Guide to Plate Grills

If you’re looking for a great option to cook your food, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got all the information you need about plate contact grills, including how to use them, what materials are best for them, and which factors you should consider when buying one.

There are many ways to cook your food, and each method has advantages. If you’re looking for a way to grill your food without dealing with the mess of charcoal or gas grills, then a plate contact grill is your best bet. These grills feature two or more metal plates that sit on each other in an alternating pattern. The plates are heated by electricity or gas until they get hot enough that your food will start cooking immediately upon touching them.

This guide will cover all that and more. We’ll discuss using a plate contact grill and what types are available. Then we’ll dive into some things to consider when making your purchase—from the size of the grill you need to how much power it should have to whether or not it has features like adjustable temperature control or non-stick plates.

What is a Plate Grill?

A plate grill (also known as a flat grill) is a piece of equipment that has been around since the early 1900s. It can be used to cook anything from vegetables and meats to fish and bread—and it’s perfect for anyone who wants to save time on their cooking process while still getting delicious results!

Cooked beef steak on a metal electric grill

The plate grill is also great for outdoor parties because they don’t take up much space and they don’t require any electricity or gas source. They need something sturdy to hold up against heat (like bricks), so you can use them in your backyard or campgrounds!

Plate contact grills come in many different styles and sizes. Some have only one metal plate, while others have several interlocking plates that can be adjusted depending on what kind of grill surface you want at any given time. Some models even include features like temperature control knobs so that users can adjust how much heat they want from their plates before hitting up their favorite food.

How to Use a Plate Grill?

If you’re looking for a new way to grill but want to refrain from investing in a gas grill. A plate grill could be the answer.

A plate grill is an excellent solution if you want to make all kinds of foods on the grill—and it’s easy enough that anyone can use one. If you’re looking for an affordable way to cook everything from burgers and hot dogs to chicken breasts and veggies, this is the tool for you!

Here are some tips for using your plate grill:

  1. Warm up the grill before cooking anything on it. You’ll want your grill to reach at least 400 degrees Fahrenheit before cooking. This will help keep food from sticking and ensure even cooking throughout.
  2. When grilling meats like chicken or pork chops, don’t crowd them onto the grill—this will cause steam buildup that keeps them from browning properly. Instead, cook them in batches so they have room between each piece so they can brown evenly without steaming themselves off before they have time to cook through completely.
  3. Brush both sides of your meat with oil or butter before placing it on the grill—this helps prevent it from sticking and adds a flavor that won’t be absorbed into your food (which means it’ll keep longer).
  4. When the food is cooked through (and there will be some variation depending on what you’re cooking), take it off of the plate grill and serve immediately!

Different Types of Plate Contact Grills

Plate contact grills are the most common type of indoor grill and are also one of the most versatile. The plate contact grill is a large pan that you heat up on your stovetop and then place food directly on top of it when you’re ready to cook. This allows for a super-smooth cooking surface that helps prevent food from sticking or falling through the grates.

There are different types of plate contact grills:

Flat Plate Contact Grills

electric grill isolated on white backgroundFlat plate contact grills are one of the most popular gas grills on the market. These grills have a flat-top cooking surface, which means they don’t have any features that elevate the cooking space above the heat source. They’re typically used for searing meats and cooking burgers and steaks.

Flat plate contact grills are great for searing meats because they allow you to use high heat without worrying about burning food. The flat surface allows grease to drip off your food as it cooks, ensuring it doesn’t end up in your grill’s grill pan or drip tray.

They’re also great if you’re looking for a large amount of space to cook on because they usually offer up at least five burners, depending on how much space you need!

Ribbed Plate Contact Grills

non stick electric grill stove

This plate contact grill is one of the most popular types on the market today. It has a unique shape and design, created by using a series of parallel ribs to create a ribbed surface. The ribs help make this grill durable and efficient at evenly and quickly cooking food. The ribbed surface also helps with cleaning because it allows you to easily remove dirt and debris between the ribs. This type of grill is usually made out of stainless steel or aluminum. Still, other materials, such as carbon steel, may also be used in its construction.

Ribs are also useful for quickly searing meat, so if you don’t have much time but want a perfectly cooked steak, this is the grill for you. Ribbed plates are handy for thick cuts of meat such as steaks or ribs because they will sear faster than other grills.

Mixed Plate Contact Grills

An image of a new electric barbecue on white background

Mixed plate contact grills come in many different forms, but they all have one thing in common: a combination of ribbed and flat plates. The flat plates are used for cooking at a lower temperature, while the ribs provide more surface area for high-heat cooking. The result is that you can get your food cooked evenly and quickly with less effort.

The number of ribs on a mixed grill can vary from one or two to five or six (or more). Some models feature separate control knobs for each type of contact grill so that you can choose which one works best for what you’re cooking. Others have one knob that controls both types at once and automatically adjusts itself based on what’s happening inside your grill. If you’re looking for something specific like this, make sure it’s included in any model you consider buying!

Materials for Grill Plates

Grill plates are a major part of your grilling experience. Knowing what materials to choose from is essential if you’re looking for the best possible results. Here are some of the most common options:

Cast Iron Plates

Cast iron grates are a popular choice for many cooks, but they tend to be a little on the heavy side. That’s because cast iron is a dense material that’s hard to bend or shape. You’ll find them in professional kitchens and at home, but they could be better for people who want something lightweight and easy to clean.

Cast iron grates are also made from a material that requires some upkeep. The seasoning process helps prevent rusting and sticking by coating the surface of your grill with oil before use. This means you’ll need to keep them well-oiled after every use and ensure you don’t let your grill get too hot when cooking on it—or else the oil could burn off!

Aluminum Plates

Aluminum plates are great for the home cook who wants to get a little fancy with their grilling. They’re easy to clean and can be used on charcoal and gas grills. Aluminum is also a great conductor of heat. It will sear meat faster than other materials like stainless steel or cast iron. However, aluminum has drawbacks—it’s not as durable as some other materials, and it can’t handle high temperatures as well as cast iron.

Stainless steel is a great choice if you want something more durable and heat-resistant. This material is resistant to rusting (as long as you keep it dry). It can withstand high temperatures without warping or melting like aluminum might do at higher temps.

Ceramic Plates

Ceramic plates are the ideal choice for a grill plate.

Ceramic is a tough material, which means it can stand up to the heat of your grill. It’s also non-toxic, so you don’t have to worry about ingesting harmful chemicals while cooking. This makes it perfect for grilling meat and vegetables.

Because ceramic is non-porous, it provides a clean surface for food to cook on that won’t trap grease or juices from previous dishes. This means that you can use your ceramic plates over and over again without having to worry about them getting dirty or losing their non-stick properties.

Things to Consider When Purchasing a Plate Grill

A plate grill is one of your kitchen’s most versatile cooking tools. They’re great for burgers, steaks, and fish, but they’re also useful for cooking vegetables and other foods that don’t require flipping. They’ve been popular in restaurants for decades, but they’re only recently starting to gain popularity in homes.

If you’re thinking about purchasing a plate grill, here are some things to consider:

Size

The size of your grill will depend on how much food you need to cook at one time. If you have a large family or regularly host parties, you should go for something that can hold quite a bit of food. If not, then it’s best to stick with something smaller.

Power

The higher the BTUs (British Thermal Units), the faster your food will cook. Look for a higher BTU count if you want something more suited to high-heat searing than slow-cooked meals. If you’re cooking for a larger crowd or need more flexibility, choose something with lower BTUs to work at slower temperatures without switching out grills halfway through cooking time.

Timers

Some grills come with built-in timers so that you can set them and walk away while they’re cooking—others require manual inputting of the time into an app or device before starting the process. Whatever kind of timer works best for your lifestyle should matter most when choosing which one will work best in your home!

Floating Plates

Floating plates are usually made of stainless steel and are designed to be able to move up and down depending on how much heat you need. While they’re great for cooking different foods at once, they can also be difficult to clean if they get stuck in a position that’s too high or too low.

Grease Trays

A grease tray will help keep your plate grill clean by collecting any grease drippings that may occur during cooking. Some models have removable trays that are easy to clean, while others have built-in trays that cannot be removed for cleaning purposes.

Energy Saving Modes

Look for an energy-saving mode that allows you to cook food without overloading your power supply with heat output from your burner coils (even though this is only sometimes possible). This will save you money on utility bills by keeping electricity costs down and prolonging your equipment’s lifespan from premature wear and tear caused by excessive heating levels (especially compared to other models).

Wrapping It Up

So, there you have it! The plate contact grill is an excellent piece of equipment for your kitchen. It’s easy to use, easy to clean and produces excellent results. This is the one for you if you’re looking for a good starter grill. 

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Aside from plate grills, there are other types of grills out there that you can choose from. If you need help, you may read our Guide to Selecting the Right Grill for some tips and recommendations.