How does food cook differently on an open top grill than a covered one?
The title pretty much says it all, how does food cook differently on an open top grill than a covered one?
Best Answer
I believe it is kind of like the difference between broiling and baking. "Open top grill" only cooks from underneath (kind of like broiling but not from above). Baked or "covered" grill will distribute the heat more evenly.
For more information see: http://www.epicurious.com/articlesguides/howtocook/primers/grilling_lightingandgrilling
That's where I double checked my assumption and got the metaphor of broiling and baking.
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Is it better to grill with the lid open?
Open lid means searing So, they can hold up to the heat chamber the lid creates, and in fact, the lid will help thicker cuts of meat or vegetables cook more evenly. You'll avoid an undercooked center with an overly browned, crusty exterior.Does food cook faster covered or uncovered on grill?
Indirect cooking always requires the lid down. When you are grilling with the lid down, you need to keep a close eye on it. Flare-ups will happen much faster with the lid down.How important is a lid on a grill?
Whether you've got a gas or charcoal grill, with the grill uncovered, you can get a crustier char on the exterior of meat without overcooking the center. A closed grill will cook meat all the way through to the center for a more uniform doneness.Should you cook meat covered or uncovered?
Do not add water or liquid and do not cover the roast. Covering the roast would result in more steaming than roasting in the oven so we cook a beef roast uncovered. Test Kitchen Tip: A roasting pan is a shallow pan specifically designed for roasting.More answers regarding how does food cook differently on an open top grill than a covered one?
Answer 2
It's the difference between radiant heat, and convective heat.
Radiant heat is great for searing, and is produced by your charcoal/burners. You're always going to have (approximately) the same amount of radiant heat, regardless of whether the top is up or down.
Convective heat is just as good for cooking, but you're not going to get the delicious crust. When you have the grill covered, you're going to get a lot more convective heat, and uncovered, a lot less.
Answer 3
I won't go into the physics of it, because it's not terribly interesting. Basically, on an open grill, you're heating up one side of whatever it is you're cooking, and letting heat escape from the other side. The flame itself is also hotter, because of the better airflow.
When you close the grill, the fire itself is cooler (still enough to burn you though), but the heat remains locked in the grill. That way you get a more even cooking, and it's actually a bit faster, because the environment of the food is much hotter than it would be in open air.
There is also a secondary effect, where closing the grill traps some of the smoke in, and gives a smoky flavour to the food.
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