How to Cook on an Electric Grill Outdoors
One of the most longstanding pastimes is outdoor grilling. However, in order to be successful in your endeavors, it takes a little more effort than just putting some meat on the grill and walking away. This fact is also true for electric grills. Follow these simple steps to help you grill outdoors.
What You'll Need:
- Electric grill and accessories that came with it
- Owner's manual for your grill
- Extension cord, if needed
- Nonstick tools like spatulas and tongs
- Food
- Recipe
- Prepare the vegetables and meat that is needed for your recipe first. The meat will need to be brought to room temperature, flattened as thin as possible, trimmed of any excess fat and scored around the edges to prevent them from curling up. Ensure that all meats and vegetables are sized to fit inside your grill, especially if it is a model with dual plates. Remember, food can be marinated for as little as few hours or even overnight.
- If the meat hasn’t been marinated, ensure that you use a nonstick spray or other cooking oil on the grill surfaces. Do so even if the surfaces themselves are marketed nonstick. This is especially true for lean meats such as turkey and fish.
- If the plates on your grill are removable, ensure that they are in place before you plug in and turn on the grill. Make sure the drip plan is installed in order to catch fat and other juices.
- Plug the grill in to an appropriate electrical outlet and allow it to reach the appropriate temperature for your recipe you plan to cook. Refer to the recipe for this information.
- Carefully time your grilling. This is especially true if you are using a dual-plate electric grill. With this grill type food can cook in half the time of regular grills. Check the meat frequently to prevent it from getting overcooked and dry.