How Grill Trays Can Revolutionize Your Cooking Both Indoors and Outdoors

Even though Blackstone discontinued their pizza oven, there are still so many ways for everyone to cook delicious foods both indoors and in their outdoor kitchens. With the assistance of grill trays, grill pans, broiler pans, and even the charcoal tray for a gas grill, you can delight your friends and family with foods that go beyond basic grilled meats.

Indoor and outdoor cooking share some common traits, but you’ll need plenty of ventilation in an indoor kitchen especially if you are trying to mimic the grilling experience which uses higher heat and generates more grease and smoke. Here is how to get the most delicious results whether you’re cooking indoors or out.

What Is A Grill Tray Used For?

A grill tray, also known as a grill pan, is a particularly exciting feature for outdoor cooking. Anyone who’s used a grill before knows that it’s pretty easy to lose food between the grates of the grill at some point. Not only can this put a damper on the cooking process, but it can also be an annoying cleaning project later on as the spilled food bakes onto the grill. A grill tray is designed to achieve the same grilled flavor and texture while making sure the foods don’t slide between the grates. 

Grills have been used for outdoor cooking because there’s a special reaction between hot metal and food. When the metal reaches a heat at around 300 degrees Fahrenheit, it starts to caramelize the surface of the food. Caramelization, also known scientifically as the Maillard reaction, signifies the change in flavor and texture when amino acids and sugars react together. This beautiful reaction is what makes us enjoy grilled, seared, baked, braised, broiled, or roasted food so much more than if these same ingredients were baked.

Grills enhance this reaction by creating raised ridges, increasing the amount of surface area of the steel. Depending on the type of grilling application, you can get different results. A stovetop grill pan or broiler pan, for instance, will trap the melted fats in the pan and add a sort of frying effect for additional flavor and crispiness. Meanwhile, an outdoor grill tray may or may not disperse the fats away from the food. The result is going to be pure deliciousness.

What Is A Grill Tray Called?

The grill tray actually has several variations and even names since it can be used in several different applications. Depending on the appliance, you can either enhance or replace the capabilities of an outdoor grill. Some grill trays even hold charcoal so you can get that coveted charcoal flavor even from a gas grill. The differences lie in the raised ridges on the tray or pan itself. Let’s cover some of the different options available.

• Stovetop Grill Pan: Grilling outdoors isn’t always an option, yet you may want to achieve the same textures and flavors that the outdoor grilling can provide. Choose a cast iron grill pan to be used on your gas stovetop over any nonstick or aluminum grill pan. This option works better with a natural gas stovetop, but is usable with electric stovetops if necessary. Be careful to use medium heat before you add the food so you have a better cooking experience. Be sure to use a powerful hood ventilator (turn it on before you start cooking and leave it running for at least 10 minutes after you’ve finished cooking). Also a splatter screen to prevent grease splatter. It will be hard to find a stovetop grill pan more successful than the Lodge Cast Iron Grill Pan, Square, 10.5 Inch.

• Outdoor Grill Tray: Sometimes the grate of a grill can provide some cooking challenges, especially when smaller foods fall through. An outdoor grill tray is an additional surface that’s heated up and used as a normal grill surface, except the holes are much smaller or even nonexistent. This can be a great way to cook vegetables without having to wrap them in foil. Some grill trays allow fats and juices to see through while others have a closed bottom. Cast iron grill trays work the best since they don’t allow food to stick as easily as aluminum options. The grill will become far too hot for a nonstick pan, so don’t ever use one for this purpose. An excellent set of stainless steel outdoor grill trays is the Grill Basket Set of 2 from Esie Houzie.

• Broiler Pan: This versatile tool can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications as long as you’ve got an oven to work with. A broiler pan simply absorbs the convection heat from an oven. The texture of the broiler pan can achieve the same effect as a grill. A major factor in changing the flavor and texture of the food is whether you cover the broiler pan or not. Whether you use the broiler pan in your indoor oven or an outdoor pizza oven, this is an excellent and versatile tool for your cooking. For a perfect broiler pan, look for the Norpro Broil/Roast Pan Set.

Can You Grill On A Tray?

Absolutely! You can grill all sorts of foods on a tray as long as you are using the right conditions. For instance, the tray should be composed of cast iron or steel. 

While a ceramic, glass, or nonstick tray may work well inside a convection oven, it’s not ideal for a grill. Ovens typically operate with a maximum temperature of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Gas or propane grills can get up to 600 degrees. Meanwhile, charcoal grills can get up to a blistering 1,200 degrees. This temperature can quickly shatter ceramics or glass, or degrade the non-stick chemicals on a tray. While temperatures won’t normally get that hot around the food, it’s important to play it safe and choose the most heat-resistant materials. You don’t want to have a ruined meal and spend an afternoon cleaning glass and food out of your grill.

Can A Grill Tray Go In The Oven?

Definitely! Much like when you use a grill tray on the grill, you need to be aware of the conditions. Ovens typically don’t get much hotter than 500 degrees Fahrenheit, but every decent grill tray, grill pan, or broiler pan will have an “oven-safe” marking on the package or outer surface. Inside ovens, ceramic, glass, and nonstick trays work well alongside cast iron and steel trays. For best results, however, you should use a cast iron tray. Not only are they easier to clean, but over the years of cooking a cast iron grill tray can develop a seasoning that will make it indispensable in your cooking. To hasten this process, clean it gently with hot water, avoid scrubbing, and apply a thin coating of olive oil after every use.

Can You Cook Vegetables In A Grill Pan?

Without a doubt! A grill pan is actually the ideal vessel for cooking vegetables for so many different dishes. The high temperature of a grill, oven, or stovetop will quickly cook the outside of the vegetables for a crispy exterior. This is important because it locks in flavor and helps retain the moisture so you won’t end up with vegetables that come out bland and mushy. 

How Do You Use A Vegetable Grill Tray?

When you cook vegetables in a grill pan or grill tray, be sure to season with an oil (ideally extra virgin olive oil), salt, and black pepper to your taste. Heat up the grill for a few minutes before you start cooking, otherwise the vegetables will lose their crispness and flavor. You can test it by allowing a drop of water to fall on the surface: if it dances and sizzles, the tray is ready for use. With these cooking methods you’ll have a delicious main component to your meals that only a grill pan or grill tray can provide.

Should I Use A Grill Basket For Vegetables?

Grill baskets are useful for certain vegetables, but not very useful for all. A basket shape is going to allow for a great roasting of potatoes and other starchy vegetables, but it won’t be useful for ones with a very high water content like tomatoes or zucchini. Watery vegetables are best cooked over a grill tray with very small holes, or you can use aluminum foil.

Enjoy these tips, and bon appetit!