Tired of burgers falling through the grill grates or spending hours scrubbing stubborn food residue? This review dives into the world of grill mats, exploring their convenience and effectiveness in creating delicious, perfectly cooked meals. We'll cover everything from affordability and availability to practical tips and tricks for achieving restaurant-quality results at home. Forget the hassle of traditional grilling; this review demonstrates how a simple grill mat can revolutionize your outdoor cooking experience.Discover how easily you can achieve perfectly seared burgers, juicy and flavorful, without the frustration of sticking or messy cleanup. This review details the grilling process using a grill mat, from prepping ingredients and trimming the mat to size, to achieving smoky flavor with wood chips and maintaining optimal grilling temperatures. We'll also reveal why these versatile mats, suitable for both grill and oven use, are a worthwhile investment for any grilling enthusiast.
Pros And Cons
- Easy to use
- Prevents food from falling through the grill grates
- Easy to clean
- Reduces grill cleaning
- Creates grill marks
- Suitable for various foods (burgers, shrimp, vegetables, fish, bacon, eggs)
- Non-stick surface
- Should not exceed 500°F (260°C)
- May fray at edges at high temperatures
Read more: 10 Must-Have Cookina Grill Mats
Product Overview and Price
These grill mats are readily available at various retailers, including Walmart and online marketplaces.
They typically retail around $19.95, but sales and discounts can make them more affordable.
The package usually includes a smaller mat suitable for oven baking, in addition to the larger grill mat.
Grilling Preparation and Ingredients
The reviewer prepares hamburgers with a simple seasoning blend of salt, pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder.
Thinly sliced tomatoes and onions are used as toppings, avoiding thick slices.
The reviewer emphasizes avoiding individually wrapped cheese slices, opting for higher-quality cheese instead.
Hamburger buns are buttered and will also be grilled on the mat.
Grill Mat Customization and Usage
The reviewer demonstrates how to trim the grill mat to fit a round grill, avoiding overhang.
The mat is placed directly onto the grill grates.
Hamburgers are placed on the mat and grilled, showing how they don't fall through the grates.
Cooking Process and Temperature Control
The reviewer uses lump charcoal for grilling, emphasizing its superior taste compared to charcoal briquettes.
The grill is heated to around 300-400°F, avoiding exceeding 500°F to prevent the mat from degrading.
The lid of the grill is closed to ensure even cooking, resulting in perfectly cooked burgers without burning.
Adding Wood Chips for Flavor Enhancement
The reviewer adds wood chip dust (maple or applewood) to the coals for extra flavor.
This method provides controlled smoking, lasting approximately 5-10 minutes.
Alternatively, soaking wood chips in water and wrapping them in foil can achieve similar results.
Cooking Results and Final Thoughts
The burgers are cooked perfectly, with melted cheese and grill marks.
The non-stick surface of the mat prevents sticking and makes cleanup easy.
The reviewer highly recommends the grill mats, highlighting their ease of use, convenience, and ability to enhance grilling.
