Stainless steel barbecue grates: material advantages and design features
There are several varieties of barbecue grates and stainless steel products are designed for maximum durability. Models withstand high temperatures, direct contact with liquids, are easy to clean and can be made by yourself. All this has made them very popular with consumers.
Material features
Stainless steel has a high level of strength and durability. It withstands strong mechanical shocks and bends, is resistant to rust and, most importantly, it is not afraid of strong heating.
The product is made up of rows of metal rods intersecting with each other, and its size varies depending on the dimensions of the barbecue.
Advantages of a stainless steel grill:
- practicality and functionality;
- reliability, long service life;
- light weight;
- ease of use;
- relatively low price.
The product takes up little space, which makes it easy to store and transport. Features of the material allow you to create a mesh of any size and shape. The disadvantages of the model include the fact that over time, steel can begin to oxidize and release harmful substances. In addition, the product requires regular cleaning, carried out with the help of improvised means.
Dimensions and shape
The selection of a suitable lattice depends on the needs of the person. Its size is directly related to the number of guests for whom the barbecue will be prepared. It also depends on the level of comfort: if the structure is too small, you will have to impose the meat too many times. However, for a small company, a product is enough for 3-4 pieces. Lattices measuring 30x40 cm - option for 7-8 persons.
Product depth is another purchase criterion. It depends on him what size meat can fit. The flat model is available for small pieces and finely chopped vegetables. If you need to fry or stew whole chicken, a deep grate, including one equipped with curved rods, will come in handy.
Rectangular models are universal, since they are suitable for most barbecues. The range of products includes a round smokehouse mesh, which is distinguished by its versatility. It is suitable for cooking meat, fish, vegetables; can be used both for frying food and for cooking them. Manufacturers also create lattices of complex shapes, but their purchase is impractical in the presence of standard barbecues.
Height-adjustable grates are convenient, making it easier to position them over coals. This makes the design versatile, allowing it to be used for different purposes. The mesh with welded legs eliminates the need to use a grill. This mobile version can be easily taken outdoors and installed on top of coal located directly on the ground.
The cost of the construction ranges from $ 5-12, depending on the brand. The cheapest barbecue nets made in Russia are worth 400-600 rubles. Regardless of the cost, all gratings are highly durable, so there is no point in overpaying for the manufacturer.It is worth proceeding from the convenience of specific models, otherwise the most budgetary products are suitable for frying meat.
On the Russian market, grilles from the manufacturers Boyscout and Smart are popular. They offer versatile deep models equipped with regular handles. Non-stick structures will make cooking easier and will also extend the life of the mesh itself. The removable handle allows you to position the grill on grills of different sizes.
What are the handles?
The handle is an element of the product, on the choice of which the comfort of frying meat depends. One of the most comfortable is the model with a wooden plate. It does not heat up, so you can handle it with your bare hands. The safety of the model is combined with low material cost and ease of manufacture.
There are also products with double handles that allow you to hold the barbecue on both sides.
Elongated metal structures are considered innovative, on which a special heat-resistant coating is applied. Such a product must be kept away from open flames and coals. The size and shape of the handle is selected depending on the size of the person's hands, his personal preferences, therefore it is recommended to pre-hold the selected model. In the case when it is made independently, the size of the parts is thought out in advance.
Selection Tips
In order to choose the right ready-made grill, use the advice of professionals.
- For grilling and barbecuing, choose deep grates, which allow you to cook products in different ways. The classic option is to place the meat on a flat grill grid. In addition, you can press the meat from above, for example, with a second mesh, which will affect the cooking technology.
- The handle should not get hot, this will make barbecuing easier as you don't have to wrap it around.
- If you can change the distance between the top and bottom walls of the mesh, this will allow you to cook meat of different sizes. The models allow you to fry both flat cuts of meat, vegetables and whole poultry.
- Special antennae-clips will allow you to comfortably place the structure on the grill.
How to use the barbecue and grill?
In fact, there is nothing difficult in using the grill for the barbecue: anyone can handle it. The design is designed specifically to ensure that the meat is well fried, and, most importantly, that barbecue does not require much effort.
The brazier or smokehouse is placed on a flat surface.so that the legs are as stable as possible. This will prevent the structure from overturning, and the likelihood of fires will be minimized. In addition, it is recommended to clear the area of dry grass, which can easily flare up in strong winds.
The cooking process will be simplified by special tools used to lay out, turn food or clean the net. For these purposes, they take brushes, tongs, shoulder blades, brushes. The latter are used to grease roasted pieces of meat with oil.
Gourmets will love the meat tray, which has a mesh bottom and ensures that the pieces are cooked well.
- First of all, you need to melt the grill. This will require coals, small brushwood, tree bark, paper. In strong winds, it is recommended to cover the structure from sudden gusts until the fire starts burning steadily.
- For safety, it is recommended to use special liquids for ignition, and the use of gasoline is contraindicated.
- At the next stage, the grill is placed on the grill so that it becomes hot. This usually takes 5-7 minutes, after which the structure needs to be turned over. To prevent anything from sticking during cooking, grease the grill with a few drops of oil.
- The marinated meat is laid out on the wire rack. When fat begins to drain onto the coals, the pieces are turned over with a fork or special tongs.
- The procedure is repeated several times until the meat is completely cooked.
After barbecuing it is necessary to wash the grate, on which carbon deposits may appear due to prolonged use. This also does not require special skills or special tools, but the operation must be carried out regularly - otherwise the structure will be damaged and it will be impossible to wash it. First of all, the accumulated fat is removed from the transverse rods with a knife. When the grill has cooled down, clean it with a metal dish sponge and any kind of detergent. Once the grate is dry, it can be used again for barbecuing.
How to do it yourself?
Sometimes it is easier to make a structure with your own hands. This will make it possible to make models of non-standard shapes and dimensions by welding any convenient handle. For work, you will need a metal wire with a diameter of 4-5 mm, the process is carried out using argon-arc welding machines. The flexible material can be bent at any angle, the rods can be arranged perpendicular to each other, in the form of a snake, and crossed.
At the first stage, it is necessary to make a round, rectangular or square frame; as a rule, it must be thicker than the center rods to withstand the increased pressure. To make a rigid frame, you need to cut a rectangle out of metal, the area of which will slightly exceed the dimensions of the future lattice. Then 3 cm recedes from the edge, and the inner part is removed.
For the correct location of the rods, the middle contour is drawn between the edges: sections of the wire will be attached there.
When the frame is ready, cuts are made at the corners, where the contour will bend inward. To carry out the last operation, it is necessary to firmly press the steel sheets, keeping the gaps between them. So the edges of the grill will be as safe as possible, and a person will not be able to injure themselves when preparing a barbecue. When installed on a brazier, the product is positioned with bent edges inward, due to which a strong fixation of the structure is ensured.
The second method of making a net for a smokehouse is using a steel tube used for the production of a frame frame. In this case, it will be more difficult to find the material: you will have to look for a ready-made solution from the existing scrap metal and old equipment. But, in the presence of ready-made blanks, it will be possible to reduce the amount of work performed and significantly simplify the task.
Making rods takes less time and effort with the optional welder and coated electrodes. They should be thin so as not to accidentally burn through sheet steel or wire. If there is little welding experience, it is better to entrust the procedure to a specialist, otherwise the structure may be damaged. The wire is connected in several ways: after bending the wire, it can be secured with stainless steel clamps or clamps.
For information on how to make a stainless steel grill grate with your own hands, see the next video.
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