May
How to guides, Pizza Ovens, Tips & tricks!, What to cook
5 Secrets to Grilling with your Igneus Pizza Oven
Summer is just around the corner, so if you’re not already outside in the garden grilling food, its time! We know just how popular BBQing is in Britain, it goes hand in hand with great weather! But one of the little-known facts about pizza ovens is you can roast and grill meat, fish and vegetables to create a host of other dishes well beyond pizza! What’s more is that using an Igneus wood fired pizza oven, you’ll also have a charred smoky aroma and taste to your grilled foods too. So, forget the BBQ this summer, and instead recreate your favourite BBQ hits using your Igneus Pizza Oven. But first, here are our 5 secrets to grilling perfection.
1. Preheat
Before we jump into the huge variety of foods you can grill using your pizza oven, it’s important to start at the very beginning. Be sure to give it plenty of time for your pizza oven to reach the desired heat. This won’t be as hot as if you were making pizza as the foods you’re likely to be cooking will take slightly longer than the 60 seconds needed to make a pizza. For this reason, you want to aim to get your pizza oven in the 250°C – 300°C temperature range. This will ensure you still get that gnarly char to your food but stop the outside from burning before the inside is cooked.
It’s also important to preheat your pan as well as your oven. For example, if you’re cooking a steak, you don’t want to put the meat into a cold cast iron pan because you won’t achieve the perfect seared, caramelised crust on the meat. Cast iron pans are the best type of pans to use in your pizza oven because they can withstand the high, direct heat and they retain their temperature for a long time.
2. Sizzle and Sauce
No matter what you’re firing up your pizza oven for grilling food, you can accentuate the taste with some simple seasonings.
Meats
For succulent meats, consider marinades or rubs to infuse flavour deep into the meat. From classic BBQ blends to zesty citrus marinades, the options are endless. Remember, less can often be more; a delicate balance ensures the natural flavours shine through. We also love keeping it simple with pink Himalayan rock salt, cracked black pepper, olive oil and some simple mixed herbs on our meats! The high intense heat from the oven will of course keep the juices in any meat because of the quick cooking it invokes, much like BBQ cooking
Fish
Delicate fish requires a gentle touch. Opt for citrus-based sauces or herb-infused oils to complement without overpowering the fish. A sprinkle of sea salt, cracked black pepper and fresh lemon slices can work wonders, enhancing the natural sweetness of the fish.
Vegetables
Elevate vegetables from mere sides to star attractions with bold seasoning blends or herb-infused oils. Don’t shy away from experimenting with different combinations – from smoky paprika to fragrant rosemary.
3. Direct vs Indirect Heat
Understanding the distinction between direct and indirect heat is pivotal in harnessing the full potential of your Igneus Pizza Oven. Direct heat involves cooking food directly next to the flames, perfect for achieving that coveted char and caramelisation on meats and vegetables. This method is ideal for grilling food requiring a quick sear or crisp exterior. On the other hand, indirect heat involves placing food away from the flames, allowing for slower, more controlled cooking. This method is a game-changer for delicate foods like fish such as whole seabass, or larger cuts of meat like a thick 16oz ribeye, ensuring they cook evenly without burning
4. Get Creative
Your Igneus Pizza Oven holds the potential for you to cook a huge array of foods. If you’re struggling for ideas, here’s a few of our favourites:
- Grill Mediterranean vegetables, which caramelise beautifully on the grill and add a smoky depth to your dish. Bell peppers, courgettes, aubergines, mushrooms and asparagus are popular choices, especially combined with garlic, spices and mixed herbs. Peppers in particular will blister on the outside and come out soft, sweet and juicy.
- Sear up a steak with garlic butter! As with chicken, the heat from the flames crispens the skin whilst leaving juicy tender meat within.
- Crack out the sauces and salsas for your grilled fish. Salsa Verde is an excellent accompaniment for Shrimp, squid, or scallops! You could even opt for larger fresh fish such as Seabass, Salmon, Trout or any white fish in fact. The heat from the pizza oven will impart a chargrilled smoky taste like no other. But as above, remember not to have the oven too high when cooking fish as it’s super delicate and can dry out easily.
- Experiment with sauces and marinades, such as grilling pork ribs in a smoky, sticky barbecue sauce.
- Baste meat, poultry or even seafood like lobster tails with butter/oil to prevent them from drying out!
5. Get all the Best Gadgets
You can use accessories such as the digital infrared thermometer to ensure your pizza oven is at the precise temperature you need to succulently grill meat and fish. Regardless of what you cook, you’ll also need our cast iron pan sets. Due to their durability they can withstand high, direct heat. This allows you to grill meats far quicker, and produce dishes that will have your mouth salivating at the smell as they sear and cook. They also require less cleaning and become more non-stick with use!
Unlike when cooking pizza when you can visually tell when it’s ready to take out of the oven and enjoy, grilling food such as meat and fish is slightly more complex. It can be sometimes difficult to know if the inside of your steak is perfectly to your liking, or whether a good vet could resuscitate it! For that reason, we highly recommend the Meater 2 Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer which completely removes all the guesswork. It’s highly heat resistant and can withstand temperatures of up to 550°C so you can happily leave it in your oven while your food cooks. Then you get a notification on your phone when your food is at the desired level of cooking.
Can we help you get ready to grill this summer? Contact us on 01423 575885 or browse our full collection of pizza ovens online here.