How to choose a grill grate?

May holidays, summer weekend evenings are associated with the smell of smoke and grilled meat. At dachas, tourist centers, in the courtyards of their houses, people light up barbecues to enjoy a feast of the stomach. The advantage of the grill rack over traditional skewers is obvious. On it you can easily fry pieces of meat of any size, vegetables, fish.

Delicious food, pleasant company - these are the main components of a successful holiday. And in order not to be spoiled by an annoying trifle, you need to know which grill is the best to cook food for the company.

To buy a simple grill rack, just go to a regular supermarket. It gives its owner a wide scope for action in the preparation of aromatic dishes. Shish kebab is the simplest of them. You can fry literally anything on the fire, inventing dishes on the go: sausages, vegetables, fish.

Depending on the fuel chosen, the food acquires its own specific taste. This is used by chefs in cafes and restaurants, creating dishes with a spicy taste. The big advantage of such food is the absence of oil or fat, which "go away" during cooking directly into the grill. Compared to homemade pans, the grid looks easier to clean. You don't need to soak it, just rinse it under water. Often the lattice is also called a grid.

It comes in different sizes and shapes. The most popular options are available in stainless steel. They are chosen by many because of the affordable price. Stainless steel is easy to use due to its light weight.

The lattice design is of two types: one-plane and two-plane.

• The first one is intended for cooking in the oven, this is the so-called built-in grill grate. The principle of cooking on it is similar to the technology of cooking in a frying pan. For cooking, you will need spatulas or special forks.
• Two-plane consists of two meshes fastened together, fixed by a ring. Thanks to this, the dish can be evenly fried on both sides by turning the wire rack over the fire.

Consider other varieties as well.

• For frying meat, you need a flat grate that allows you to press the pieces tightly.
• For cooking vegetables, there is a special grid of a certain design that allows you to fry whole vegetables. You can cook eggplants, potatoes, zucchini, corn, peppers. At the same time, the product retains its appearance and does not lose its valuable qualities after roasting.
• There is also an elongated grid for fish. Even a large fish can be placed in it.
• The large grates are for cooking poultry. This allows whole poultry to be cooked.

• For the preparation of sausages or other sausages, there is a special form that allows you to cook several pieces at the same time.
• There is a universal grill in which you can cook anything. Its distinguishing feature is the removable handle. This quality greatly expands its capabilities. The model is ideal for a picnic.
• The grill rack on legs allows you to cook on charcoal without a grill. For such carbon structures, the grill grate is made of cast iron. Usually used to cook large and juicy cuts of meat.
• There is a mechanical roaster with an electric drive, which does everything almost independently. Including grilling shrimps or sausages due to the grill of a special design at the same time with the shish kebab.

All grill grates have different shapes.

They can be round and oblong, square and rectangular.

• The round mesh is considered versatile. Almost all dishes can be cooked on it.
• The oblong varieties are best for grilling meats.
• Square ones are perfect for poultry and vegetables.
• The fish also has its own specific shape, in which it is placed entirely.

To determine the right size for your grill, you need to know how many people you need to count on. To feed 3-4 people, for example, you will need 1.5-2 kilograms of meat and a lattice measuring 26 x 35 cm, 20 x 43 cm. For a larger company, you can consider lattices measuring 600 x 400 mm.

The flat grid is similar to a baking sheet with side handles. There are varieties of products with evaporators. The fat from the meat does not flow into the fire, but evaporates on the so-called runners. On the deep grate, the top wall is a retainer, this allows you to transfer food when frying from one side to the other.

There is a voluminous grill grate. Its main purpose is charcoal cooking of meat products and vegetables. Typically, these large grates have a non-stick coating. They are ideal for barbecues and barbecues. The products have special "antennae", due to which the lattice can be firmly placed on the surface of the barbecue, and use its entire area for cooking.

The middle lattice is intended for small companies. It also allows you to cook meat, fish, grilled vegetables or grilled vegetables.

Let's consider the main options.

• The most popular are stainless steel gratings. They are convenient due to their light weight, practical and affordable price compared to other analogues, for example, cast iron. But at the same time, stainless steel is inferior to them in quality. Such a product cannot be used for a long time due to oxidation on the surface. It is hazardous to health.
• Aluminum mesh ideal for cooking over a fire. Its thickness is 10 mm. It is easily cleaned from the remains of burnt food.
• Wrought iron lattice made only to order, for certain sizes. The thickness of the metal is 8 mm, this is the optimal parameter for heating food. The grate is heat treated and safe to use. To make it convenient to work with and put on the fire, there are double handles.
• The most practical is the cast iron model. Its characteristics are unique. It does not require heating, due to this property, the meat is very juicy. But there is also a downside to the coin. Reheating quickly, although it makes a nice crust on the steak, the meat inside can stay soggy. Therefore, after the cast-iron grate, the dish needs to be darkened a little in a skillet under the lid or in the oven. The cast iron grate weighs a lot, is quickly cleaned after cooking, and is durable.

• Non-stick grill arouses the interest of buyers. But you need to know a reliable manufacturer who will provide a quality product. Due to the action of high temperatures, the non-stick coating can lose its properties and release harmful substances.

When buying, experts recommend giving preference to a deep grate. This is practical advice. Flat nets in this regard are intended for only one type of product, for example, meat. It is unlikely that it will be possible to cook vegetables on it at the same time. There must be a wooden handle on the grill, which will protect from the heat of the barbecue when working with food.

In Russia, several brands are known that produce this product. Each has its own consumer audience.

• Forester company I chose the creation of a culture of barbecue and picnic as her main idea. During the period of its existence, it has achieved leadership among peers. Offers only the highest quality products. Has several product lines. Users note good quality, ease of use and, most importantly, reliability. In the catalog, there is a wide range of non-stick grills for a variety of products, from sausages to meat. All of them are made with safety requirements, that is, the products have a long handle, "antennae" for fixing on the grill. Made of steel and cast iron. The cost of the products is quite affordable.

• Another brand that offers picnic products is Boyscout... There are also grates of a wide variety of shapes and sizes for cooking for any company. They all have a non-stick and chrome finish. The products are equipped with a long, comfortable wooden handle.
• The company has a very interesting offer "Stoves-BBQ", which produces grates made of stainless steel AISI 304. This means that the products comply with GOST and are safe for humans. Withstand temperatures up to 900 degrees, one of the most durable. Experts are ready to make a grill grill according to your order, but the choice here is already wide. Products for frying a wide variety of products are offered. Suitable for families, cafes and restaurants.

• Russian group of companies "Wanda" offers its customers practical grill grates made of anti-corrosion steel with a simple handle. The products are certified and safe. Laconic, simple and soundly. According to experts, the demand for picnic goods is starting to gain momentum. The average price for such a product reaches 600 rubles.

To become the owner of the grid, just go to the supermarket. But many steak lovers prefer to do it themselves. Typical products of manufacturers are not always suitable for homemade barbecues. Plus, you can save money when it comes to a cast iron grate. These in the store are always an order of magnitude higher.

The calculation for the size of the future lattice is as follows:

• 2 kg of meat - a company of up to 4 people, you will need a grid measuring 35x26x3 cm;
• 3.5 kg of meat - a company of up to 7 people, the size of the lattice is 70x45x4 cm.

The manufacturing process itself can be divided into several stages.

• Determination of product characteristics. At this stage, we think over the size, shape, type of frame.
• Execution of drawings.
• Selection of material.
• Preparation of rods.
• Frame installation.
• Choice of size, shape, type of mesh.
• Mounting.

As for the grid, you need to immediately decide on what it will be: single or double. In terms of the shape of the lattice, rectangular is considered ideal. When determining the material for the manufacture of the lattice, one should proceed from the following rules: it must withstand high temperatures, not rust, and be safe for health.

When making a mesh, you should adhere to the following rules:

• unknown or non-ferrous metal alloys cannot be used;
• the best option is a steel frame and a stainless steel mesh;
• the frame of the future lattice must be strong, the rods will be attached to it.

Consider a manufacturing option.

• You will need two steel rods with a cross section of 10x8 mm. They will be used to create a horizontal base. Cut off parts 45 cm long from the rods.
• We cut stainless steel rods with a diameter of 5 mm and a length of 25 cm.
• We clean the parts of the base and every 15 mm we make notches on them for the bars of the lattice.
• We drill holes.
• Let's start connecting. Insert thin rods into a longitudinal thick rod.We do the same with the second workpiece.
• We align the resulting structure with a hammer. We connect the rods to the base by welding. We clean the edges with sandpaper.
• If you do not have the skills of a welder, then it is better to trust a specialist. You can fasten the rods in other ways, for example, bend the wire with a frequent snake, and at the edges of the frame, fasten it with clamps made of stainless steel sheet or clamps.
• Handles can be welded to the product, taking into account the characteristics of the barbecue.
• Checking the grate. To do this, you need to melt the brazier and place the product over the coals. After 5-7 minutes, the grate will become hot, you need to turn it over to the other side. That is, we ignite on both sides.

Now you can start cooking. Cooking pork takes up to 25 minutes, chicken about 15 minutes, fish up to 10 minutes, vegetables 5 to 7 minutes.

Experienced experts do not recommend making cast iron gratings on your own. When carrying out welding work, you need to adhere to a certain temperature and use special electrodes. If the temperature regime is violated, then the structure of the metal will begin to collapse. Such work is carried out only by experienced specialists.

There are no particular difficulties in using the grilles. The main thing is to know how to properly prepare food for frying on a fire.

Of course, like any iron, the grill does not like moisture, therefore, after cleaning and washing, it is imperative to wipe it off with a dry towel. It is recommended to lubricate the cast iron grate with vegetable oil to create a protective layer.

To prevent food from sticking to the wire rack, there are some tips to follow.

• The wire shelf must be clean before roasting. Therefore, it is very important to wash it after every cooking.
• Greasing with oil will make it easier to remove food.
• Before frying, be sure to warm up the grill well.
• Do not try to turn the pieces over quickly, it is necessary that a crust forms on them.

During operation, it is necessary to observe basic safety rules when working with hot metal, oil, fire.

When using a new stainless steel grate, there are a few things to keep in mind.

• After the first cooking, it changes color, but this is considered normal. Thus, the metal protects itself from corrosion.
• The first few attempts to use it may not be very successful: the food will stick to the wire rack.
• After the first roasting, the product must be cleaned. The food must be well done on one side before being turned over. After that, meat and fish will no longer stick to the wire rack.
• Do not cook frozen food. Due to the difference in temperature, the food will stick and burn.

As for the first use of a cast iron grate, the rules are as follows:

• rinse the product in water with a dish detergent, rinse well and let dry;
• then apply oil with a silicone brush to the entire surface;
• keep it on the grill for half an hour or more at a temperature of 180-200 ° C;
• only then can you cook.

As for the correct preparation of products, the chefs give several recommendations.

• The thickness of any piece should be no more than 5 cm.
• A piece of meat should be cut lengthwise and not completely. Then it needs to be expanded like a book. The same goes for fish.
• There are foods that the grill doesn’t like. They take a very long time to cook and are charred during cooking. These are pork ribs, potatoes, chicken. Such products must be half cooked in advance, for example, in a multicooker. And on the grill, just bring it to a victorious result.
• For vegetables, eggplants and peppers must be fried whole until the skin turns black. The zucchini is best cut in half.

After a fun picnic, the view of the grill leaves a lot to be desired, but cleaning the grill is easy enough. To remove the heated fat, you can run a knife several times along the transverse rods. It is advisable to do this while the wire rack is still hot.

Then, when it cools down, you can wash it off with any cleaning agent.

• Do not use a hard brush to clean the non-stick grill. Doing so could damage the coating and be hazardous to health when using such a product.
• The stainless steel grate can be easily cleaned with any cleaning agent.
• For a forged steel and cast iron grate, a coarse brush is required to easily clean the product from carbon deposits.

Then the grill should dry well. Any grill grate will bring a lot of positive emotions to its owner. The most important thing is to prepare the food correctly and go on a picnic in a good mood.

You will learn how to make a grid for a grill with your own hands in the following video.