The time for grilling should not be confined to the summer months and to homes that have an open space in which to set up the barbecue. Learn how to grill in the oven and you can enjoy the good taste of smoked and roasted food all year round.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Using the Oven Grill
Step 1. Adjust the oven shelves
Generally, the coil is located in the upper part of the oven. In this case, the top of the pan should be about 10-20cm away from the coil, so adjust one of the shelves accordingly.
- The closer the food is to the heat source, the faster it will cook. For example, if you want to eat a well-done steak, it better be closer to the grill. If you prefer medium or rare, keep it a little further away from the heat source.
- In some cases the gas cookers are equipped with a drawer under the oven that can be used as a food warmer and sometimes also for grilling if the coil is located in the lower external part of the oven. Read the instruction manual of your appliance to find out more.
Step 2. Preheat the oven to maximum temperature and turn on the grill
Most ovens can reach temperatures of 260 ° C. Once lit, let the oven heat for 10 minutes with the pan inside. The temperature must be very high to replicate cooking on the barbecue.
The oven grill is positioned at the top, but essentially functions like a barbecue. The main difference is that the heat comes from the top rather than the bottom
Step 3. Put on your oven mitts and take out the hot pan
After 10 minutes, remove the pan or dish from the oven, place it on the stove and fill it with the food to be grilled. The ideal is to use a pan similar to a grill pan so that the meat or vegetables do not have to cook in their fats or liquids.
Step 4. Return the pan to the oven for 8-10 minutes
Leave the oven door slightly ajar. The grill generally switches off when it has reached a certain temperature, but in this case cooking stops. Leaving the door ajar, the flow of air will prevent the grill from switching off.
- From time to time check and turn the meat just like you do when you grill it using the barbecue. Let it cook for 4-5 minutes and then flip it to ensure even cooking on both sides.
- In general, the vegetables should also be turned after 4-5 minutes of cooking.
Step 5. Check the internal temperature of the meat using a specific thermometer
If you are cooking chicken or if you want the steak to be medium or well done, the temperature should reach 71 ° C. If, on the other hand, you prefer rare or lightly cooked meat, it just needs to reach 57 ° C.
The tip of the thermometer must reach the center of the piece of meat. Wait for the probe to detect the degree of heat and for the temperature to remain stable for a few seconds. If the meat is not cooked yet, return it to the oven for another 2-3 minutes
Step 6. Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting it
Place the pan on the stove and wait. The meat will continue to cook for a few minutes and the juices will redistribute within the fibers. If you measure the temperature again, you will probably find that it has risen. This is normal as it continues to cook.
Remember to turn off the oven and grill when the meat is ready
Method 2 of 3: Using a Grill Pan in the Oven
Step 1. Use a classic fluted grill pan
Food cooked on the barbecue can be distinguished by the classic black lines. The grooves of the cast iron grill pan can give the meat the same characteristic effect. If you don't have a cast iron grill, you can buy it at a low price online, in kitchenware stores or in well-stocked supermarkets. Whatever the material it is important that it has the typical grooves of the grill pan, which in addition to creating the toasted effect will prevent the meat or vegetables from cooking inside their fats or juices.
Cast iron retains heat very well, which is why it is the ideal material for grilling food in the oven
Step 2. Place a rack in the bottom of the oven
Place it in the lowest shelf and turn the oven on to the highest temperature available (about 260 ° C). Put the grill pan in the oven and let it heat for about ten minutes.
By placing the grill pan on the lowest shelf of the oven, the hot air will have more space to circulate around the food during cooking
Step 3. Put the meat in the hot grill
Take it out of the oven to avoid burning your arms by accidentally touching the grill. Put on a pair of oven mitts that can withstand high temperatures and arrange the food in the grill using the kitchen tongs.
If the dish also includes vegetables, you can put them under the meat so that its juices make it even tastier
Step 4. Grill the ingredients in the oven for 8-10 minutes
Check them after 4-5 minutes and turn both the meat and the vegetables so that they cook evenly and in the shortest possible time.
Step 5. Measure the core temperature of the meat using a special thermometer
If you are cooking chicken or if you want the steak to be medium or well done, the temperature should reach 71 ° C. If, on the other hand, you prefer rare or lightly cooked meat, wait until it reaches 57 ° C.
Stick the piece of meat in the center with the tip of the thermometer. Wait for the reading to be stable, it should take a minute or less
Step 6. Remove the grill pan from the oven, then turn it off
Let the meat rest for 5-10 minutes before cutting it. This way the juices will have time to redistribute themselves within the fibers, rather than ending up on the cutting board or plate. Do not cut the meat inside the grill to avoid scratching it.
Method 3 of 3: Give the Ingredients a Smoky Taste
Step 1. Use a smoky flavored spice mix
The grill will give the meat a roasted appearance, but since there is no smoke produced by the barbecue, you have to use spices to make up for that.
- Dry the meat before sprinkling it with spices to prevent it from burning while cooking in the oven.
- You can buy a ready-made spice mix that includes paprika or smoked salt, for example.
- Sprinkle the meat on all sides with spices. Massage it with your hands to distribute them evenly.
Step 2. Use smoked olive oil for vegetables
Wash and cut them as you wish, then pour the oil over them. Mix them to season them evenly and don't forget to add a little salt and pepper as well.
- Peppers, onions, courgettes, aubergines, asparagus, tomatoes and mushrooms can withstand the heat of the oven and are delicious when grilled.
- You can put the vegetables under the meat so that its juices make them even tastier.
Step 3. Use the chipotle pepper, which is smoked, to intensify the flavor of the dish
You can use it fresh, in powder or in the form of a sauce. The chipotle is a jalapeño pepper that is dried and smoked and is therefore the perfect ingredient to incorporate into a "fake" grill. If you want, you can massage the chili powder directly onto the meat.
