When the weather warms up and the days get longer, all you want to do is get grilling. The smoky smell, the charred edges, food that actually tastes like summer — there's nothing better.
Living in an apartment doesn't have to get in the way of that. A lot of people assume that cooking over high heat in a small kitchen means one thing: a screaming smoke alarm. But with the right equipment and a few simple techniques, great grilled food is totally within reach, even without a backyard or balcony.
Here are five tips to get that chargrilled flavor in your apartment without triggering the smoke alarm.
The right gear for indoor grilling...
The first and most important piece for indoor grilling is a grill pan, ideally cast iron. The advantage of cast iron is that it distributes heat evenly and so produces consistent searing and charring. (Check out our picks for the best cast iron skillets). You can, of course, also use something like a Ninja indoor grill if you have one.
The second item you’ll need is an oil with a high smoke point — that is, an oil that can reach high temperatures without giving off smoke. The most refined oils have the highest smoke points, so go for oils like avocado, canola and sunflower.
When you cook at a temperature above an oil’s smoke point, you not only create smoke, but a bitter taste that ruins the flavor of the food. For grilling indoors, look for oils marked "refined." Refined oils are generally pale in color, with no sediment or cloudiness.
Tips for keeping your smoke alarm quiet
1. Ventilate as much as possible
If you have an exhaust fan over your stovetop or burners, turn it on, and open nearby windows. The more air circulating throughout the space, the less smoke will build up — so don't skip this step even if it feels obvious.
2. Preheat the grill pan
Give the pan time to heat completely, and cooking will be more even, take less time, and produce better grill marks. A fully preheated pan also means food spends less time on the heat overall, which means less smoke.
3. Oil the food, not the pan
Use a paper towel to pat meat dry before it goes on the grill. This gets rid of surface moisture, which means less steam, a better sear, and a cleaner cook overall.
Lightly spray or brush uncooked food with oil rather than putting oil directly on the pan, to lessen the amount of oil burning off. Excess oil sitting on a hot pan is one of the main culprits behind smoke, so this simple swap makes a real difference.
4. Don't overcrowd the pan
Cook in batches if you need to, rather than cramming everything in at once. Too much food on the pan at the same time releases excess moisture and steam, which can quickly set off the alarm.
5. Clean the grill pan once you're done
Once the pan has cooled down, wipe away any grease and residue with a paper towel before washing. Keeping it clean means no burnt-on grease next time you cook, which will help keep smoke and the alarm at bay.
