Inclement weather has a way of fouling up the best-laid plans, whether it’s a long-planned day at the ballpark or a semi-spontaneous grillout in your backyard.
If you lack a suitable indoor-outdoor space to run a grill in the rain (or snow, if you’re a hardy northern type), why not opt for an indoor grill that replicates the inimitable fire-cooking experience without the whole exposure to the elements thing.
Indoor grilling isn’t quite the same animal as traditional outdoor grilling, though. You’ll definitely want to keep these five tips in mind as you plan and prepare your next healthy, family-friendly grilled meal.
- Have a Grease Capture System
Outdoors, grease capture is easy: liquefied fat simply falls through the grates into the flame, where it’s incinerated into smoke and sticky carbon that’s easy to remove with periodic cleaning.
Indoors, it’s not so easy. Stovetop and self-contained indoor grills don’t always have space for waste grease, making for less healthy proteins and more post-cooking cleaning. There’s no right or wrong answer to the grease issue — just know that you’ll have to address it somehow.
- Turn the Hood on High
Even when you’re cooking with gas, ventilation is key. Smoke and fumes fill confined spaces a lot faster than the great outdoors, after all. Turn your kitchen hood on high and, if weather permits, open windows as needed.
- Don’t Use Charcoal
This should go without saying, but you’d be surprised how many intrepid indoor grillers think nothing of firing up the charcoal grill in their kitchens or (!) basements.
Nine times out of ten, you can get away with charcoal grilling indoors. It’s that tenth time you have to worry about — and worry you should. Just like deep-frying a turkey, grilling indoors with charcoal is a serious fire hazard that can have catastrophically bad results if you’re not careful. Not to mention the obvious venting issues. It’s just not worth it, folks.
- Consider a Stovetop Grill in Tight Spaces
Compact kitchen? No problem. Opt for a stovetop grill that’s easy to slide on and off your range. Most stovetop grills can fit two-burner ranges, but you can find models that stretch across all four.
Like traditional grills, stovetop grills capture grease and grit, boosting finished foods’ healthfulness. And they’re a snap to clean. Cast-iron grills need little more than an aggressive paper-towel scrub once they’re cool enough to handle; non-stick grills take well to soap and running water.
- Sub Out High Fat Proteins
Pro tip: trade out the sirloin or 80/20 burgers for a lean cut of chicken or fish, and make up for the loss of juicy, delicious fat with generous seasoning. Low-fat proteins aren’t just healthier — they’re safer and less messy to grill in a confined space. Oh, and they pair well with salads, another healthy choice for the whole family. (Yes, even picky kids.)
Grill on, Stay Safe
Like any food preparation medium involving open flame, indoor grills bring significant safety risks to the table (no pun intended).
But don’t let that put you off. Just remember to read all posted warnings and review best practices for flame-cooking safety. Even if you don’t consider yourself particularly careful, you can absolutely enjoy a safe, fun-filled indoor grilling evening with the whole family. Here’s to a delicious, home-cooked meal with no dashing between raindrops required!
