You might want to use a grill pan for making steaks when you don’t have a grill. No doubt grill is a versatile instrument in which you can grill everything. However, the grill pan is an alternative to a grill, but here comes an issue with using a grill pan on an electric stove. Cast iron is the best metal to sear the food with full of flavors.
Most people are searching for a query Can you use a grill pan on an electric stove? To help you get started with your culinary adventures, we’ll discuss which grill pan to pick. We will also go through every detail you should think about before using a grill pan on an electric stove. So start reading.
Can You Use a Grill Pan on an Electric Stove?
Indeed, you can utilize a grill pan on an electric stove. The electric stoves are intended to prepare food on a huge number like earthenware cookers, iron pans, steel utensils, and many more. Although you can easily use them on an electric stove, however, they are primarily designed for making food on gas ovens.
You will get the desired results but it won’t function perfectly as it is made for gas ovens. You’ll run into a few issues when using a grill pan on an electric stove, which takes time and easily smokes. Lower the heat to preserve the greatest flavor of the dish when using a cast iron pan.
Grilling on an Electric Stove Top
An electric stovetop may be used to cook steaks if you don’t have the space or opportunity for a grill. On the other hand, there are portable tabletop barbecues on the market that simplify grilling. If you would rather not use a portable grill, take a skillet or grill pan and set it on top of an electric or gas stove to begin cooking. The electric stove has different ranges of waves that can make the steaks according to your desire.
Steps to Grill on an Electric Stove Top
- Before starting cooking on a grill pan clean and dry it completely. If there is any residue on the grill pan it will start burning and make the taste of the food bad. Furthermore, the oil will start splitting if the pan is not completely dry before adding oil. These two factors will prevent the food from cooking evenly and give inconsistent results.
- After cleaning and drying, place the grill pan on the stovetop on a medium-high setting. Let the pan heat up for about 5 minutes. This preheating is important because the pan will absorb the heat and spread it uniformly all over the pan.
- When the pan gets hot uniformly, add a small amount of oil or butter of your likeness and wait till it melts. The oil will make the cooking surface non-stick and prevent the food from sticking.
- Within 2 to 3 minutes, the oil will get hot and start producing splashing. This is the time you can add food to the grill pan. If the oil gets too hot try to lower the electric stove to avoid oil burns. Be careful not to add too much food to the pan. Try to make space between the items so that they will cook evenly and the hot oil will circulate everywhere.
- It is necessary to grill the food for about 5 to 7 minutes on each side. This is an estimated time for normal food cooking. You can check the requirements for your food cooking on the electric stove with a grill pan. Red meat takes a longer time and high heat to cook while vegetables and white meat take almost the same time.
- Adjust the electric stove with the passage of time as the food needs high heat at the start and when it is about to cook it needs a lower temperature. Once you see the food is well cooked, remove it from the grill pan and serve it properly.
What is the Best Grill Pan for the Electric Stove?
Aluminum Grill Pan
Aluminum is a lighter metal as compared to cast iron. The utensils made from aluminum are also cheap as compared to other metals. It heats faster and takes less time to heat the food cooking over it as compared to cast iron. In such a way it is considered a good choice if you don’t want to spend more on utensils.
However, aluminum grill pans have some disadvantages as well. They can deform with time because the metal is not strong enough to bear high heat for a longer run. They are also less durable because the metal is thin, whereas cast iron pans are thick and made of sturdy, durable material.
Stainless Steel Grill Pan
A stainless steel grill pan comes second in my count because cast iron takes the first position always. The main advantage of this steel is it doesn’t get stains or rust. It is also tough in nature and is easy to clean as compared to cast iron grill pans.
It is wrap-resistant and also does not rust easily. However, there comes the issue of even heat distribution with stainless steel grill pans. It does not disperse heat uniformly due to which it is a little bit trickier to cook with them.
Few things to Remember while Choosing a Grill Pan
Size
Your electric stove’s size will determine the size of the pan you’ll require. You won’t require a large grill pan if you only have a tiny electric stove. You should ensure that the pan you purchase is large enough to satisfy your cooking needs, though, if your stove is larger.
Weight
One further item to consider is the pan’s weight. You should select a lighter-weight pan if your electric stove is small. However, you can pick a heavier pan if your stove is bigger. If you select a bigger grill pan for a smaller electric stove top then it will be hard to cook uniformly.
The big pan will have a large surface area for food while the stove will only heat specific areas of the pan. This results in uncooked food on the sides of the pan while the middle area where the food directly comes in touch with the pan gets cooked faster.
Non-stick surface
A non-stick grill pan makes the cooking easy and delicious. This feature adds additional quality to the pan and helps in cooking food well. However, if the pan does not have a non-stick surface, it will mostly burn the food. The different metals have different capacities to absorb heat and release it while cooking so understand the grill’s pan metal first.
Cooking with non-stick utensils will give challenges for newbies. The non-stick surface will try not to adhere food to the grill pan. After cooking, all you need is some soapy water and a scotch pad to clean it.
How to Clean and Maintain Your Grill Pan?
When you are done with cooking in a grill pan clean it. It is important to clean the pan because it will clean the dirt that will stick to the pan when you are done cleaning it. Cleaning also makes the pan to last a long time without wear and tear.
The main important points that are necessary to keep in mind while maintaining the grill pan are washing and drying. These two things will remove the dirt and stains from the grill pan respectively and maintain the pan for the next use. These steps also prolong the lifetime of the grill pan.
Cleaning a Grill Pan
Cleaning every cooking material after use is important because a nasty utensil attracts microorganisms that cause health issues when cooked on it. It is important to clean your grill pan after each use to avoid health issues.
The easiest way to clean a grill pan is by washing it using hot water. Try to make a soapy solution in hot water and pour it into the pan. It will be better if you dip the pan in the solution so the hot soapy water will dissolve the oil and make it easy to brush out the oil from the pan.
Drying Grill Pan
When you wash the pan with clean water after scrubbing the pan, make it dry. Dring is necessary because water will leave stains on the oil pan even after washing them with cleaning detergent. When you are done washing the pan, dry it by hanging it in on open air.
You can also use a paper towel to dry it if you want to store your grill pan right after washing it. It is the best option to properly store your grill pan when not in use to avoid mold and rust from growing on it.
Conclusion
We hope this article will help you how to use a grill pan on an electric stove. We have covered some of the main things regarding grill pans like what size will be best for your electric stove because it comes in various sizes and materials. A grill pan is the best option if you don’t have a grill to fill your appetite with the taste of steak.
The electric stove helps in making the steak easily with the use of a grill pan. Using a grill pan for cooking is no longer difficult, though there are a few things to keep in mind, such as preheating the pan and preventing overloading if your electric stove is small.