:
- Unplug the electric grill.
- It is advisable to clean the grill and surfaces while they are still warm.
- If the elements of the device are non-removable, use the spatula that should be included in the kit to clean them. After this, clean the surfaces with a damp cloth. If you are using a collapsible electric grill, a good option is to wash the panels in the dishwasher.
- If necessary, you can use detergent.
- Wipe the grill or surface dry.
- If drops of fat get on the heating element, they can be removed with a damp cloth or sponge.
