Whether you can shut the grill door depends entirely on the design of your specific appliance.
Understanding Grill Door Operation
Historically, many ovens and grills were designed for the grill door to remain open while grilling. This allowed for ventilation and helped prevent overheating the internal components.
However, as referenced in information from 09-Sept-2018, some, but not all, appliances now allow you to grill with the door closed. This evolution in design aims at keeping all that heat inside your oven where it belongs, potentially leading to more efficient cooking.
The Debate: Grilling vs. Baking
While closing the door can retain heat, there is a common argument against closed door grilling: that it bakes the food inside of grilling it. True grilling typically involves intense radiant heat applied directly to the food, often with some airflow. Closing the door can turn the oven cavity into a hot box, potentially steaming or baking the food rather than achieving the desired grilled texture.
Key Considerations Before Closing the Door
- Check Your Manual: Always consult the user manual for your specific oven or grill. It will provide definitive instructions on whether the door should be open or closed during grilling.
- Appliance Age/Model: Newer models are more likely to be designed for closed-door grilling than older ones.
- Cooking Results: Be aware that closing the door might change the cooking process and the final texture of your food compared to traditional open-door grilling.
In summary, while the traditional method is often open-door grilling, many modern appliances are built to handle closed-door operation, each method potentially offering different results.
