From air fryers and instant pots to mixers and toasters, the typical kitchen is chock-full of appliances. Surely you wonder if you really need something else, and the truth is that if you do not have a grill plate, your kitchen may not be complete.
The grill plates are easy to use, very versatile, require little space and are not as uncomfortable as other kitchen tools. In addition, they are easy to clean.
This appliance was originally created for pressing paninis – hot, crunchy sandwiches that are much tastier than any cold sandwich. Also, bread doesn't need to be buttered to get a crisp, flavorful browning, so it can help reduce fat in your food.
10 uses of the grill plate
Don't limit the griddle to just creating sandwiches. Anything you can grill works great with a grill plate. For example:
- Panini: logically, you can make pressed sandwiches on your panini griddle. Choose a whole grain bread for more fiber, and add fruits (apples with grilled cheese) or vegetables (tomatoes and peppers in a meat sandwich) to increase the vitamin content.
- Fish: Season the fish fillets as you prefer, then press both plates together until cooked. You can also open the press and grill them just like you would on a charcoal or gas grill.
- Grilled Vegetables and Fruits : Grilled peaches, nectarines, watermelon, and pineapple are great to add to salads, drinks, and sauces. Asparagus, squash, onions, corn on the cob, and peppers also work well when pressed on the grill. Unlike a grill, you don't have to worry about smaller pieces falling between the grills.
- French Toast : Use the flat style, closest to a griddle, or the slotted grill side of the press griddle; You can't go wrong when that cream crunches in the machine.
- Potato "fries" : Leave the pan. If you like your shredded potatoes crispy, then the griddle is the way to go because it squeezes in some of the excess moisture while surrounding the fries with heat from above and below, without the need to flip them.
- No-turn Quesadillas : Speaking of not turning, the grill plate offers a less complicated way to make quesadillas. As the cheese melts, the filling and tortilla get hot enough.
- Mashed potatoes : Press the new potatoes into the griddle. Once the pulp is tender, you can press the plates a bit more to give everyone that beautifully squashed texture equally.
- Bacon: If you've ever cooked with bacon that bends or curls too much while putting it in a pan or pan, try pressing slices between the plates for a smart fix. Try it for yourself, then add those crunchy strips to a bacon and egg salad.
- Pizza: You can reheat cold pizza without getting soggy by folding the slice in half and heating it on the griddle. Or if you're making pizza at home, roll out your homemade or store-bought pizza dough to be smaller than the size of the griddle, then cook without frills until golden. Brush with olive oil and cover as you prefer.
- Brownies: As long as your griddle can fit the size of a round pan, you can bake almost any brownie recipe. Beat the dough, pour it into a pan, then place it on the grill plate and close the lid as much as possible. Cook for about 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. The heat radiating from the top and bottom will bake the brownies evenly, without the need for an oven.
What should a grill plate have?
You don't need to spend a lot to get a high-quality grill plate; most models cost less than € 100. For the most versatility and best cooking results, look for one that has:
- A floating hinge to adjust to the vertical height of your recipe.
- Removable plates for better cleaning.
- A plate size that is large enough to accommodate a family-size serving (singles can get by with a smaller plate surface area).
- Adjustable temperature controls – these are less important for sandwiches, but useful for evenly cooking other foods such as fish, fruits and vegetables
