What to cook on the grill. How to Grill: Tips for Beginners

Summer is a time for gatherings in nature and, of course, simple but very tasty food cooked right in the fresh air. In our country, barbecue is traditionally common, but recently it has become popular to cook on the grill, which provides more scope for culinary creativity. As is the case with other cooking methods, grilling has several important rules and secrets that are simply necessary for anyone who wants to achieve perfection in outdoor cooking.

Your grill is a thing in itself, a complete outdoor kitchen. From salads with colorful grilled summer vegetables to hearty grilled chicken and fish dishes, and even grilled fruit desserts, you'll find plenty of new options to choose from. This quick guide provides the basics to get you started on the grill, and with enough practice, you'll be able to do it practically with your eyes closed.

What is a grill?

Grilling involves cooking food on a grate over a heat source, usually charcoal or ceramic briquettes, heated by a gas burner. Direct heat quickly burns the surface of the food, creating a distinctive, rich aroma, sometimes with pleasant “burnt” notes, and a wonderful crust. If food is cooked over moderate heat, it will not only develop a crust, but also a more intense smoky flavor.

In addition to what we call a grill here and throughout this article, there are other devices and ways to simulate grilling. One of them is a grill pan, a heavy frying pan with a fluted bottom that allows you to fry food over high heat with a minimum of heat, creating a delicious “grid” that is imprinted on its surface. I talk about it in more detail in the article, but here we will talk about outdoor grills.

Equipment

When choosing between a gas or charcoal grill, rely on what suits you best: the end result will be very similar, if not the same. Of course, food cooked on a charcoal grill takes on a wonderful flavor, but that can be enhanced by adding wood chips at just the right moment. For more versatility, choose a grill with a large cooking surface and lid. In the US, where grilling championships are held, two-thirds of buyers prefer a gas grill due to its convenience and the consistent heat produced by a gas burner, while the rest choose the traditional heat of charcoal.

Another family of grills are electric outdoor grills, in which the heat source is an electrically heated coil located under the grate. This is a very convenient device that makes cooking on the grill almost hassle-free, but you can’t take it with you on a picnic, so this is a choice for those who prefer to cook in the courtyard of a country house equipped with electricity.

Other useful tools that you will need when grilling include the following:

charcoal ignition device
long tongs
spatula
lubrication brush
thick mittens
wire brush
disposable foil dishes
meat thermometer

Direct and indirect heat

The basis of masterful grilling is the correct use of two types of heat, direct and indirect. The difference between the two is how you arrange the food in relation to the heat source, i.e. a pile of coals or heated briquettes, and how you control the heat using the lid.

For thin cuts of meat that cook quickly (cutlets, steaks, chops, etc.) and for most vegetables, direct heat is best - the food is placed directly over the heat source, and the lid is usually left on. Just like regular frying, this method requires fast cooking over high heat and is not suitable for large cuts as the intense heat will burn the surface of the meat before it cooks the inside.

For food that requires a longer cooking time (like a pork shoulder or a whole chicken), indirect heat is used - the coals are raked over the edge into one or two piles, and the food is positioned away from them so that hot air circulates around it. With this method, the grill is covered with a lid, which creates convection heat. This is a more delicate grilling method and can thoroughly cook large pieces without burning them.

The simplest rule for determining the appropriate grilling method: if the dish is cooked in less than 20-25 minutes, use direct heat, otherwise indirect heat.

The exception is large fish fillets, which cook better when using indirect heat, although they could be cooked directly over the fire in less than 15 minutes. The fish fillet is so tender that direct heat will cook it too quickly and dry it out. In addition, if the skin burns, it will create a fishy taste, which many people do not like. By using indirect heat, the fish will cook best and retain its juiciness.

Keeping it clean

Preheat the grill on high heat for 10-15 minutes, depending on the cooking method you plan to use. This will help burn off any residue from previous use of the grill, making it easy to clean off. Then go over the grate with a brush, preferably with copper bristles - steel bristles can damage the enamel of some grates (if you don't have a copper brush, crumple up a sheet of foil, hold it with tongs and wipe the grate). Clean the grill bars thoroughly to remove food residue from previous cooking. Repeat this procedure before each time you use the grill.

Before the summer season begins, preheat the grill on high for an hour and then clean the grate. This should only be done once to prepare the grill for the season. In fact, by burning everything you can, you are using the self-cleaning oven principle for your grill.

Lighting up the grill

If you have a gas grill, simply turn the burners to high. In case you are going to use indirect heat, turn off one side of the grill after preheating.

In the case of a charcoal grill, the simplest way to light charcoal or logs is to use a starter, a special ignition device. If you don't have one, simply use lighter fluid or crumpled newspaper to light the charcoal. Let the charcoal burn until it becomes covered with white-gray ash, which indicates that the most suitable temperature for cooking has been reached.

If using the direct method, spread the charcoal evenly over the entire grill surface, otherwise split the charcoal and move it to the sides away from the center of the grate, under which place a disposable aluminum dish. Place food over a dish that will catch drippings and direct heat toward the food. Many cooks push the charcoal to one side of the grill while leaving the other empty—but distributing the charcoal on all sides of the food (if space allows) creates a consistent heat that envelops it.

How to Grill

Actually, there is nothing complicated in the process of grilling; it is only important to maintain the desired temperature and keep an eye on the food so that it does not burn or, on the contrary, dry out.

Maintaining the desired temperature on a gas grill is very easy, you just need to turn the knob. On a charcoal grill, the heat is controlled by the vents. To avoid restricting air flow, do not block the vents in the bottom of the grill with charcoal. Also, leave the opening on the top of the grill at least partially open. The more you open the vents, the more intense the heat will be. If you want medium heat, cover the holes about halfway.

Coat your food (not the grates) with oil or marinade to enhance caramelization and those famous grill marks and to prevent sticking. If you don't lubricate your food, the juices will evaporate as it cooks, leaving it dry—this is especially true for cooking chunks of vegetables.

By purchasing a device such as an electric grill, the housewife is given the opportunity to prepare a wide variety of dishes. Of course, basic breakfasts, lunches, and dinners can quickly get boring. In this case, you should master new recipes and reach the top in cooking. To simplify such actions, this article has been written to help you cope with your plan.

What electric grill functions allow you to cook

Thanks to the special purposes of the unit - uniform heat distribution, maintaining temperature, producing exceptionally healthy food - the user is provided with a varied menu. In addition, the abilities of all kitchen technologies (baking, stewing, frying, steaming) are collected and transferred into the “hands” of the described apparatus. Therefore, unlike similar designs, this one is equipped with a much larger number of options for creating products. And due to its advantages in ease of use, even the most inexperienced person can cope with the task. So what is this modern device capable of?

All meat products and fish will easily and in a matter of minutes acquire an attractive appearance and unique taste.
Shawarma, sandwiches, sandwiches will also please the owner.
Pastries and omelettes. With double-sided heating you will save time on creating your breakfast.
And of course, vegetables and fruits. The fresh appearance will not be lost, nor will the beneficial properties.

Review of dishes that can be cooked on an electric grill

As mentioned above, the list of recipes can be as varied as possible. Both beginners and culinary enthusiasts can handle it. Let's consider cooking methods for both the first category of people and the second.

Simple dishes using an electric grill: recipes for beginners

Let's start with the most basic - sandwiches in French. Ingredients you will need:

White bread 300g.
Butter 25g.
Ham 100g.
Hard cheese 200g.
Large eggs 4 pcs.

Now that all the components are ready for use, you can begin the process itself.

REFERENCE!

The dish is designed for four people.

Preparation procedure:

Start by buttering each of the eight slices of bread on one side.
Place two slices of ham and cheese on each ungreased side of the fourth slice.
Next, cover them with the remaining bread so that the part that is in the oil is on top.
Turn on medium heat on the unit and place the resulting products inside from each other at a short distance.
Fry until golden brown.
Then it is advisable to put the finished products aside and start making fried eggs. To do this, you need to break the eggs and wait until they are ready. After this, cover the sandwiches with them. And a light snack is ready.

More complex dishes for experienced users

In principle, all procurement methods are equally accessible and there is nothing complicated about them. However the following is beef steaks.

You will need:

Beef product 6 pcs.
Dried basil 0.5 - 1 tsp.
Thyme 1 tsp.
Paprika 2 tbsp. l.
Onion salt 2 tbsp. l.
Spices as desired.

Now let's start cooking:

Start by turning on the grill until it is preheated to medium temperature and lightly oiling it.
Next, prepare a special mixture of the spices presented above. Rub each piece of meat on both sides with the prepared liquid.
Then you need to lay them down and bring them to the degree you want.
It takes approximately 10 minutes to fry a separate side at 70′.
After this, to “rest”, wrap the plate with steaks in foil for a while (5 minutes). And you can already serve it on the table.

Dessert in an electric grill

Naturally, not only a serious menu can be created, but also a sweet one. The most popular are considered waffles, since it is the most convenient time to cook them, which results in a crispy and flaky surface. In general, you need:

Eggs 2 pcs.
Kefir 200 ml.
Flour 200 g.
A pinch of salt.
Butter 85 g.
Sugar 85 g.
Baking powder 0.5 tsp.

The process itself is quite fast, so it won’t take much time.

To do this, it is recommended to combine butter, sugar, salt and beat thoroughly, it is best to use a mixer.
Add eggs to kefir and, therefore, add everything to the first mixture formed.
After mixing you will have a slightly runny dough.
Warm up the device and start adding three tablespoons of this mass.

Baking usually takes four minutes. But, again, it’s better to make sure that there are no incidents.

A simple and quick breakfast with an electric grill

Khachapuri with cheese- an unusual dish that will delight everyone in the morning. For the test:

Kefir 150 ml.
Flour 400 g.
Salt to taste.
Dry yeast 1.5 tsp.

For the filling:

Suluguni 500 g.
Butter 80 g.

Preparation procedure:

For the mass, you need to mix all the above products.
Divide the resulting dough into 3-4 parts and roll it out. Grate the filling ingredients and place inside the middle of each piece.
You should pinch the edges and press them down so that you get something like a round cake.
Next, heat the device to 250′ and place them for a few minutes until golden brown.

This recipe is suitable for a small group, it depends on how many parts you divide it into.

What unusual things can you cook on an electric grill?

Nowadays lasagna- a fairly ordinary dish, but if it is made from vegetables and grilled, it will add an exotic touch.

Pumpkin 250 g.
Cream 80 ml.
Salt, pepper.
Green peas 4 pods.
Champignons 4–5 pcs.
Olive oil.
Bulbs 2 pcs.

Preparation:

You need to chop and fry the onion and mushrooms until soft.
Pour cream into them and add spices.
Peel and slice the pumpkin.
Place their pieces on a preheated device and lightly fry on both sides.
Do the same with peas.
Next, lay out in this order: a layer of pumpkin, a filling of mushrooms, onions and pods, another slice, filling and cover with another layer.

Let's bake. Lasagna is ready.

Now you can make many different dishes using an electric grill. Bon appetit!

Grilling in the oven and microwave is convenient because you don’t have to bother with coal, and not everyone has the opportunity to cook outdoors. Grilled dishes are very diverse; almost any non-liquid dish that does not require utensils can be cooked on the grill. They cook grilled chicken, grilled vegetables, grilled meat, grilled fish.

One of the most popular dishes is grilled chicken. The grilled chicken recipe is very simple, so instead of buying ready-made grilled chicken, it is better to learn how to cook grilled chicken. Of course it is important whether it will be prepared grilled chicken in the oven, grilled chicken in an air fryer or grilled chicken over charcoal. The recipe for cooking grilled chicken is similar in all cases, but the cooking technology differs. Grilling chicken over charcoal will require you to periodically turn the chicken carcass. Of course, grilled chicken at home is often cooked in the microwave. You need to understand that if chicken is cooked in the microwave, the grill will not be as flavorful, but on the other hand, the chicken will cook faster and it will be easier to control the process. Another common way to cook grilled chicken is grilled chicken in the oven. A grilled chicken recipe in the oven may come with some kind of chicken filling, but it is often prepared without it. It’s also convenient to cook in the oven because the chicken will cook evenly and excess fat will drip onto the baking sheet. Grilled chicken can be prepared either whole or in parts. These can be grilled legs, grilled wings. An important detail is the marinade for grilled chicken. Without it, you won't get delicious grilled chicken. The marinade is prepared on the basis of mayonnaise or dry white wine, with the addition of spices. But if time is short, grilled chicken can be cooked without marinade. We will tell you how to cook grilled chicken without marinade: first rub the chicken with salt and spices, and then rub with vegetable oil. In this case, you will also get delicious grilled chicken with an appetizing crispy crust. It is this kind of crust that real grilled chicken is famous for; the photo of cooked chicken with a brownish crust leaves few people indifferent. In principle, grilled pork and grilled beef are prepared according to the same rules. For rubbing, it is better to use olive oil, and the wine should be dry red. Today there are also special frying pans that allow you to fry meat without oil. Cooking meat in a grill pan is also very convenient, so if you are not a fan of microwaves, use this specialized utensil. The most unpretentious one is the grill for sausages, since it is a semi-finished product and does not take long to cook.

A special treat is grilled fish. Fresh, hot, smelling of smoke, it can give odds to a restaurant. The most delicious are grilled trout, grilled salmon, grilled mackerel, grilled salmon. The recipe for grilled fish is also very simple: the fish must be sprinkled with spices, lemon juice or white wine. If the fish is large, lemon slices can be placed inside or in the cuts on the back. Grilled fish in the microwave also turns out well. In addition to grilled fish, you can cook other seafood, such as grilled shrimp.

To grill in the microwave, it is best to read the instructions, which will always tell you how to grill in the microwave. They often also contain recipes for a microwave with a grill, but a more reliable option would be proven grill recipes from your fellow home cooks, which you can find on our website. They will tell you how to cook grilled chicken, grilled vegetables in the oven, how to make grilled chicken in the oven and over coals, as well as other grilled recipes.

The way we eat has a direct impact on our lives and our health. This has been scientifically proven. But even without science, we can easily understand what is good for our well-being and what is not so good. The grill philosophy is a relatively new trend for our food culture, but today it confidently occupies its niche in the topic of proper nutrition.

Proper nutrition: how not to get bored

If you are looking for select food for weight loss, or are interested in the topic of proper nutrition in general, you probably know that this concept does not come down to the banal “going on a diet.” This concept is broad. There are many ways and options on how to eat healthy. You can be, for example, a raw foodist. Such diet will suit some, but others will find it exhausting, tasteless, and will cause acute hunger. Some people will find themselves in dietary nutrition, and will begin to strictly count calories, choosing the most healthy foods among them. There are also supporters balanced nutrition, they do not go to extremes and try to consume all foods, but in moderation. It seems that they are not on a diet, they are not restricting themselves, but they are eating as healthy as possible.

It’s a pity that most of the methods listed above are depressing: often healthy food for some reason it is not as tasty as it is healthy. Is it possible to eat healthy and tasty at the same time? For people who are leading or just starting to lead healthy lifestyle, this is the main question! Tasteless food doesn't provide good motivation to eat right, right?

And in this matter, a real philosophy comes to the rescue, whose name is grill. A grill is not only equipment for cooking, it is also a method of cooking, and, in fact, the products themselves prepared in this way. For our culture grill The philosophy is relatively new, but in the West it has been something of a cult for decades. Moreover, this is a cult of healthy, high-quality food. And although we have “analogues” of the grill, such as a barbecue, for example, the barbecue still loses in front of the grill. We’ll talk about what exactly in another article, but now let’s talk about the benefits of grilling.

4 reasons to switch to healthy eating with grilling

First. Grilled food is absolutely delicious. Prepare grilled vegetables- even zucchini, the most dietary and low-calorie vegetable - they will be delicious, period. Cook the zucchini, for example, steam it or boil it in water - it’s boring and tasteless! Grilling gives a light crust, an appetizing grill pattern, and mmm... a smoky aroma that excites the taste buds and sense of smell! Sprinkle the vegetables with olive oil, sprinkle with your favorite herbs - prepared in this way, they will not leave even “meat-eaters” indifferent.

Second. Salt is harmful, salt accumulates in the body, salt retains fluid and prevents us from losing weight. Why eat salt if it is so harmful? But people are used to it, because this white granular additive, as it seems to us, gives food taste. But grilled dishes tasty even without salt. It is worth trying grilled food prepared without salt, as you will see that it is delicious without it. The situation is similar with sugar: the grill is perfect for baking fruits - bananas, pineapples, plums. You won’t need any sugar for these self-sufficient desserts, and their taste will be amazing.

Third. The vast majority of us cannot live without meat. It is well known that the most useful method of cooking meat in terms of preserving nutrients is baking. That's why grilled meat You can bake it much tastier than you can do in the oven. Nothing gives meat such a zest as that amazing aroma of fresh smoke, which our nose seems to sense through the prism of centuries. Smoky meat is subconsciously perceived by a person as something authentic, traditional, something that our distant cave ancestors ate. Which, as we know, were strong and healthy. But, most importantly, like everyone else grilled dishes, the meat turns out very juicy. By preserving the internal juices of the product, you retain most of the nutrients, and therefore get the most natural, healthy food.

And finally, fourth. It's worth knowing that grilling not limited to just baking or frying foods. A grill in your home is a unique assistant, absolutely multitasking. Stew, boil, steam, fry, bake - he can do it all. In addition, you practically don’t need complex recipes to cook delicious food. Complex recipes are suitable for those who want to take their grilling to the next level. For beginners, the grill itself is quite enough - a faithful assistant who will cook food guaranteed to be tasty, and at the same time simple.

So today, the variety of types of grills and their models allows us to satisfy any needs of people. You can choose a large charcoal grill for a country house, or you can buy a gas grill so compact that there is a place for it on the balcony of a high-rise apartment. Fans of traveling or picnics will appreciate the advantages of a travel grill - small but very effective. And, most importantly, with the grill it is possible to intuitively choose the healthiest food.

Grilled dishes have a special taste and aroma, crispy crust. Not only this is attractive, but also its undoubted usefulness: using such a device, you do not need to add oil or other fats to your food for frying. This review will help you understand what the device is and whether it is worth buying.

A grill is a culinary equipment that is used to cook food using charcoal, gas or electricity as a heat source. The following types of grills are available on the market today.

More about the electric grill

Such equipment in most cases is a multifunctional device designed for thermal processing of food. In this case, the heat is directed directly to the surface where the heated products are already located. An electric grill allows you to fry, bake, and in some models also smoke food. The adjustable degree of heating allows you to fry to the required degree of readiness.

Brief classification

The device is found in portable and stationary. The latter is more suitable for public catering or a country cottage, since for all its impressive capabilities it takes up a lot of space.

Stationary grill

Another division of electric grills is contact and non-contact. Contactless the type works similarly to kebab makers: products strung on skewers and located in special baskets rotate around a heating element.

Electric touchless grill

IN contact appliances, the future dish is placed directly on the heated surface. This technique also has its own classification.

Using an electric grill is quite simple, the main thing is that there is a power outlet nearby. After turning it on, it’s enough to lightly grease the surfaces with vegetable oil using a silicone brush, and in the case of a non-stick coating, you don’t even need to do this. Wait until the surface warms up a little. All that remains is to put the products in and select the appropriate settings.

How to clean the device

After cooking food, you need to remove any leftovers. It would be more correct to wash the device as follows.

What to cook in an electric grill

Any food prepared in this appliance is considered healthy, since there is no need to use fat and oil to obtain a tasty dish. All excess flows into a special tray by itself thanks to the slight inclination of the panels. The choice of dishes that can be cooked on an electric grill is quite varied:

fruits and vegetables;
meat, fish, poultry;
hot snacks and sandwiches;
pancakes, pies, pancakes, pies.

You can cook all dishes either directly on the panel or by wrapping the product in foil. Vegetables are cut at least 1 cm thick. Usually it takes no more than 10-20 minutes to prepare.

Is it worth buying the device?

To the question of whether it is worth buying an electric grill, you should definitely give a positive answer.

This device is especially suitable for those who are forced to adhere to a diet. But other gourmets will also enjoy the interesting taste of many familiar dishes.

Now you don’t have to go out into nature to enjoy fish or meat with the taste of “from the fire”, which you cannot achieve in the oven or slow cooker. And any bad weather will not be able to interfere with a picnic at the dacha if you have a portable grill device with you.

Some useful tips.

To prepare a grilled dish that is as close to charcoal as possible, it is best to take open spiral grille. Only in this case should the device be used under a powerful hood. Experts advise taking such devices with a cast iron surface. But the aluminum coating is not able to withstand high temperatures - there is a risk that the dish will not be fried enough (for example, steak).
A hood is also needed when choosing a non-contact electric model. The “smoky” taste and aroma are not very suitable for city apartments. In the absence of normal ventilation, it is still better to purchase them for the dacha.
It is quite possible to purchase models with good plastic. But if you have a choice, it’s still worth choosing the metal option.
If we're talking about portable electric grill(for example, you plan to take it with you to the dacha), then you should pay attention to a convenient case - it should resemble a suitcase with a handle.
Don't count on any special technical bells and whistles. A timer, automatic shutdown, power adjustment and residual heat indication will be quite sufficient for such a device.