Do you find it difficult to get vegetables, mushrooms, shrimp, seafood and other small pieces on the grill? Tired of dealing with skewers and awkward aluminum foil? Can you forget about these inconvenient tools and lose your valuable pieces of food through the grill grates? There’s an easy way to prepare delicious and crunchy vegetables without making a mess.
A vegetable grill basket is a huge food saver and the perfect tool for grilling veggies and other small-size foods. This essential addition to your grill ensures that the heat reaches the vegetables and the food takes on the smoky flavor, but prevents pieces of food from falling into the fire. The basket also allows you to shake or stir vegetables without half of them being eaten by the grill. With this convenient product you can grill delicious vegetables and prepare healthy meals at the same time. This can help you consume more vegetables, making your lifestyle healthier.
What Makes a Quality Vegetable Grill Basket
- Materials: The grill basket should be made of a durable material that will stand the test of time. A quality grill basket will serve you for many years without rusting, twisting or warping. If you choose a nonstick basket, choose the product with an FDA-approved nonstick coating to eliminate health concerns.
- Size: The size of the basket you need depends on who you are grilling for. The product should be large enough to hold a reasonable amount of vegetables, yet small enough to fit on your grill. Make sure you measure your grill before purchasing.
- Depth: Deep walls provide space for lots of vegetables and allow for efficient mixing. The sides of the basket should be high enough to allow room for stirring and tossing your vegetables during the cooking process. This way, your food stays in the basket and cooks more evenly.
- Handles: The handles should be wide enough to allow comfortable lifting and easy movement of the basket. Sometimes the dimensions do not include the handles. Before purchasing, make sure the product dimensions are compatible with your grill/smoker. Some brands have removable handles that make it easier to close the lid of our grill when the handle is removed.
- Holes: The holes or slots should be large enough for the marinade to drain and the heat to penetrate, but narrow enough that you can toss small pieces of vegetables through the openings without losing them.
- Safety: A good basket is smooth and has no burrs or sharp edges. This is especially important if the basket is not dishwasher safe and you may have difficulty cleaning it. Burrs and sharp edges left around holes can make cleaning difficult or even cause cuts to your fingertips.
- Cleaning: Stainless steel baskets are dishwasher safe. Some durable, non-stick, scratch-resistant porcelain enamel coatings are also 100% dishwasher safe. The baskets with non-stick surfaces should be hand washed. Make sure the nonstick basket you purchase fits your kitchen sink. Wire baskets are extremely difficult to clean, but those with a nonstick coating are easier to clean than those without a coating.
- Heat Tolerance: Keep in mind that some vegetable grill baskets cannot be used over an open flame. Stainless steel baskets can withstand high temperatures. Certain types of nonstick coatings are only recommended for use up to 200°F, while others are only recommended for certain types of grills.
- Appearance: Shiny vegetable baskets do not retain their beautiful appearance after repeated use. It takes a lot of effort to keep them like new. Unlike stainless steel products, the black enamel coating does not change its appearance.
- The Country of Manufacture: Grill baskets made in the USA are manufactured to very strict standards, which may not apply to imported grilling accessories.
3 Common Types of Grill Pans for Vegetables
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1. Stainless Steel Vegetable Grilling Baskets
Pros
- Durable and long-lasting
- Dishwasher safe
- Suitable for metal utensils
- Can tolerate high temperatures
- Cab be safely used on any grill
Cons
- After a few uses it becomes darker.
- The food can stick to this basket.
Use and care
Spray a very light layer of olive oil on the basket to prevent foods from sticking to it. To keep it looking polished, use Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser and Polish Powder.
2. Enamel (Porcelain) Coated Grilling Baskets
Pros
- The porcelain finish is safe for food contact.
- It is dishwasher safe.
Cons
It is not completely non-stick.
Use and care
To prevent sticking, you must use spray oil. Do not use metal utensils on the cooking surface to avoid chipping the porcelain.
3. Non-Stick Grilling Baskets
Pros
- A non-stick surface prevents food from sticking.
- The non-stick coating makes cleaning easier.
Cons
- You cannot use metal utensils as they will scratch the non-stick surface.
- The non-stick coating comes off over time.
- Certain brands are not designed to withstand high temperatures.
- Not dishwasher safe.
Use and care
You should only use silicone or wooden utensils to avoid damage to the surface. Make sure the nonstick coating is FDA approved and therefore safe for food contact.
Related product: Cuisinart CNW-328 Non Stick 11-Inch, 11 x 11, Grill Wok
