Differences Between Grilling and Broiling

By itronicsmod

Last updated Oct 10, 2020

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There are all sorts of ways to cook meat besides just roasting it in the oven. Grilling and broiling are both great options. However, there are some differences and similarities between the two that you should be aware of. By learning about both methods, you can choose which one is more suitable for your cooking needs. Here’s what you need to know about broiling and grilling foods.

The Definition Of Broiling And Grilling

You may be contemplating the question is broiling the same as grilling. Broiling and grilling do have a cooking process that’s similar. However, grilling has a heat source that’s below the food, and the heat source for broiling is above the food. Both types of cooking methods use direct heat. Because this heat’s intense, you need to keep an eye on whatever it is that you are cooking in order to reduce the risk of burning your food.

Similarities Between Broiling And Grilling

What are the similarities between grilling and broiling?

Both methods can create a lot of smoke. The amount of smoke that’s made will depend on the amount of fat that is in the food that is being cooked and if you use any sauces, oils or marinades. While you might not mind smoke being emitted outside when you are grilling, you might find it a nuisance if there’s smoke while you are broiling an item inside of your home. If you do decide to broil your food, you might want to open a few windows ahead of time.
Flare ups can happen. You need to watch your food at all times when grilling or broiling as flames can emerge from the grease. It’s a good idea to have baking soda on hand to put out any small flames. For larger flames, you may need to use a fire extinguisher. Don’t try to put out flare ups with water. It will just make the flames get larger.
You can use either method interchangeably. Pretty much all foods you plan on grilling you can broil as well. This can be pretty beneficial if sometimes you’d like to cook outside on the grill, but you would rather stay indoors and cook other times.
Preheating is required for both grilling and broiling. You can’t just pop your meat in the oven or on the grill right before you are ready to cook it. You will need to preheat your oven or your grill beforehand. This will allow your meat to cook at a consistent temperature and cook evenly. For ovens and gas grills, you probably only need to preheat them for about ten minutes. Charcoal grills may take a lot longer to preheat. When the coals are white or grey color, it is ready for you to put your food on the grates.

Differences Between Broiling And Grilling

Here are the differences between each one.

When broiling, the temperature will max out at about 550°F. What this means is that if you want to cook something at an even hotter temperature, you are better off grilling that item.
A pan of some sort is needed. Unlike with grilling, you can’t just place meat down on grates. You will need to put your meat in some type of pan in order to contain the juices. If you don’t, you run the risk of the oven catching on fire. You will also have a huge mess to clean up when you are finished cooking.
You can still cook even if the weather is bad outside. In order to grill outside, you really need to have nice weather. If it’s too rainy, windy or cold, you will find it difficult to cook outside. With broiling, you can cook anytime that you want to. You aren’t dependent on the weather conditions outside.
A more unique flavor. Grilling may give some foods a more unique flavor than broiling does. However, not everyone likes food that has a charcoal or smoky taste. Some people do prefer broiling their food as they don’t want their food to taste like it was cooked on the grill.
A better sear. If you are looking to sear your food, then grilling is a better option. The higher heat allows the griller to get a much better sear than they would if they broiled their food. Searing is important as it locks in the flavor and juices of the food that you are grilling. You won’t have to deal with food that is too dry to eat.
There is the option for indirect heat. There may be times to where you’d prefer to use indirect heat rather than direct heat. You can use either either direct or indirect heat when you are grilling your food. Broilers only offer a direct heat option. You can also turn down the heat on the grill if it starts to get too hot.

Which Way of Cooking Steak is Better – Grilling vs Broiling?

If you are cooking steaks, you may be trying to decide between broiling vs grilling steak. Either one will yield good results. However, many people do like to grill steak as they want that smoky flavor. You also have better control as to the doneness of it. If you are cooking just one steak, then you may not mind broiling it as your only concern is the doneness of that particular steak. If you are cooking steaks for several people that want a different amount of doneness, grilling may be a much better option.

Tips for Using Your Broiler Like a Grill

If you want to grill your food but don’t want to actually use your grill, you can use your broiler like a grill by utilizing the following tips.

Cook leaner cuts of meat. It’s best to use meat that will cook faster. If you want to use your broiler like a grill, choose tender cuts like flank steaks or chicken tenderloins. By using leaner cuts of meat, your food won’t dry out because it’s been under the broiler for too long. You may also be able to get a deep caramelization similar to what you would if you cooked your food on the grill.
Use a grill pan. You may choose to cook on your grill just because you like grill marks. However, you can get decent grill marks on the food that you cook in your broiler by using a grill pan. These pans do have ridges around the side, so any fat from the food will drip away from it as well. You won’t have to worry about your food sitting in a puddle of grease while it’s cooking.
Add a smoky seasoning. If you want your food to taste like you’ve cooked it on the grill, add liquid smoke or a grill rub. This a great way to achieve a smoky taste without actually having to cook your food on the grill. It only takes a few seconds to add this items to your food, and you don’t have to let your food marinate for a long time in order to achieve a smoky flavor.
Use a meat thermometer. It can be difficult to gauge whether or not your food is cooked long enough. This is why you should use the ThermoPro Meat Thermometer. It’s easy to use, and all you need to do is insert it into whatever food you are cooking. It will display the internal temperature of your food within seconds. Cooking food for too long is one of the most difficult parts about trying to grill food in a broiler. The ThermoPro Meat Thermometer will allow you to cook food in the broiler without fear of overcooking it. You can use it to make sure that your food has reached the internal temperature that you want it to. It can be used for virtually any types of food as well.

Wrap Up

There may be numerous reasons why you choose to cook food on a grill or a broiler. By keeping the above information in mind, you will ensure that you are comfortable with either cooking method. The most important thing is that you make sure you don’t over or under cook the food. You can keep from doing so by using the ThermoPro Meat Thermometer. This easy to use device is a must-have item whether you are cooking outside on the grill or using your broiler in your kitchen.