Smokeless grills are not more than advanced electric pans. These are small, compact, and easy-to-use grills to get the benefits of outdoor grilling. Before the smokeless grills’ invention, people used different tricks to cook steak. Some people directly place cooking grates on the kitchen stove, while many steak lovers place them on burning charcoal on a closed metallic utensil. These tricks have many drawbacks like the grease can hinder the burners, or the smoke and carbon monoxide can cause suffocation.
The invention of smokeless grills allows us to enjoy outdoor grilling within closed areas like apartments, balconies, or smoke-sensitive areas. The heating source for smokeless grills is electricity instead of gas, wood, or charcoal. It uses the advanced technology of heat distribution throughout the grill and searing the meat at a high temperature to control the amount of grease produced which minimizes the smoke production.
Are Smokeless Grills Really Smokeless?
Smokeless grills are specially designed for indoor grilling. However, it is important to know that smokeless grills are not entirely smokeless. It has many components that can absorb the smoke produced while grilling. These grills efficiently control and manage smoke production due to the advanced technology and innovative features.
The design of a smokeless grill greatly reduces the amount of smoke produced during cooking. The components are made in such a way that it helps in reducing the smoke. The electric fans or smoke extractors, infrared burners, and grilling plates collectively make the grill smokeless. The grooves present in the grates deliver the grease and drippings from food to the drip pan avoiding direct contact with the heating source.
How Do Smokeless Grills Work?
The working of smokeless grills depends on its components. These components are specifically designed to reduce the amount of smoke produced during cooking. The cooking grates have grooves within them. The drip pan is placed right below the grooves to collect the fresh grease and food particles while grilling. The smoke fan or hood collects the smoke. The glass lid is there to restrict the spreading of the smoke in the atmosphere.
Cooking Grates or Grilling Plates:
The cooking grates of smokeless grills are different from other types of grill grates. It is designed specifically to reduce smoke while grilling. It has grooves that run from one end to the other. It can minimize the contact between the grease and the hot electric burners that cause smoke fumes.
The grease which is produced from the food, flows in the grooves and is collected in the drip pan present below the grilling grates.
Infrared Burner Technology:
Smokeless grills have strong infrared burners that work on infrared burner technology. Due to its uniqueness as compared to other grills, it has become more popular in recent years. It comes after the concept of infrared electric heaters that use less energy than conventional heaters. However, it cannot overcome the importance of gas and charcoal grills.
The infrared burners produce intense infrared heat energy which quickly sears the food. The searing of food seals in the juices preventing them from reaching the burners and producing smoke. The smoke which is produced in a smokeless grill is from the food not from the heating source.
Water Pan or Drip Tray:
A water pan or drip tray is a metal container usually flat in nature which is also called a flat plate, and is put underneath the barbecue grates. It is designed in such a way as to collect the drippings from the food before it comes in contact with the heating source, which reduces the chances of smoke formation, and makes the cleaning easy.
It has a small depression at the center for adding water so that when moisture is released you don’t get smoke clouds. Additionally, it is responsible for catching hot grease, fats, or any other liquid that is produced while grilling.
Electric Fan with a Smoke Extractor:
A smoke extractor is a hood that collects the smoke, and the electric fan is responsible for the airflow within the grill. Both of these effectively remove the smoke produced while grilling.
The turbo smoke extractor draws in the smoke and the electric fan directs the smoke to filters and vents, significantly reducing the amount of smoke released. The water present in the pan also absorbs some of the smoke.
Glass Lid:
Some smokeless grills come with a tempered glass lid. The grill with a lid has many advantages as compared to lidless grills. The lid is used to cover the food while grilling, which ensures the heat remains inside the grill.
The transparent glass lid allows us to monitor the cooking process without escaping the heat and smoke. It also helps to make the atmosphere free from any smoke and gives a smoky flavor to the food.
Technology Behind Smokeless Grills
The technology behind smokeless grills goes beyond just temperature controls and sensors. The infrared burner technology of smokeless grills plays the main role in making the grilling process smokeless.
It distributes the heat evenly throughout the grill and heats up the grill quickly. It is considered one of the unique features of a smokeless grill. The intense heat produced by the infrared burners quickly sears the food. The fats and other juices within the food do not reach the burners which minimizes the smoke production in the grill.
Benefits of Using a Smokeless Grill
Efficient and Quick Cooking:
Smokeless grills are made for small homes having small areas for cooking, therefore infrared burner technology is added to them. It plays an important role in heating up the grill quickly and effectively. The grates attain the required temperature in around one minute, which is retained with the help of a metallic drip tray. The grill has a temperature meter for showing the temperature. When you get the desired temperature, add the food for grilling in it.
Even Heat Distribution:
It was a great confusion for many people that smokeless grills might not effectively distribute the heat, but this is not the case. The grilling plates are specially designed above the infrared burners to get heat up quickly and uniformly.
In contrast to traditional grills, there are no hot or cold zones instead the heat is evenly distributed throughout the surface. It will cook the food uniformly all the way through.
Easy Cleanup and Maintenance:
Smokeless grills operate on electricity which do not produce ashes like in charcoal grills. It is removable plates that have a non-stick coating over them that makes the cleaning process easy. It comes with a scrapper which is helpful for cleaning the grooves of the grates.
Below the grill grates is a drip trap that collects the grease and food particles. Remove it and dump the grime in a dustbin and which it with soapy water. Take a dump cloth, and clean the internal body. Before assembling the grill dry it thoroughly to avoid any mishap. However, we have written an article on cleaning smokeless grills because it is a little bit tricky to completely clean a grill.
Environmentally Friendly:
Smokeless grills are a lot more environmentally friendly than any other type of grill because of their heating source. It uses electricity as a power source which does not produce smoke and carbon dioxide that can harm health. Because of the smokeless feature we use such grills indoors and in closed areas.
Many people choose smokeless grills because they want to enjoy grilled food. Other grills are expensive as compared to smokeless grills that are affordable. The other reason is the area for grilling which is not available to most people because of their living style. While considering all of these points people nowadays go for smokeless grills.
Precise Temperature Control:
Smokeless grills can compete with Pellet grills in precise temperature control. The lid and the infrared burner technology make the temperature precise while grilling. The metallic drip tray also stores heat and helps maintain the temperature. Many premium smokeless them have knobs for temperature control which maintains the desired cooking temperature. This precise temperature control is essential for getting the best cooking results.
Versatility:
Smokeless grills are versatile in terms of cooking food. You can cook whatever you want to cook over them. Some basic models come with cooking grates while the premium ones have interchangeable plates, waffle plates and some have a panini press, or a griddle plate. You can grill steaks, burgers, panini, seafood, vegetables, sandwiches, and whatever you want from breakfast to dinner.
What Food Works Best on a Smokeless Grill?
Versatility is the main thing that is considered while manufacturing smokeless grills. It is a competitor of all the traditional grills which means we can expect many things from them. However, there are certain things we cannot cook over smokeless grills.
Although some of the premium grills are specially designed for cooking all types of food on them. The high heat produced by infrared burners is particularly beneficial for getting quick and satisfying searing, adding a smoky flavor, and creating a caramelized tough exterior. Because of such intense heat meat seared on them has a large amount of juiciness within it.
A smokeless grill ensures uniform cooking and mouthwatering results, whether your taste buds desire for delicious pork chops, crispy chicken, or soft grilled steaks with a perfect sear. It is best for grilling veggies, corn on the cob, bell peppers, zucchini, or asparagus.
What are the Limitations of Smokeless Grills?
Smokeless grills are usually compact in nature. Because of this, it has a small cooking area as compared to traditional grills. It limits the amount of food grilled for a large number of people. Because of this reason, you have to cook for many hours.
Electricity is the only source of energy for smokeless grills. It is manufactured while considering indoor grilling. Due to this, it can limit their functionality for outside usage where there is no power outlet. If they want to enjoy grilling outside, you need a power extension. If you have a portable generator, you can enjoy grilling while camping on a hillside.
Smokeless grills do not use charcoal or wood therefore you cannot get the smoky flavor from it like you achieve from other types of grills. However, it can produce a light smokey flavor taste if you put the lid throughout grilling the food because when the grill gets enough hot the grease that is produced from the food starts smoking.
Conclusion
The technology behind smokeless grills, such as infrared burner technology, specialized cooking grates, electric fans, and smoke extractors, works together to achieve a smoke-free atmosphere. Due to the lack of smoke produced by smokeless grills, they are used in smoke-sensitive areas like apartments and balconies.
The other benefits include efficient and quick cooking, even heat distribution, easy cleanup, and environmental friendliness. However, the small cooking area, dependent on electricity for cooking, and does not provide smoky flavor are some of their drawbacks.