Grill pan. How to cook vegetables, steak, fish, chicken on it

Publication in the group: Kitchenware

The grill pan is considered a pretty successful culinary invention. Thanks to it, it is possible to cook various foods with a minimum amount of fat. As a result, the products come out quite juicy and not too greasy. Therefore, such dishes can be given to those who adhere to a diet to try.

General principles of cooking on a grill pan

A grill pan allows you to cook a wide variety of foods. However, for this you need to choose a high-quality container.

First of all, you will need to decide on the material from which the grill pan can be made:

Made of aluminum . It has a non-stick coating and is lightweight. At the same time, the saucepan heats up very quickly. However, when exposed to too high a temperature, the non-stick layer of an aluminum frying pan is destroyed.
Made of ceramics . The container is able to withstand high heating conditions and also conducts good heat without emitting toxic substances. However, such a saucepan is quite fragile and short-lived.
Made of cast iron . The product is quite durable and strong. It is designed for grilling because it heats up well and cools down for a long time. However, a cast iron skillet is quite heavy and emits a metallic smell from the surface.

The shape of the grill pan can be oval, rectangular, square or round. The square container is suitable for making delicacies for a large family. To bake fish or meat delicacies, it is best to purchase rectangular dishes with a ceramic base. Any saucepan must have thick walls so that there is intense heat inside the container.

If you have an induction cooker, the dimensions of the stewpan must be similar to the diameter of the burner. In this case, the container must be deep so that the ingredients are fried well enough. For cooking fresh vegetables and fish, containers that are not too deep are suitable. The grill pan has a ribbed base that creates stripes on the ingredients.

The higher the ribs, the farther the product will be from the frying base. Fat and juice that appear during the cooking stage will remain between the grooves without touching the food. Most grill dishes are produced with Teflon coating. Therefore, it is recommended to immediately purchase a silicone spatula so as not to disturb the non-stick layer. At the same time, it is undesirable to heat the container more than 200 ℃, otherwise harmful substances will be released from the base of the container.

An aluminum grill pan with a smooth bottom is suitable for glass ceramic hobs. For an induction cooker, the container must have a flat steel base or it can consist of two sides with iron inserts near the base. The handle of the container should be made of wood, silicone or heat-resistant plastic. Cast iron models have a solid cast handle so that it does not deform under the weight of the dish. Saute pans with folding handles are also available.

General principles for preparing dishes on a grill pan:

It is recommended to use a small amount of oil for cooking. It is best to coat the ribbed base of the container with olive oil using a brush.
Products must be placed exclusively on a well-heated saucepan. As a result, the products will become crusty and will not stick to the base of the container.
Before frying, it is advisable to cut the meat into pieces, the thickness of which will not be more than 2 cm.
Upon completion of production, it is not recommended to send the dishes to the table without a stand, since the saucepan gets quite hot.
The grill pan is not intended for preparing marinades and roasting. The fire power should be medium or minimal.
In order for the saucepan to heat evenly, the dishes must be placed in the center of the fire source.
When the saucepan has warmed up well, you must immediately start cooking so that the container does not overheat without food.
It is recommended to use plastic or wooden spatulas for turning. When baking in the oven, you must remove the handle from the pan.

Grill pan.
Tip on how to cook: use plastic or wooden spatulas for turning. The advantage of this saucepan is the ribbed base, which makes it possible to produce a juicy and healthy product without fat and soot. At the same time, the products are always covered with a browned crust and a rich aroma.

For gas stove

The capabilities of cookware for a gas stove help you diversify your meals with little time spent. This type of device ensures that food is prepared without the use of harmful substances, thereby helping to maintain health for many years. The most popular products can be found in the online store:

Model name: Neva Metal “Ferra Induction” with Titanium PC II coating.
Price: 3390 rubles.
Characteristics: bottom thickness 4 mm, wall height 4.6 cm, titanium coating is unpretentious, but durable and reliable.
Pros: Suitable for glass-ceramic, induction, electric and gas stoves. The thickened bottom provides uniform heating of the dishes and accumulates heat. Thanks to the removable handle, the device can be used in the oven. Dishwasher safe.
Cons: high price.

The famous Swiss manufacturer AXENTIA uses pure materials in production. Grill pan made of cast aluminum does not require the use of fats:

Model name: AXENTIA, cast iron, black.
Price: 1699 rubles.
Characteristics: coating – non-stick, there are non-heating handles, material – thermoplastic and aluminum.
Pros: Durable, suitable for almost all types of stoves and hobs.
Cons: Not suitable for induction hobs.

Rules for frying beef and pork

The meat is cooked quite well in the grill pan. At the same time, it remains tender and juicy. For cooking, it is recommended to use a cast iron saucepan with a thick base, since the container heats up for quite a long time, but retains the heat for a long period of time.

If you don’t have a grill pan, you can use a regular saucepan or bake the product in the oven at a temperature of 200 ℃. When choosing the latter option, it is advisable to wrap the meat in foil.

The process of frying meat on a grill pan is impossible without the following food products:

mustard – 15 g;
sunflower seed oil – 90 ml;
pork or beef – 1 kg;
mixture of Provencal herbs – 5 g;
soy sauce – 25 ml;
salt, black pepper - as needed;
lemon zest - at your discretion;
garlic - 3 cloves.

When using pork, the tenderloin or neck portion is suitable. The oil can be made from sunflower or olive seeds.

Making your own meat in a grill pan is described in the following steps:

A piece of meat should be cut into thin slices no more than 2 cm thick.
Then you need to place the product in a container, add lemon zest, pressed garlic, mustard and soy sauce, as well as Provençal herbs and sunflower seed oil.
Next, the spices should be rubbed well into the meat pieces and mixed thoroughly, leaving at room temperature for approximately 10 minutes.
Afterwards, you will need to coat the saucepan with vegetable oil using a brush and place it on the fire, heating it thoroughly until a little smoke appears.
At this stage, you will need to place the meat in a saucepan, add salt and pepper and fry over maximum heat on each side for 3 minutes.
At the end, a shallow cut must be made on one of the meat pieces. If the meat is pinkish in the middle, the product should be fried under a closed lid over low heat for about another 2 minutes.
Then the semi-finished product must be placed on a plate and covered with foil, allowing the treat to sit for another 20 minutes.

Double sided

When frying on a double-sided device, there is no need to turn the food over; you just need to close the lid and turn the product itself over. Both parts are secured with magnetic locks. Inside, as a rule, there is a special compartment for water into which all excess moisture will drain. Most popular products:

Model name: Gipfel 32 cm.
Price: 4734 rubles.
Characteristics: diameter 32 cm, induction bottom, non-stick ceramic coating, bakelite handle. Material: cast aluminum.
Pros: the dishes are made from environmentally friendly materials. High resistance to physical impacts. Multi-layer bottom reduces cooking time.
Cons: heavy in weight.

For a long time, Sinbo has been providing a wide range of products in the small home appliance sector. One of the most popular products is:

Model name: Sinbo SP 5218.
Price: 2900 rubles.
Characteristics: surface coating: granite, handle material – anti-plastic. Housing made of solid energy-saving aluminum. High resistance to high temperatures. Dimensions: 32 x 24 x 9 cm.
Pros: non-stick external and internal surface.
Cons: Not suitable for induction cookers.

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Grilled chicken

The grill pan allows you to cook the chicken loin, giving the meat a characteristic smoky smell. Despite the fact that the fillet becomes dry after frying in a regular saucepan, on the grill the meat becomes juicy. A salad or chopped fresh vegetables is suitable as a side dish.

To make your own chicken in a grill pan, you need the products from the following table:

Ingredients needed	Required quantity
Sunflower seed oil	15 ml
Soy sauce	50 ml
Salt	Of necessity
Dried basil	2 g
Chicken breast fillet	300 g

The above ingredients are enough to make 3 servings.

The process of creating flavorful grilled chicken is described in the following steps:

The chicken breast should be rinsed under running water, then dried with paper towels and cut into thin slices.
Then you will need to add salt to the meat to taste, add dried basil with soy sauce and let the workpiece stand in the marinade for 1 hour.
The frying pan will need to be coated with vegetable oil, thoroughly heated over maximum heat, and then reduced to medium heat, adding pieces of chicken breast.
The dish must be cooked for 5 minutes. on each side, and then place on a napkin to remove excess fat, serving the treat to the table.

Cheese steak

Take suluguni or halloumi , cut it into pieces 3-5 millimeters thick.
There is no need to lubricate the bottom with anything, the cheese is already quite fatty.
When the pan is hot, lay out the pieces of cheese for literally 1 minute, and immediately remove with tongs. An excellent appetizer, to decorate the bottom with chopped greens to taste.

Grilled fish

You can cook a juicy and appetizing fish steak on a grill pan. The delicacy turns out to be quite nutritious and healthy. It is suitable for those who adhere to the principles of proper and dietary nutrition.

The calorie content of the finished treat will vary within 211 kcal per 100 g of raw material. Thanks to the grill, the surface of the fish is covered with an appetizing golden brown crust, which crisps when eaten. The best side dish is mashed potatoes with vegetable salad.

To make your own grilled fish in a frying pan, you will need to purchase the following ingredients:

white pepper – 2 g;
greens – 50 g;
lemon – 150 g;
salmon – 1 piece;
pepper mixture – 2 g;
soy sauce – 30 ml.

The process of making aromatic fish on a grill pan is described in the following paragraphs:

Thawed fish steaks will need to be sprinkled with lemon juice, sprinkled with pepper and let sit for about 15 minutes.
Then pour the soy sauce over the steak and let it brew again for 20 minutes, periodically turning it over and pouring the sauce over the semi-finished products.
At this stage, you need to place the pieces in a saucepan and fry on each side for 5 minutes.
At the end, the treat needs to be decorated with herbs, sprinkled with lemon juice and served.

How to use and what is best to cook with it

This miracle frying pan does not require any special recipes. It doesn’t matter what you fry, the main thing is to consider the following principles:

Oil is used to lubricate either the ribs of the utensil or the product itself.
First, heat the frying pan, and then put the food on it. Otherwise food will stick to the bottom.
Do you like well-done meat? Then turn the heat down and turn the pieces of meat several times.
To wait for the crust, you should turn the meat only when a golden hue forms on it.
By turning the meat at an angle of 90 degrees, you will get a dish decorated with a mesh.
If you want to stew food, cover it with a lid. Well, if the goal is just to fry, the lid is not used.
If you plan to cook something meat or fish, do not forget to marinate these products.
Each dish has its own cooking time, don’t forget.
You don’t need to cut the food too finely, otherwise the dish won’t turn out juicy.

By turning the meat at an angle of 90 degrees, you will get a dish decorated with a mesh.
Modern cooking requires modern “tools” to create delicious dishes. The grill pan is the ideal kitchen assistant. Its number of disadvantages is not as extensive as its many advantages. It is only important to navigate the parameters of the utensils and be able to take good care of them if you want to use the utensils for a long time.

Grilled vegetables

A grill pan allows you to cook fresh vegetables, which turn out quite appetizing, light and healthy for the body. Due to the fact that grilling requires a minimal amount of fat, the ingredients are much healthier than vegetables prepared in a regular saucepan.

The ingredients can be used as auxiliary components in the preparation of delicacies, as well as a side dish and a complete snack. The calorie content of grilled vegetables reaches approximately 69 kcal per 100 g of raw materials.

Making your own grilled vegetables in a frying pan is possible if you have the following ingredients:

eggplants – 150 g;
bell pepper – 100 g;
onion head – 75 g;
zucchini – 500 g;
olive oil – 30 ml;
salt – as needed;
dried ground pepper - to your taste;
champignons – 5 pcs.

You can use absolutely any vegetables for frying. To do this, you can take carrots with potatoes and tomatoes. If the vegetables are small, it is best not to cut them, but to fry them whole. To give vegetables a more appetizing taste, it is recommended to soak their surface with any marinade. The procedure must be performed before frying so that the ingredients can be completely saturated with the dressing.

Before frying, the saucepan must be well heated so that the slices of ingredients do not stick to the base of the dish.

From the specified volume of components it will be possible to make 4 servings.

The process of creating baked vegetables at home is described in the following steps:

The vegetables will need to be rinsed and peeled well, removing the tail from the pepper.
Then the zucchini with eggplant and onions must be cut into circles up to 1 cm thick.
The bell pepper should be divided lengthwise into 2 halves or chopped into rectangular pieces.
Then the mushrooms need to be chopped into plates in the amount of 4 pieces.
Afterwards, all the listed vegetables should be salted and seasoned with ground pepper.
At this stage, you will need to place the saucepan on the fire, coat it with a thin layer of olive oil and lay out the prepared ingredients in one layer.
You will need to cook the treat until appetizing grilled strips appear on both sides for 3 minutes so that the vegetables turn out crispy. Afterwards you can serve the dish to the table.

What foods are best to fry?

Fried tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini - sounds crazy? But nevertheless, it’s worth, if not preparing a full-fledged dish from them, then at least adding them when frying.

When heated quickly, fiber breaks down and beneficial substances become more accessible for absorption.

These can also include onions and garlic - unless, of course, you fry them until black and control the amount of oil.

In addition, if we compare the usefulness of fried and boiled fish, the first will win - when boiling, a lot of useful substances go into the broth, and when frying, valuable nutrients remain in the fish, and harmful ones due to the speed of cooking do not have time to form in critical quantities.

Fruits

The grill pan allows you to cook any fruit that can be served by pouring sugar syrup on top. The products are quite sweet, but at the same time quite nutritious and healthy. This is due to the fact that the products are prepared without using or with a small amount of oil. This dessert can be served for breakfast or afternoon tea for those who are watching their figure.

Products that you may need to make fruit in a grill pan are shown in the following list:

apricot – 108 g;
banana – 400 g;
pear – 300 g;
brown granulated sugar – 10 g;
butter – 20 g;
apple – 240 g.

Instead of brown sugar, you can use regular white sugar. However, such a replacement is undesirable. For cooking, you can use absolutely any fruit that you like best.

The process of making fruits yourself on a grill pan is described in the following steps:

Bananas need to be cut into medium-sized pieces, apples and pears into slices, and apricots into halves.
Place all ingredients on a preheated grill pan and fry over medium heat on both sides for approximately 1.5 minutes.
Next, mix brown sugar with butter by melting the ingredients in a water bath or in the microwave.
At the end, you will need to place the fried fruits on portioned plates and pour sugar sauce on top, serving the treat to the table.

Reviews

Vika: “I have a rectangular Teflon Tefal grill. I am very pleased, I love cooking steaks and vegetables. The main thing is that there is almost no oil, I just sprinkle the vegetables a little.”

Olya: “My family loves grilled sausages and cheese most of all. This is such a great snack that goes well with beer, wine and coffee.”

Tatyana: “Most of all I love grilled fish. My husband and I recently bought an average-priced rondelle, and we couldn’t be happier. True, we bought a square one, a whole fish won’t fit, but the steaks are perfect.”

Useful tips and tricks

Useful tips with recommendations will tell you how to properly use a grill pan at home:

It is necessary to wash the container after it has completely cooled in a warm liquid using a sponge and detergent;
When washing dirty dishes, it is undesirable to use hard sponges with active cleaning powders, as well as metal brushes, since these products can damage the non-stick base of the saucepan;
for the manufacture of products, it is recommended to use equipment that has a special “spout” for safely draining accumulated fat or juice;
ingredients can be prepared much faster if a small amount of water is poured between the grooves in the base;
chicken fillet, pre-beaten, will be done after 4 minutes. when frying meat on each side for 2 minutes;
When making young potatoes, the vegetable must first be boiled until half cooked;
when using the grill pan for the first time, it is recommended to fill it with salt and, after heating it well, thoroughly calcine it in order to increase its non-stick properties;
Meat steaks, entrecotes, tenderloins, sausages, cutlets, poultry, mushrooms, vegetables, as well as whole or sliced fish are suitable for grilling;
The average cooking time for fish with compacted meat on each side is about 2 minutes, and it is recommended not to overcook fish of fatty varieties, as it may fall apart and lose its structure.

Cooking various dishes on a grill pan will not cause much trouble. At the same time, the products are low-calorie and quite aromatic. This is explained by the fact that a small amount of oil is used for frying, which makes the delicacy juicy and less fatty.

With lid

A fluted frying pan with a lid works well for healthy cooking. At the same time, the products retain maximum benefits, and no harmful burnt crust forms on the meat. In addition, excess fat does not end up on the dish, which makes it even more delicious. You can buy a grill pan in the online store at the best prices. The most popular products are:

Model name: cast iron frying pan 28 x 28 cm, with glass lid, Biol.
Price: 2350 rubles.
Characteristics: bottom thickness 4 mm, wall height 4.5 cm. Suitable for use on all types of stoves, including induction, gas, ceramic.
Pros: The dishes can be used in the oven. During the frying process, cast iron prevents heat from escaping. Eco-friendly material.
Cons: heavy weight.

A square-shaped frying pan from KitchenAid is designed for those cases when intense frying, long-term stewing, and simmering are required. In such dishes you can cook hot sandwiches, steaks, vegetables:

Model name: KitchenAid 25 cm frying pan with lid press, black.
Price: 14990 rubles.
Characteristics: cast iron square shape 25 x 25 cm, with press 20 x 20 cm. Ensures good contact between the grill surface and the food.
Pros: porcelain enamel (inner coating) provides a golden brown crust and prevents stains. The cookware can be used on any stove.
Cons: high price.