Grilling quickly in a pan is a cooking technique that uses a very high temperature to create a delicious caramelized crust on the surface of the product. This method creates the so-called Maillard reaction between the released sugars and amino acids, which gives the food a special delicious taste. This is the main technique, how to fry meat in a grill pan.
How it's done?
Fast frying in itself allows you to get a delicious taste, so it is advisable to study this technique well. The crust formed by heat creates a great contrast between the edges and the center of the finished product. It also allows you to get the difference in texture and taste inside and out. In order to cook such meat, it is ideal to use any grill pan - Tefal, Lodge and others.
Do I need special tools for this?
Minimum requirements are kitchen tongs or spatula, grill pan and stove. During the roasting process, the surface temperature of the meat must exceed 150 ° C to obtain the above effect. Cooking at lower temperatures will take longer and lead to a more noticeable and deeper compaction of the product.
Do I need to use oil?
Recipes in a grill pan require a different amount of oil, as this may depend on your personal preferences and on the product itself. Greater meat may not require the addition of extra fat.
When you decide to add oil, it is very important to catch the moment when you can start to fry. The so-called smoke point is the temperature at which cooking oil or fat begins to break down to glycerol and free fatty acids. When this happens, free radicals and a compound called acrolein are created that will give your food a burnt, bitter taste. In most cases, it is recommended to use a very small amount of fat or oil with a thin layer and not bring it to the formation of clear smoke. This facilitates the roasting process and creates a more even contact between the surface area of the meat and the grill pan (Tefal and other brands).
What steps do you need to follow To get the best result, you need to do some additional preliminary steps.
Remove excess fluid
To get tasty meat in a grill pan, you must first dry it. All you have to do is wipe it with dry paper towels. This is necessary to remove as much water as possible from the surface of the meat. Remember that the surface of the product must exceed 150 ° C to get a golden brown? Water vapor forms at 100 ° C. If the meat is wet, the water first heats up and begins to soak the meat.
Season and leave the meat for a while
After drying, it is recommended to add salt and pepper to the meat and grind over the entire surface of the piece. This will help form this delicious, crispy brown crust.
Let the meat stand for several minutes at room temperature. This allows the excess moisture to evaporate, and the meat absorbs all the spices.
How to prepare the dishes?
How to cook meat in a grill pan? Your skillet must be thoroughly heated. To check its heating, add a drop of water to it. The grill pan is ready when the water that has fallen onto it immediately hisses and evaporates.
When this happens, add the oil, smearing it with a brush on the bottom of the pan. When it starts to hiss, it's time to add meat.
What you need to know about frying?
You will probably only need 45-90 seconds on one side if the pan is hot enough. Do not lay pieces of meat close to each other. You need to leave a distance of at least 2.5 cm between them. This is due to the fact that juices will be released during frying, and if there are too many of them, the meat will be stewed, not fried.
Secondly, do not interrupt the frying process. For proper cooking, it is necessary to maintain constant contact of meat with a hot surface, so do not turn it over again and do not press it. Leave it for 45 seconds, and only then you should try to move it or check.
How to minimize the amount of smoke?
Frying can cause smoke problems. Fortunately, there are ways to reduce this. First of all, this is a reduction in the amount of oil and the use of only high-quality brands.
These are the basic rules on how to fry meat in a grill pan. Below are some variations of this preparation.
Balsamic Vinegar Steaks
For this meat recipe in a grill pan, you can use any cut of meat, but it is best to take pieces without bones. All you need is the following:
- 2 beef steaks (about 700 grams each);
- half a red onion, chopped (or more if you want);
- whole or chopped champignon mushrooms (optional);
- 2.5-3 tablespoons of balsamic vinegar.
How to cook it?
Heat the grill pan over medium heat. Apply a thin layer of oil on it (it is best to take coconut or canola oil, as they have a higher smoke temperature).
Put the steaks in a pre-heated pan and fry for about 2 minutes or until a beautiful golden crust forms. Turn the pieces of meat over and cook the other side for another 2-3 minutes. You may need to reduce the fire if too much smoke appears.
Then turn the meat over again and fry at a reduced temperature so that strips from the bottom of the pan are imprinted on its surface. You can turn the steaks several times, but do not crush them and do not pierce.
Add chopped onions and mushrooms and continue with them frying the meat in a grill pan for a minute or two. Pour balsamic vinegar on it and cook for about two minutes. Only after that you can chop the steak to see if it is really ready. Cut the finished dish into pieces and serve with vegetables and potatoes.
Barbecue with vegetables in a grill pan
Not everyone has the opportunity to cook kebabs at any time, especially among residents of large cities. But a grill pan can help cook this dish at home. To do this, you will need:
- 500 grams of beef tenderloin, diced;
- 250 grams of mushrooms (small champignons), whole;
- 1 red onion, cut into wedges, plus another quarter of the onion marinade;
- 1 zucchini, cut into half rings.
For beef marinade:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil;
- 2 tablespoons of lemon juice;
- 2 teaspoons dried oregano;
- 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar;
- a quarter of red onion;
- 2 garlic cloves, minced.
For marinade for vegetables:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil;
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice;
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano;
- 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar;
- 1 garlic clove, minced.
How to fry meat in this way?
How to fry meat in a grill pan in the form of barbecue? Place the beef in a tightly closed plastic bag or bowl. In a small separate bowl, mix the beef marinade ingredients. Pour it into the meat and mix to cover all parts evenly. Seal the bag or cover the bowl with plastic wrap.
Place the onion wedges (dividing each layer), zucchini and mushrooms in a separate container. Mix all the components of the marinade for vegetables in a small separate bowl and pour it on the vegetables. Mix gently and evenly. Seal or cover and refrigerate meat and vegetables and leave for at least four hours.
If you use bamboo or wood skewers, be sure to soak them in water from 30 minutes to an hour to prevent burning.
Spread the ingredients on skewers, alternating meat and vegetables. Be sure to leave a small space between each part to ensure thorough cooking. Place the kebabs on a heated, lightly oiled grill pan. Fry until the beef is cooked - about 3-5 minutes on each side. Serve the kebabs hot with any side dish.
Grilled meat with spicy marinade
This dish is prepared very quickly, the main thing is to pre-cook the marinade and leave the meat in it. In total you will need:
- a third of a glass of soy sauce;
- half a glass of olive oil;
- a third of a glass of fresh lemon juice;
- a quarter cup of Worcestershire sauce;
- 3 cloves of garlic, minced in minced meat;
- 2 tablespoons of basil, finely chopped;
- 2 tablespoons chopped parsley;
- 1 teaspoon ground pepper;
- 1 teaspoon of sriracha tea sauce;
- 2-3 boneless steaks.
How to fry meat in a grill pan in a vegetable marinade?
Combine all the ingredients (except steaks!) In a blender and mix at high speed for 30 seconds until a homogeneous mixture is formed. Pour the resulting marinade onto the steaks, cover and refrigerate for 8 hours.
Then remove the pieces of meat from the marinade and fry in a heated grill pan for 8-10 minutes. Serve by watering with the remaining marinade.
So, we examined the recipes in a grill pan. Enjoy your meal!