{"id":489,"date":"2018-06-19T17:05:37","date_gmt":"2018-06-19T17:05:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/?p=489"},"modified":"2021-08-19T23:16:26","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T23:16:26","slug":"pros-and-cons-of-grill-pans","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/pros-and-cons-of-grill-pans\/","title":{"rendered":"Pros and Cons of Grill Pans"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Pros and Cons of Grill Pans<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Let’s be honest, grilled food looks so tempting! We are bombarded with recipes to cook wonderful grilled food\u2026but there\u2019s a problem. Not all of us have outside space, some of us don\u2019t even have a balcony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here is where the grill pan comes in\u2026we are promised the same results as an outside grill. We turn to the humble grill pan in anticipation but are rarely satisfied. It may look the same but they don\u2019t deliver that smoky flavor we so desire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So here are the pros and cons of using grill pans\u2026followed with some tips on how you can improve your experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Pros of using a grill pan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  • The ridges mean that the fat and juices from meats run into the wells and drain away. The result is healthier cooking and the food is not essentially boiling in its own liquids.<\/li>
  • Most grill pans are made from cast iron which means that they distribute heat very evenly.<\/li>
  • The food looks great, the lines across the food resemble outdoor grilled food.<\/li>
  • Depending on the grill you buy, you can get a large surface area. This is true of the grill pans that are designed to go over two burners.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
    \n\n\n\n

    Cons of using a grill pan<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
    • Its not the same thing and we know it. The taste is nothing like outdoor grilling. No woody flavours, no charcoal\u2026nothing to remind you of the outdoors.<\/li>
    • Not all meats are easy to cook on grill pans. I often find that some meats are cooked on the outside but still have a way to go.<\/li>
    • They create a lot of smoke<\/li>
    • It is can be a hard cleaning them\u2026I always wipe the surface down while the pan is still hot\u2026it\u2019s a lot easier.<\/li>
    • If you are opting for the double burner version, it may be difficult to get them to balance correctly. Depending on the layout, you may end up with cooler spots on the pan.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n
      \n\n\n\n

      Tips to improve grill pan results. <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      Preheat the pan<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      It is recommended that you heat the pan up slowly for about 5 minutes or so. This avoids getting hot spots in the pan which will cook some parts quickly and other slowly. This can ruin your results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Be patient\u2026it makes a difference. To test whether your pan is preheated, flick some water on it. If it dances on the pan and evaporates quickly, it is ready.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Keep it oiled<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      You want the pan to be non-stick to avoid food sticking on the grates. To do this, simply wipe some oil on the preheated pan with a clean paper towel. You do not want to smoke the pan as this burns the seasoning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Create a lid<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      Outdoor grills come with lids which means they can cook the food faster. It also raises the temperature within them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Grill pans don\u2019t come with lids so you need to get creative. A metal bowl will do the job.