Redesigning a kitchen is a great experience. It doesn’t matter if you are building a commercial kitchen, renovating your home kitchen, or simply looking at the best alfresco kitchens on the market. It’s your opportunity to create a space that you feel really comfortable in and reflects your personality.
Don’t forget, the kitchen is still the heart of the home. In effect, it is still the most important renovation project you will undertake.
The Difference Between An Open Grill & A Full Hotplate
An open grill is the traditional approach to cooking and is generally seen as the best way to get sear marks on your food. That gives it character and additional flavor. Grills heat from underneath with flames and fat from the food falls onto the flames. This causes flare-ups which can contribute to the final taste of the food.
In contrast, the full hotplate is simply a sheet of metal that gets hot and allows you to grill via contact. This is a different technique but achieves the same result. However, one thing to note on a hotplate is that the fat from the food doesn’t fall through the grill. Your food sits in it unless you consistently scrape the fat into the collecting tray. This makes it the less healthy option although the fats can transform the flavor.
How To Choose Between The Two
There are two main contributors to your decision:
- Previous Experience
If you have always cooked food on an open grill you are more likely to choose an open grill for your kitchen renovation. Equally, if you’ve always used a hotplate that will be your preferred choice.
This is an effective method as you will be more comfortable cooking the way you have always done. However, you shouldn’t rule out trying the alternative method. Ideally, do this before you commit to one or the other, you may surprise yourself.
- What You Cook
Most people who have both will say that the grill is great for sear lines and the authentic taste but that anything which can slip through the grill needs to be done on the hot plate.
If you pause to think about what you usually cook you’ll find this helps you to make the right decision. After all, there is little point in having a grill if you mainly cook vegetables and meats that easily fall apart, the hotplate is the safer option.
Safety Warning
It is important to note that many outside cooking apparatuses cannot support a full hotplate as these don’t allow air to move through the grill and food. Check the safety rating before you choose.
Of course, if you’re finding it difficult to decide whether to go for a grill or full hotplate in your kitchen renovation you can always compromise. It is possible to have both or a half grill/half hotplate design.
Again, it is whatever works best for you as you will be the one using it daily.
