Microwave grill: what is it, why is it needed?

Microwave grilling - what is it?

It is a tightly twisted nickel-chromium heat-resistant wire, which is located in a glass quartz tube. The grill function in the microwave implies the ability of the microwave to fry food, bringing it to a crispy crust. There are two types of its equipment:

A built-in quartz lamp in the ceiling wall of the device, which is a powerful infrared lighting source, hidden behind a lattice partition. It takes up little space inside, leaving a large space for the dish itself, quickly heats up to the desired temperature, which affects its efficiency, speed of cooking and low energy consumption, but cannot ensure uniform frying of food.
Tenov grill. It has a thermal heating element in the form of a thread or spiral coated with metal, and is also located in the upper part of the microwave oven. Its presence ensures a low cost for the device compared to its quartz counterpart, but they prepare food with the same quality. A grill with a shadow provides more intensive work.

Grilled chops in the microwave

It takes about 20 minutes to grill chops in the microwave. The ingredients are enough for 2 servings.

You need to take the following set of components:

2 pork steaks;
1/3 tsp. chili pepper;
1/2 tsp. table salt;
1/2 tsp. freshly ground black pepper;
1/2 tsp. dry basil;
1 tsp. garlic powder;
2 tsp. sunflower oil.

You can cook grilled chops in a microwave oven according to the following instructions:

Rinse 2 pork steaks under cool water and pat dry with paper towels. Place the steaks on a board, cover with plastic wrap and pound with a jackhammer. Turn the pieces over and also beat them on the other side.
In a small bowl, mix vegetable oil with garlic powder, basil, salt, chili powder and ground pepper. Rub the resulting mixture onto both sides of the meat.
Place both pieces on the grill rack and place in the microwave. Turn on the microwave at 1000 W, turn on the grill mode and cook the meat for about 5 minutes, then turn the steaks over and cook for another 5 minutes.

If the maximum microwave power is 700 - 750 W, the cooking time should be increased to 8 minutes. on each side.

Convection mode

Uniform distribution of heat waves throughout the microwave cannot be achieved using a grill alone. Therefore, such ovens are equipped with an additional function that mixes the air in the mechanism chamber to heat it evenly. This effect is achieved using a fan built inside. The food is cooked as if on a spit and at the same time hot air is blown from all sides. This helps to achieve a better thermal effect on food products and at the same time improves their quality of frying and baking.

How to properly use a microwave grill

In principle, operating a microwave oven with a grill function is no different from the rules for using a conventional device - load food on a plate, select a mode, and set the desired time.

Such a popular dish as grilled chicken takes about half an hour to prepare. In order not to be unfounded, we will give a specific example with a step-by-step description of the algorithm on how to cook grilled chicken in a microwave equipped with this function:

wash the meat and dry it. If necessary, cut into portions;
salt/pepper, rub with your favorite spices;
place the chicken on the grill, do not forget to install a tray to collect fat;
fry with the timer set for 15 minutes, turn over, send back to the chamber and fry for the same amount;
We determine the readiness of the product in the standard way: we pierce the meat and see what color the flowing juice will be: if it’s clear, then the dish is ready, if it’s reddish, you need to fry it some more.

If you are cooking a whole chicken carcass, use the convection mode if it is present in your model. It will speed up the cooking process, ensuring more even cooking of the carcass.

Some effective tips on how to properly use a microwave grill:

The first and most important rule is no metal utensils. A fork forgotten in a plate can cause oven failure. Dishes coated with metal are also taboo;
if you want the dish to be cooked equally on all sides, try not to clutter the chamber too much with food; there should be enough free space inside it;
when using a grill, a grate is required - it will ensure even cooking of the food; it is usually included in the delivery of models with a built-in grill;
the same can be said about the grease collection tray - it is installed directly under the grate and protects the bottom of the oven from contamination;
convection mode needed
turn on if you bake fish, chicken or meat, it will help form an appetizing golden brown crust;
if you fry bread, it is better to use a non-metallic substrate;
When grilling vegetables in the microwave, it is advisable to cut them into small pieces;
To get a crust on chicken or fish, it is advisable to dry them thoroughly with paper towels to get rid of moisture on the skin;
if you cook sauces in the microwave, try to keep the container in which the liquid is placed about half full - this will protect the walls of the chamber from splashes when the dish boils;
If you want to use the microwave grill to prepare a new dish, it is not recommended to leave the kitchen for a long time - you may have to make adjustments to the operating mode of the device.

Using these simple recommendations, you will simplify the preparation of delicious dishes that would be impossible to prepare without using the grill.

What is a grill for?

Not all housewives know that this unique device can be used not only to produce chicken with a crispy crust. With its help, you can not only heat up a cold dish, but also get a wide variety of food, ranging from vegetables to baked meat, hot sandwiches and delicious toast.

In addition, scientists have found that food cooked in a microwave contains much more vitamin C compared to the result from the oven, that is, the benefits for the body are much higher.

On average, the grill power ranges from eight hundred to a thousand W, at which, with an additionally installed grate, it is convenient to fry food.

Considering that the price of an electrical household appliance with and without a grill is not much different, and the acquired capabilities for preparing a varied menu are increasing, maybe it’s worth taking a closer look at it?

Should I buy a microwave oven with grill or not?

The decision is made based on the equipment available in the kitchen. If you already have an air fryer or oven, why duplicate the function? Why spend money, because versions with additional features are more expensive. When choosing an option, think about what the grill is for? Will you use it? Such a device consumes a lot of electricity; it is much more profitable to use an oven.

If you are just setting up a kitchen, then by choosing a multifunctional model, you can replace the tile and oven with a microwave oven. Assess your needs, kitchen equipment and make a decision.

How does baking happen?

This is a heat-resistant nickel-chromium alloy wire placed in a glass quartz tube. It is needed for frying food until crispy. You can cook any food with it - meat, fish, chicken, vegetables, pies. And most importantly, the process takes a minimum of time - baking fish, for example, will take 6-7 minutes, while cooking in the oven will take about half an hour.

Convection - what is it?

To make food cooked in a microwave oven tastier and more aromatic, uniform exposure to warm air is necessary. We need to ensure its movement. For this purpose, microwave ovens have convection. The air is forced to move by a small built-in fan located on the back wall of the device.

Comparative analysis of a microwave oven with and without grill

A regular microwave includes programs that can be used to heat food with special rays that do not harm humans. They heat well enough that, in addition to heating, they can be used in cooking various dishes. Considering that the level of heating by the rays is not higher than the boiling point of water, food prepared in this way can be considered healthy, since the beneficial properties are preserved.

Convection devices equipped with a grill work the same way, but make it possible to expand the list of prepared dishes. They can work in combination with each other and such multidirectional effects of waves on the prepared product gives a completely unusual effect and amazing results. Such equipment uses a ring-type heating device, so the space in the oven is heated and distributed evenly. In addition, there is a fan inside that accelerates the hot air. It is precisely this interaction of functions that can achieve the best results in cooking.

Microwave grill: how to use it

People associate grilling with coals. However, this function is also available in microwave ovens. It helps make food more juicy and aromatic, makes it possible to cook quickly, with a crispy crust, without adding oil. With its help, you can quickly and tasty cook meat and poultry, and appetizingly bake vegetables. So let's figure out what this function is and how to use it.

Microwave grill functions

Microwave grilling cooks food at high temperatures. Often their preparation time does not exceed 30 minutes. The temperature in the chamber reaches 300 degrees, so a crispy crust forms on the surface of the food, and fat is rendered under the influence of this device. In addition, pieces of meat and vegetables are placed on the grill, so they are baked evenly.

As nutritionists say, food prepared in this way is more healthy.

Types of grill in the microwave

Let's figure out what types of grills there are and how they differ.

Tenovy. A spiral is built into the design, which provides a uniform thermal effect.
Quartz. A quartz lamp protected by a grille is built into the oven. A device with a quartz grill heats up quickly and does not consume too much energy.
Ceramic. This type is equipped with an additional heating element. It helps prepare juicy, tasty food. The disadvantage of a ceramic grill is its high energy consumption.

All three types are equipped with a built-in fan that redistributes air flow, ensuring uniform heating

Application of microwave ovens

Each model comes with simple and accessible instructions. The operating modes used are located on the instrument panel and can be adjusted by pressing buttons. Before purchasing a device, it is better to ask what the power consumption of the product is so that it matches the permissible technical data of the home.

The instructions describe in detail the operating procedure, the functions that the oven has, possible breakdowns, the manufacturer’s warranty and terms. Some of them even give recipes for dishes that can be cooked in the microwave.

Microwave grill: how to use it

Microwave grill functions

As nutritionists say, food prepared in this way is more healthy.

Types of grill in the microwave

Let's figure out what types of grills there are and how they differ.

Tenovy. A spiral is built into the design, which provides a uniform thermal effect.
Quartz. A quartz lamp protected by a grille is built into the oven. A device with a quartz grill heats up quickly and does not consume too much energy.
Ceramic. This type is equipped with an additional heating element. It helps prepare juicy, tasty food. The disadvantage of a ceramic grill is its high energy consumption.

All three types are equipped with a built-in fan that redistributes air flow, ensuring uniform heating

Do you need a microwave grill?

There are two opinions, and supporters of both stand stubbornly for their point of view.

Not needed. Those who adhere to this view motivate this by the fact that having purchased household appliances, they never used the function once or tried it 1-2 times at most and that’s it, since it did not interest them. And they overpay for it decently. Here we must proceed from the fact that human nature is such that if he has been baking pies in the oven for a long time, then this is the best cooking option, or one attempt to cook pizza in the microwave ended in failure. In addition, there is a category of people who believe that it is better to purchase different types of devices with different functions, rather than all in one. In addition, there are cooking classics who believe that you can create in the kitchen using the good old stove, and in the microwave it is impossible to achieve the true aroma of the product and its true taste. But here it seems that everything depends not on technology, but on how to cook.
Needed. There are also those who support the exact opposite opinion, who consider the presence of a grill to be a salvation for the family and often use it to cook. Of course, owners of such technology have to study it and adapt using the trial method. But having mastered it, they already use it to the fullest.

Grilled chicken

To cook grilled chicken in a microwave oven, you need to allocate about 60 minutes.

You will need to prepare the following components according to the list:

1 small chicken carcass;
2 cloves of garlic;
3 tbsp. l. sunflower oil;
4 tbsp. l. curry seasonings;
1 tbsp. l. vinegar;

You can cook grilled chicken in the microwave according to this recipe:

Place the bird carcass under running water and rinse it inside and out. Place the carcass on the table and wipe it using napkins.
Pour the curry into a container, add sunflower oil, vinegar and squeeze 2 cloves of garlic through a press, having previously peeled them. Mix the ingredients until smooth and rub the resulting mixture onto the bird on all sides.
Place the bird on a grill rack, place it in the microwave, place a plate under the rack to catch the fat, and close the microwave. Turn on the microwave oven in grill mode and bake the chicken for about 40 - 50 minutes.

Ready.

So should I buy a microwave with grill function or not?

Here you need to proceed from what is already available in the kitchen. For example, the existence of an oven or convection oven can completely replace a microwave. When you purchase it, it will most likely not be in demand due to the fact that there are already devices on which you can achieve efficient and high-quality cooking. Therefore, before choosing a suitable model, you need to think about whether there will be a job for it or whether it will become an expensive but not very necessary toy. There is no point in having another technique that duplicates the functions of existing ones. It's quite fun to buy a device with three serious functions and use it to heat food.

It should be noted that the models of modern microwave ovens offered on the market can successfully compete with kitchen stoves and ovens. After all, many people use the function of heating food in the MVP, and instead of the oven, bake pies in the microwave.

But hardly anyone will feel the difference in taste between two identical dishes prepared in different devices. After all, food can be tasty or not. But not everyone will decide to completely abandon this or that device. Only everyone can decide for themselves what is more convenient and profitable for them when preparing food - using new opportunities or proven results.

Step-by-step instructions on how to use a grill in the microwave

How to use this function? Easily. All you have to do is put food in the chamber, select a program and set the time. The time is selected based on what foods you are preparing.

On a note!
Delicious chicken can be cooked in grill mode in 30 minutes.

Let's figure out how to do this step by step.

Prepare the meat: wash and cut it into pieces, salt and pepper the product, add other spices to taste.
Place the pieces on a rack inside the microwave.
Place a tray that will collect the draining fat.
Set the timer for 15 minutes, then remove the pieces baked on one side, turn them over and cook in the selected mode for another 15 minutes.
Check the readiness of the meat; if the juice is not clear, leave the product under the hood in the microwave.

If you want to cook a whole chicken, choose a convection grill. This speeds up the process because the food is heated using both the heating element and the hot air fan.

Some important tips

Tips to help you with cooking.

Do not attempt to microwave using metal or coated plates.
Before you start cooking, preheat the oven.
In order for the food to “get ready” and be golden brown on all sides, it is advisable to leave free space inside the chamber and not to load a lot of food there.
A metal rack is needed to ensure that food cooks evenly. You can purchase additional grill accessories or use what is included in the kit.
Place a tray under the grate so that the juice flows into it and not onto the bottom of the oven.
To make the crust, turn on the fan (convection mode).
It is better to fry bread on a tray.
Vegetables cook optimally when they are cut into small pieces.
You can get a crust on the chicken if you blot the carcass to remove excess moisture.
When preparing sauces, choose containers that can hold twice as much liquid so that nothing spills when boiling.
Do not leave the appliance for a long time when preparing new dishes; you may have to adjust the cooking time as the cooking process progresses.
Salt the meat at the end.

Using these simple tips, you can easily cook delicious and healthy food in the microwave.