Grilling is an easy, healthy, and delicious way to prepare your food. The good news is that you don’t need an outdoor grill. You can use a compact indoor grill to help you prepare your meals at home. Here are some tips you can use to grilling at home easy.
Types of Indoor Grills
Let’s start by talking about the two types of indoor grills that you can use. First, you have a contact grill. This comes with a lid. This can present some benefits. By shutting the lid, you will be able to keep the smoke contained. The most famous example of this is the Forman Grill. On the other hand, you can get an open grill. This is similar to an outdoor grill, using electricity rather than wood or coal.
Both of these will offer an excellent cooking experience. Ultimately, the best option for you will depend on the way that you prefer to prepare your food. Covered grills will offer a more versatile experience. You’ll be able to use it for cooking things like grilled sandwiches. On the other hand, an open grill will offer a more authentic experience. Hopefully, knowing the options available will make preparing with an indoor grill easier.
Use a Well-Ventilated Space
When you are cooking on your home grill, you’ll need to make sure that you are using a well-ventilated area. Outside, the wind will carry away any smoke that you produce. This won’t be the case when you are grilling indoors. As a result, you’ll need to make sure that you are operating the grill close to a window. If not, you should turn on the kitchen vent.
The way you prepare your food can also reduce the amount of smoke you are making. You can cut any excess fat off the meat. It’s also a good idea to put a tray under the grill. This will catch and fat the drips off the meat, ensuring that you don’t create a mess. It’s also important that you are paying attention to the grill. If left unattended, there is a chance that the hotplate might spark a fire.
Tips for Cooking Meat Perfectly
It’s usually a good idea to sear them at a high temperature. This will lock the juices in, producing tender meat. Once you have seared the outside, you can lower the temperature of the grill. Another way of improving the flavour of the meat is by using a rub. You can even use liquid smoke, which replicates the taste of cooking on an outdoor grill. Don’t forget to apply olive oil to the grill.
Sometimes, you might want to marinate your food. This will allow the flavours to infuse throughout the meat. But the acidity will cause the skin to break down. Because of this, you should only marinate tough meats like steak and chicken for around two hours. If you have something more delicate, like a fish, you should only marinate it for around 20 minutes.
When you are cooking, it can be tempting to keep flipping the meat. However, you’ll need to resist this urge. If you leave it in the same spot for a few minutes, you will be able to achieve the iconic crisscross pattern. This will take your steak to a whole new level.
Knowing When Meat is Cooked
One of the most important elements that you need to master is knowing when your meat is cooked. The color on the outside is a good guide, but it doesn’t tell you the whole story. Instead, you will need to look at the internal temperature. To do this, you will need to use a kitchen thermometer. Don’t forget that when you take the meat off the heat, it will carry on cooking. So, it’s a good idea to take it off just before it is done.
Rest the Meat
Once you have finished cooking your meat, it’s a good idea to give it a few minutes to rest. This will allow the juices to resettle. Usually, this will only take five to ten minutes. This produces tender, juicy meat when you are ready to serve it.
It’s also a good idea to add some salt at this stage. If you add it before you put it on the grill, it will suck moisture from the meat, making it dry.
Caring For Your Grill
Finally, you must be taking care of your grill. After you have finished using it, make sure to wipe it down. If you have elements that are stuck to the grill, you can try applying some steam. Make sure that the grill is dry and cool before you put it away. If you do this, it should last for a long time.
What Can You Cook with an Indoor Grill?
There are no limits on what you can cook with your indoor grill. Anything that you cook on an outdoor grill can be prepared using an indoor grill. This gives you hundreds of dishes to choose from. Here are some excellent recipe ideas to get you started.
Cheesy Chicken Parmesan
This is a fast and delicious dinner idea. Chicken parmesan is a crowd-pleasing dish, which kids are sure to love. When it comes time to serve, there are lots of things that you can pair it with. For example, you can add pasta or salad.
Ingredients:
- 4 small chicken breasts
- 1 and a half teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil
- Black pepper
- ½ cup of marinara sauce
- 2 tablespoons of Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 2 ounces of shredded mozzarella cheese
Method:
Preheat the grill. As you are doing this, it’s a good idea to start preparing the chicken. First, you’ll need to coat each side in olive oil. Then, add a thin layer of black pepper. How much you add will depend on how spicy you want the chicken to be.
Next, add the chicken to the grill. You’ll need to cook it until it is golden brown on the outside. It should be fully cooked on the inside. On most grills, this will take around six minutes. While you are doing this, start preheating the oven to a high temperature.
Finally, you’ll need to remove the chicken from the grill. Spread the sauce over the chicken. Then, add a layer of cheese. Put the chicken onto a tray lined with foil, then place it into the oven. When the cheese is melted, remove the chicken. Often, this will only take two minutes. Remove the chicken from the oven and serve.
Onion and Mushroom Tacos
This idea is ideal for vegetarians, allowing you to get the flavours of a Mexican favourite without needing to use any meat. Plus, it’s easy to prepare and cook. You should be ready to serve in around 30 minutes.
Ingredients:
- Three tablespoons of canola oil
- Four cloves of garlic
- One tablespoon of ground chipotle chilli.
- Eight ounces of Shitake mushrooms
- One bunch of green onions
- Eight corn tortillas
- Guacamole
- Lime wedges
Method:
The first thing that you need to do is start preheating the grill to high heat. As you are doing this, you can start to prepare the ingredients. You’ll need to crush the garlic cloves. Then, remove the stems from the Shitake mushrooms. Trim the onions. You should also put the tortillas in the oven, to warm them up.
When the vegetables are ready, it’s time to prepare the coating. Place the crushed garlic clothes, chili, and oil into a bowl. Then add the onions and mushrooms, toss them to make sure that they are coated with the mixture.
When they are ready, it’s time to add them to the grill. You’ll need to lightly char them on each side. How long it takes for this to happen will depend on your grill. Usually, though, it will only be five to seven minutes.
When the vegetables are cooked, place them on a cutting board. You’ll need to slice them up into smaller bite-sized pieces. Then, sprinkle them into the warm tortillas. To finish, add some guacamole over the top of the tortillas. Finish with a squeeze of lime and serve.
Conclusion
You don’t need to have a large backyard to enjoy the benefits of grilling. There are plenty of indoor grills that will let you cook a barbecue indoors. Once you have found a grill that you like, there is no limit to the variety of grilled food that you can cook. So, experiment with indoor grilling and try some of these recipes for yourself.