A beginner’s guide on how to use an electric grill
Grilling is one the best ways to make food very tasty. Many people prefer grilled foods to fried foods. Though many will love to grill their meat during cooking, they see it as a herculean task due to the processes involved in it. Grilling over charcoal or grilling in an oven comes with a lot of dangers to our health. This step-by-step guide on how to use an electric grill will go a long way to help others get more tasty food because it is easy to use.
An electric grill is a type of grill that is powered by electricity to provide continuous heat to grill food substances. It provides an easy, quick, and safe way of grilling with the same wonderful taste just like grilling over charcoal or gas fire. Learning how to use an electric grill is one the easiest thing to do but when not done correctly, can be dangerous to the user and affect the taste of the food.
Parts of an electric grill
- Glass lid- For covering the grill when cooking is in session
- Nonstick griddle– The platform on which the food is placed
- Heating element with a detachable cable– As the name implies, it provides heat to the nonstick griddle to grill the food.
- Drip tray– Prevents large substances from falling into the water tray
- Collection pan, also known as water tray– Water is poured into this container
- The base unit– electric fan and fan cover- It cools down the grill.
How to use an electric grill
- Step 1 –Set up the grill.
- Step 2 –Clean off any dust or water with a tissue.
- Step 3 –Plug in the cable.
- Step 4 –Turn the grill on.
- Step 5 –Add some drops of oil to the griddle. Preferable avocado or olive oil.
- Step 6 –Preheat the grill. This will prevent the food from soaking in too much oil.
- Step 7 –Place your food on the grill with the help of tongs.
- Step 8 –Regulate the temperature to provide a constant heat
- Step 9- Once grilling is over, take the food off with the help of tongs and unplug the cable from the outlet.
- Step 10- Clean the Electric grill immediately to prevent the food substances from hardening. Find out how to use the microwave grill and oven.
How to assemble an electric grill
- Step 1- Place the base of the appliance on a flat and firm surface.
- Step 2- Fix the water tray to the base. Make sure it is tightly fixed.
- Step 3- Pour water into the water tray.
- Step 4- Place the drip tray on the water tray.
- Step 5- Fix the heating element to the water tray.
- Step 6- Place the nonstick griddle plate on the heating element.
- Step 7- Cover it with the assembled unit with a lid.
Why is water poured into the water tray?
Water prevents smoke when hot food drippings fall on the tray.
Moreover, adding water prevents overheating and allows the food to grill gradually with a uniform supply of heat to food.
Is it advisable to cover my electric grill when cooking?
Yes, covering your food helps maintain a constant temperature on the grill to give the food that wonderful taste you desire. The lid can occasionally be opened to turn the food or check whether grilling is done.
Can aluminum foil be used on an electric grill?
Yes, aluminum foil is safe to use on an electric grill.
This is because aluminum foil has a melting point of 660.5 degrees Celsius while an electric grill has a maximum temperature of 260 degrees Celsius.
How long does it take to cook on an electric grill?
Grilling time depends on different factors. Some of the factors are the type of food, the thickness of food, the quantity of food, the texture of food, and the heat applied.
Foods that are flat are chopped into small pieces will take less time than putting a chunk of meat on the grill.
The heat of the electric grill can be increased or decreased by turning the knob to regulate heat. Increasing the temperature can increase the rate at which the food is frilled but you may burn and alter the taste you desire. However, the grill has a limited temperature and cannot pass its stipulated limit.
Another factor that affects the duration of the cooking is covering the grill with the lid. This aids in cooking because it helps in maintaining a constant temperature to provide heat for the food to be grilled uniformly.
Foods that can be cooked on an electric grill
- Steaks
- Hamburgers
- Fish
- Shrimp
- Pork
- Vegetables
Best electric grills on the market
Advantages of using an electric grill
- It is a quick and easy way of grilling.
- It occupies less space and can even be disassembled after using
- It is portable
- It is easy to clean.
- Temperature is easy to regulate
Disadvantages of using an electric grill
- It may take a long time to grill some foods because the temperature is limited.
- Food does not taste exactly like grilling over charcoal or gas fire.
- Adds additional electricity bill.
Dos and don’ts of using an electric grill
- Add water to the water tray before you start cooking.
- Clean it immediately after use. Read on how to clean electric grills.
- Call a professional when it gets faulty.
- Do not wash with hard brush bristles that can scratch it.
- Put it off when you see the smoke or fire sparks from it
Conclusion
With these simple guides, learning how to use an electric grill will soon be easy and the skills will be at your fingertips. You will no longer rely on guidelines to use an this grill again.
Though it may come with its disadvantages, the electric grill is the best grill to use when you are single or a small family of about four.
With its portability, you can easily take it out when you are traveling and will like to grill.