Do you run a restaurant, bar or food truck and want to serve delicious grilled food? If you are looking for the best commercial grill for your business, read our valuable tips first.
Do you run a restaurant, bar or food truck and want to serve delicious grilled food? If you are looking for the best commercial grill for your business, read our valuable tips first.
Why does it have to be a commercial grill?
As the name suggests, a “commercial grill” is much more efficient than a regular charcoal grill. It is adapted to the needs of the catering industry, and in addition to its larger surface, which lets you prepare many dishes at the same time, electric commercial grills use electricity instead of gas or charcoal. Electric commercial grills are distinguished by their sturdy build and the quality of the materials used, such as stainless steel and cast iron. If you have a large family or frequently organise barbecue parties you should also consider getting one.
Although commercial grills are almost always equipped with a flat surface for frying, devices such as vertical kebab grills or a chicken rotisserie should also be on the list. Contact grills are currently very popular, largely due to the fact that they let you prepare juicy burgers in the blink of an eye, which is particularly useful considering popular culinary trends. There are also flat top grills with a sturdy frame or practical bottom shelves.
Electric grills – healthy and efficient
A great advantage of electric grills is their high efficiency, due to the possibility of quick and precise temperature regulation. After a short moment they will be heated up enough to grill meat, fish or vegetables. The plate is usually grooved or flat. Almost all commercial grills allow for smooth temperature regulation, with built-in thermostats maintaining the selected temperature depending on you cooking preferences. After all, you want your food to be cooked perfectly.
Electric grills are the safest way to prepare food as mentioned above. Unlike charcoal grills, electric grill can be used indoors due to their low smoke emission. The cooker hood will take care of the rest. Many electric grills are also equipped with an overheating protection function that automatically cuts off the power supply in the event of an excessively high temperature, therefore protecting the appliance. Grilling with charcoal or briquettes is also becoming a controversial issue these days, as fat and juices from meat grilled directly over a heated surface or open fire drip onto the surface or fire, creates toxic compounds called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The smoky smell from a charcoal grill is also something that users of electric grills do not have to face.
Expert tip: The performance of your electric grill will determine how fast and tasty you can cook your favourite meals. If the grill’s power is too low, meat will run dry as it will take too long to cook. When buying an electric grill, pay attention to the power output, which should be at least 2000 watts. More expensive grills will have a power output of 3000 watts or even more! Interestingly enough, electric grills have lower operating costs than gas or barbecue grills.
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Double Contact Grill – Ribbed – 2 x 1,800 W 329.00 €
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Contact Grill – 1 x 1800 Watt 219.00 €
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Contact grill – griddle – timer – 1,800 W
219.00 €199.00 € -
Contact Grill – smooth – 2,200 W
Grooved or flat grill plate?
Electric grills can have both flat and grooved surfaces. What are their advantages? Unlike in the case of barbecue grates, grease, food remains or meat juice will not drip onto the heating elements of flat and grooved grill plates. If the above food remains collect on the grill surface with the meat on top, your steaks or skewers will be much less crispy. You can also grill potatoes, omelettes or eggs on flat grills, which is not possible with grooved grill plates. In addition, flat surfaces are easier to clean.
Fat drains much better on grooved surfaces, however, making them a healthier alternative. A typical advantage of grooved surfaces are the grooves themselves, which let you make your meals look as though they were prepared on a traditional barbecue grill.
Grills with two cooking zones will also let you prepare two dishes at the same time.
Not all fat is the same
Electric commercial grills generate high temperatures of over 350 °C, depending on the model and power output of the built-in heating elements. You can use oil on grill plates, but take into account the different types. Olive oil, soybean oil, refined peanut oil and sesame oil have the highest smoking point, around 230 °C. Sunflower or palm oil can be heated to 220 °C. Clarified butter and coconut oil (200 °C) are less suitable for frying, as are grape seed oil (190 °C), butter and margarine (175 °C) and extra virgin olive oil (160 °C). As a general rule, the higher the percentage of monounsaturated fatty acids, the better the oil. If the oil starts to smoke and smell badly, it means that the selected temperature is too high, which is causing the production of dangerous acrolein!
Cleaning commercial grills
Following strict catering industry hygiene guidelines, commercial grills should always be thoroughly cleaned. Easy-to-clean stainless steel and cast iron elements are much better options than a charcoal grill. Regular cleaning will not only extend the life of your device, but also help keep each high-quality element in good condition. However, grill plates should not be cleaned with abrasive solutions or cream detergent, as it could scratch the surface. Even the smallest scratches will cause food to stick to the plate. Some grills have slightly tilted plates so that excess fat can drain into special trays.
A three-sided splash guard, which most commercial grills are equipped with, will also contributes to the hygiene and cleanliness of your workplace. Additional side and rear walls will keep the sizzling grease from spreading around the grill, and your grilled food will also be protected against heat loss, for example from wind.
We recommend that you let the grill cool slightly down before cleaning it. While the grill is still warm, grease and food particles can easily be removed using a brush. Thanks to the smooth grilling surface, fatty residues can be pushed into the grease trays with a scraper. The container is easy to remove and the contents can easily be rinsed. All you then need to do is wipe the surface with a damp cloth at the end, and your grill will be ready to prepare more delicious food in no time. Bon Appétit!
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