City living isn’t without its challenges. Recently, my landlord said “Happy Summertime!” by placing a ban on all outdoor grilling. If you’re in a similar situation, here are 6 easy steps for successful grilling even without a grill.
Step 1: Get over it!
Landlord says no grills on the property? You don’t even own a grill? Don’t have a yard? First, let me just say kudos to you for taking on this endeavor. Your tenacity to throw this party still while lacking such fundamental cookout components is commendable.
In all honesty, your guests won’t care either way if there’s an actual grill (or yard) at this thing. In fact, this indoor cookout idea is the best you’ve ever had! No one returns home with the everlasting smell of lighter fluid and burnt meat in their hair. Plus, there will be less cleanup in the end.
While guests will overlook the missing fire, they absolutely won’t stand for bad food and little to drink. Let’s overcompensate in these areas.
Step 2: Grab your grandma’s pan.
One cast iron pan is all you need for each 5 persons. However, you do need a cast iron pan specifically. Don’t worry. Your grandma’s got like 15 of those things in her basement. When you get it, wash it. I know you’ve heard it said you never need to wash a cast iron pan but, yea, you should wash anything you’re cooking food on. The key is to never let the pan soak in water and to use only a mild soap. Once you’re done, heat it up until it smokes. Rub an oil on it with a high iodine value, such as canola or soybean. Let the pan cool. You’ve just seasoned your cast iron pan and are now good to go!
Step 3: Invest in good meat and a great marinate.
You want the seasoning you use to make up for the lacking fire and smoke. For this reason, dress your meat well ahead of time. You may want to use only a dry rub or salt and pepper for things like steaks. Otherwise, Eating Well has the perfect guide for times and marinade types here. The type of marinate varies depending on the type of meat you’ll cook.
Step 4: Get Oily.
For veggies: Pat olive oil over dry, clean veggies. Season with salt and pepper.
For meat: Your meat should already be marinating from step 3. Depending on your technique, you may also want a bottle of oil with a high burn threshold (like vegetable oil) nearby for searing.
Step 5: Open all the windows.
Yes, there will be smoke while using the stove top. To minimize this issue, consider oven grilling. If trying the latter, be sure to heat up your pan at 500 degrees first. Then, continue as you normally would.
Step 6: Don’t get cheap on the drank!
This is a great time to try one of those pretty punches you’ve been saving for years on Pinterest. Unsure of how much alcohol to purchase? Evite has a great calculator for that here.
Lastly, here are some of my favorite indoor grilling recipes and tips. Have fun!
- How to Grill without a Grill (Epicurious)
- Steak with Red Wine Mushroom Sauce (Epicurious)
- Great Indoor Grilling Dinners (Food Network)
- 5 Top-Rated Recipes for Indoor Grilling (Williams-Sonoma)