Grill pan for gas stove

Kitchenware for any housewife is more than just an item of everyday life. Often, more attention is paid to the choice of frying pans or pots than to accessories. After all, you want the food you cook to be not only tasty, but also healthy.

What is a grill pan for a gas stove

This "accessory" has a number of design features and is suitable only for gas stoves. It consists of a base tray with a hole in the middle for the burner, a grate and a lid. In addition, the kit usually includes a removable handle or grip. If we consider more expensive models, they are supplemented with a special baking insert, which, by closing the hole in the tray, provides exactly the same "conditions" as in the oven.

During cooking, oil or fat flows into the tray, and does not remain on the products. And the fire provides uniform heating, but does not come into contact with the food. The operating principle is very similar to cooking in a regular grill: the inside heats up and very hot air begins to circulate inside the "device".

Selecting the material

A grill pan, like other kitchen utensils, is made from different materials. Finished products differ in cost, weight, and, of course, service life. This means that you will have to spend a lot of time choosing a decent frying pan.

But before we start choosing the material, let’s decide on the “external data”.

• To ensure that food is heated well, choose a model with a high-density bottom and sides.
• For cooking meat, choose frying pans with higher sides than for frying fish and vegetables.
• The height of the ribs affects the quality of the prepared dishes. The optimal size is 1 cm.
• When choosing the diameter, take into account the required number of servings. If we are talking about a dish for one person, then 24 cm is quite enough. For a large family, it is recommended to choose a model with a diameter of 28 cm, but not more than 32 cm, otherwise the frying pan will not heat up.
• The shape of the frying pan does not affect the quality of cooking, which means that when answering the question: which frying pan to choose for a gas stove, focus on your own preferences, what you like best: round, oval, square or rectangular.
• The lid should be high enough to allow large pieces to be fried in the pan.
• If possible, choose a lid with a glass insert, then you won’t have to open the pan again to check the degree of readiness of the food.
• The grill grate is made of stainless steel or steel with a non-stick coating. Pieces of food stick to stainless steel. A steel grate has the appearance of a perforated insert and cooked products are easily removed from it, but there will be no characteristic stripes on pieces of meat or fish. By the way, some models have two types of grates at once.
• The hole for the burner should not be large, usually it is suitable for small burners. It is better if this hole has a conical shape.

Now about the materials.

Cast iron

A material that is in high demand for the production of kitchen utensils, especially in the recent past. It has always been valued for its excellent performance properties and durability. Such a frying pan heats up evenly and retains heat for a very long time. Perhaps the only downside is the weight. In addition, not everyone likes the characteristic metallic smell that occurs during cooking.

Aluminum

Another "sales leader". It is especially appreciated for its light weight. Today, this advantage has been supplemented by a non-stick coating. Due to the high thermal conductivity of aluminum, it heats up very quickly. Speaking of disadvantages, it is worth noting the instability to high temperatures. When heated to 260 degrees and above, the non-stick coating is destroyed. However, if you cook carefully and keep the situation under control, this disadvantage is not taken into account.

Ceramics

This material has been used for the production of kitchen utensils relatively recently. Its aesthetic appearance is especially valued, as well as its ability to withstand high temperatures. It is no coincidence that housewives love to use ceramic items for cooking in the oven. Such frying pans have good thermal conductivity. They do not emit any odor. The only downside is fragility. One careless movement and the frying pan is shattered. But if you consider yourself a neat cook, then this “minus” does not matter.

Stainless steel

In this case, the grill pan for a gas stove is made of low-carbon steel. It does not emit any harmful substances and does not require a non-stick coating. The pan is very durable, withstands mechanical impacts, and guarantees a long service life.

Marble

Another relatively new material for making kitchen items. A marble frying pan is easy to distinguish by its external features - particles of marble chips are visible on its surface. This coating is applied in two layers, guarantees good thermal conductivity, and is absolutely safe. The only feature is that you need to wash it only with a soft sponge.

Operating recommendations

Housewives claim that any dish can be cooked on a grill pan for a gas stove. However, it is most often used for frying meat and vegetables. The process itself will give you a lot of pleasure and will end with a decent result if you follow simple recommendations.

• The device is installed on the grate (if you use an old-style gas stove) or on a stand. First, install the tray, making sure that the burner matches the hole for it. It is better to choose a medium-sized burner or the smallest one.
• Before you start frying, pour a glass (or one and a half) of water into the pan. This trick will allow you to cook more juicy dishes. If you prefer fish or meat with a crispy crust and a drier consistency, cover the bottom of the pan with foil.
• The cooking process is no different from frying in a regular frying pan. Only beginners are advised to carefully monitor the process at the first stages to understand how much time is required for frying to a certain degree. Subsequently, such a thorough check will not be required.
• You can wash this miracle gadget both by hand and in the dishwasher – light mechanical action will not damage the coating.

Pros and cons

Unfortunately, there is no invention yet that would have only positive characteristics, each know-how has both strengths and weaknesses. But such a frying pan still has more advantages.

So, first the good stuff:

1. It is possible to cook without adding oil. And, as we know, the less fat, the more useful.
2. This simple at first glance kitchen “gadget” has several operating modes, which allows you to make the menu varied and the cooking process interesting.
3. Affordable price. Such a frying pan is quite affordable for the average housewife.
4. The frying pan's convection system significantly reduces the time needed to cook food, compared to conventional kitchen utensils. Thus, frying meat will take 20-25 minutes.
5. Finally, high performance: long service life, convenient use.

There are only two disadvantages.

1. To use such a frying pan, you need a gas stove, but now electric hobs are increasingly used.
2. If you use this know-how every day, you will have a problem cleaning the grill, especially if you fry the food properly.

Some useful tips

• When choosing a frying pan, make sure that the tray has a spout. Thanks to it, draining oil or liquid will be much more convenient and safer.
• Having bought a frying pan, do not rush to fry vegetables or meat right away. First, heat it well by pouring coarse salt on the bottom of the pan. By the way, this little trick will improve the non-stick properties.
• If you need to cook a dish faster, just pour a little water into the grooves.
• Even if you fry using oil, you should not pour it in large quantities, it is enough to grease the bottom ribs.
• Place the food on the grill only when the surface is well heated. The thickness of the sliced ​​pieces should not exceed 1.5-2.5 cm, otherwise the dish will not be fried.

It is obvious that such an invention as a grill pan for a gas stove not only simplifies the cooking process, but also allows you to create truly healthy and tasty dishes.

VIDEO: Review of a grill pan for a gas stove.