When you think of broiling, you probably think of the time-honored technique of cooking steak on a coal grill, or roasting a chicken over your range. There’s nothing wrong with either of those methods, but there is something to be said for broiling, which dates back to ancient times when smoke was an integral part of life. In fact, it was said that the first cookbook was written for a time when fire was a daily necessity instead of a luxury. During ancient times, when smoke filled the air, a meal could not be eaten unless it had been cooked over an open fire. This made cooking time consuming, and the process of broiling a great deal more efficient.
Broiling, which dates back to ancient times, is simply a method of cooking foods in which the food is placed directly on a hot surface, usually over a high heat, and which is often done using a torch. Today, broiling is still used to cook meats and vegetables, although it has declined in popularity because of fears that high heat can cause food poisoning. In addition, many people do not want to pay the extra money required for gas or electricity to operate a grill, and still want to be able to broil meat and fish without having to pay for charcoal, or constantly being on the look out for the flame. This is where a gas grill or electric grill comes in handy. Many people have actually reported cooking times of as few as five minutes on either type of grill, providing some level of flavor and texture to their foods.
It really all depends upon what you are looking for in broiling. If you want to brown foods like potatoes or onions, a direct heat will work best, but it does depend upon the foods you are broiling. Some foods such as chicken or steak actually work better when cooked on the grill. In addition, if you plan on making foods that need to be cooked quickly, you may want to use a rack or an iron rack for quick heating.
Because you are broiling meat or other foods at a high temperature, you will want to use some sort of liquid to help with the removal of excess moisture from the grill, as well as help with the process of imparting a nice flavor to your food. The juices that you use on your food will be lost in the smoke that the foods create, so a good idea is to keep a bowl of water nearby to add the juices while you are cooking. Many people enjoy adding a little bit of vinegar to the water as well, to further enhance the flavor of their grilled foods.
When it comes to baking, the two methods are very similar, but there are some key differences. The first difference is that baking takes longer, since the foods need time to reach the temperature that broiling achieves, generally between one and two hours. Also, baking tends to be more of a dry heat method, so foods tend to come out drier than broiled foods do. It is also important to remember that baking should be done on a hot oven. Therefore, you should not place baked foods on a cold oven or microwave, as this can cause a loss of crispiness and result in a raw or bitter taste. Baking should also be done at temperatures that are high, so that the foods bake evenly and do not overheat.
When it comes to fish fillets or other kinds of fresh fish, many people like to eat them on the grill. This works perfectly, because you are able to coat the fish with a marinate which helps to draw out the natural flavors and tenderize the proteins, allowing them to float on top of the grill. Since you want to cook foods at the highest temperature that they can reach, you will need to use oil to spread across the top of the fillet. You can do this by either using a spatula or a fork, depending on personal preference. It is important to not cook the oil, but to let it pool on the top of the fillet. This will help draw out excess fat and tenderize the proteins, resulting in a delicious meal that everyone will love.