There is just something wonderful about the taste and the smell of a nice slab of meat that has just come off the grill.
For those who live in colder climates or for those who live in small apartment complexes, the ability to head out into your own backyard and grill up a nice chunk of protein doesn’t really work, which is where the convenience of an air fryer or an indoor grill comes into play.
Both appliances enable you to make juicy and alluring grilled meat dishes with minimal hassle, easy to handle cleanup, and still achieve that browning action that is the hallmark of grilled food.
In this article, we are going to look at the grilling process between the air fryer and the indoor grill, what the main features are of each, what the main differences are, and what the benefits are of cooking on either one.
The Grilling Process: Air Fryers versus Indoor Grills.
When it comes to using an air fryer to grill a nice steak or a few chicken breasts, you simply swap out the air fryer basket for the grill pan accessory.
The actual cooking process of the air fryer does not change whether you are using the grill or the basket; however, you will need to adjust the temperature to suit what type of meat you are grilling.
An air fryer uses the convection method of cooking, where a heating element gives off extremely high temperatures and a fan rapidly circulates the air around the food.
- You do not need to flip your food when using the grill pan.
- You will need to season your meat beforehand. This includes soaking it in liquid smoke to get that smoky flavor that comes with traditional grilling.
- If you are grilling meat that has skin on, you will want to place the skin side up.
- Your air fryer will have a specific mode for the type of meat you are grilling, so make sure to look for this when you go to set the temperature and timer. The air fryer should have a setting for fish, chicken (poultry), and beef.
The grilling process for an indoor grill is dependent on which type of indoor grill you buy. There are generally two types of indoor grills, an open and a contact grill and they can either be electric in nature or use infrared technology.
The main difference between an open and contact grill is a contact grill has two cooking surfaces, one on top and one below the food.
An electric grill will use a heating element that is embedded within the cooking surface or it will be contained directly beneath it. There will also be a drip pan underneath that will catch the grease and fat that comes off your meat during the cooking process.
Most electric grills will have an adjustable temperature control and a light indicator that will tell you when it is too hot. The grilling surface will be large enough for you to cook a few steaks on but small enough that it can fit on your countertop comfortably
An infrared open grill will use infrared technology to increase cooking temperatures at a much faster and much higher rate than normal grills.
These types of grills will use ceramic-plate burners to radiate the infrared heat up across the surface of the grill where your meat sits. These grills can reach extremely high temperatures, up to 1,650 F. Generally, though, you will see them around 700-800 F.
Regardless of which indoor grill you choose, you cannot leave it unattended, it needs to cool off before being moved, and you need to flip your food during the cooking process.
What Are the Features of an Air Fryer Grill Pan and an Indoor Grill?
The air fryer grill pan – any brand.
An air fryer grill pan is going to have a perforated design. Due to how an air fryer cooks your food via rapid air technology, the grill pan is going to have slanted holes in it.
This uniquely pierced surface ensures that your food is hit with hot air on all sides and any excess fat from the meat can drip away into the bottom of the air fryer.
This means less fat on the product. Plus, the grill pan will have those familiar ridges you are so used to with grilling, so you can still enjoy the grill marks.
An air fryer grill pan is going to have a non-stick surface. All air fryers come with non-stick coatings on all of their accessories, and the grill pan is no exception.
Your grilled meat is going to be very easy to lift off and you can even prepare very delicate foods like fish and vegetable skewers without worrying about ruining them.
An air fryer grill pan will have its surfaced maximized for easy grilling. The air fryer grill pan is designed in such a way to give you the maximum amount of surface space possible.
This allows you to grill a large steak, a few smaller chicken breasts, a whole fish, or generous portions of vegetables in one go.
The air fryer grill pan can be used to brown, fry, and sear. The air fryer grill pan is versatile and allows you to brown up, fry up, or even sear your meat as well. Just make sure to follow the directions in the manual for doing so as these require different temperature presets.
The air fryer grill pan cuts down on cooking time. Due to the high surface area of the grill pain and the non-stick coating, you can reduce your cooking time.
It is very easy to clean out. The air fryer grill pan will be dishwasher safe, can be wiped down with hot water and soap, and the bottom tray of the air fryer can easily be rinsed and cleaned of all the fat drippings.
….and they are portable!
An indoor grill – contact & open.
You can make grilled sandwiches with a contact grill. For those who love making grilled cheese sandwiches or Italian paninis, a contact grill is going to be your best bet as this is its number one feature.
Extremely easy to control the heat. An indoor electric grill is going to come with a temperature control gauge, which will allow you to easily adjust the heat to what you need it to be.
This gives you versatility for those who have families that prefer their meat cooked at different stages (rare, medium and well-done).
All indoor grills will come with a drip tray for easy cleanup. You do not need to mess with charcoal, wood, or ash.
The drip trays can be removed after your indoor grill has cooled down and soaked in the sink and washed off like any other dish.
Indoor grills have little to no smoke. Cooking meats like chicken and hamburger is going to give off very little to no smoke at all. If you grill items like peppers or other waterier vegetables, you may get smoke from that due to the moisture dripping off, but generally, it’s minimal.
It won’t be enough to set off a fire alarm as an outdoor grill would be.
Good heat distribution. Permitting that you buy an indoor grill with an adjustable thermostat, you have complete control over how the heat is distributed across the grill.
For electric grills, this is up to 450-500 degrees Fahrenheit, which allows you to sear meat and grill vegetables without burning them.
Indoor grills are extremely convenient to use, are easy to understand, and allow you to cook your food quickly. Plus, they can be portable!
Should I Purchase An Air Fryer or a Grill?
If you are a heavy meat eater or someone who is a grilling enthusiast and do not mind cooking the rest of your dishes on a traditional oven, then an indoor grill is going to work beautifully for you regardless of whether you choose an open or a contact type.
On the other hand, if you prefer grilled meat occasionally, but don’t plan on hosting large gatherings or don’t intend on grilling meat more than a few times a month, it is probably best to go with an air fryer.
Why?
You get more versatility out of the air fryer if grilling is a small portion of your monthly meals.