So…
Has anyone heard of the grill mat before?
If you have not heard of this new invention before you will not be the only one.
And with new things for cooking, there are always questions as to how to use them.
So let’s get started on answering some, shall we?
A Grill Mat for Cooking
Yes…
You can cook on this so-called grill mat. And the answer to what style of cooking?
It’s all in the title people
GRILL!
Are they Reusable?
Well… I hope so.
Or it could get a little expensive.
Yes…
Of course, they are, you can use them again and again.
And…
If you look after them well enough, I am sure you are going to get your money’s worth out of them and beyond.
It’s perfect!
What is the Mat Made of?
If you have never used a grill mat before?
Or even seen a grill mat, they are these thin sheets made from a heavy-duty PTFE (PFOA Free) coated fabric that are non-stick.
Not only that!
They can withstand high temperatures. Which are a good idea seems as though they are going to be used for grilling right?
As the name suggests, they are apparently only good for grilling.
But have people found different ways to use these non-stick grill mats?
We shall find out…
Are Grill Mats Unhealthy?
First of all, I want to answer a big question, as these grill mats are coated it is only right to find out if they are going to be healthy as you are cooking your food on top of them.
So…
Are these Grill Mats Toxic?
Well…
No.
You can rest assured that these mats are safe for you to be putting your food on and cooking it over a hot flame.
Apparently, it is a little more complicated than that.
While the grill mats themselves are not toxic.
Here we go the small print.
It is stated that the grill mat itself may release some dangerous fumes if they are heated to extreme temperatures.
And since grilling is, by nature, usually high-heat, there may be a few concerns.
It is most probably like they are saying about drinking out of a plastic container, but we do it anyway…
Can I Put a Silicone Mat on the Grill?
Yes, silicone mats can be used on the grill, as they are called grill mats.
I am sure this would have been the right answer…
But not only that, it does look like these silicon mats can also be put in:
- in the microwave
- in the oven
- in the freezer
- in the refrigerator
As well…
Now, as a food-grade material, these silicone baking mats are quoted as being food safe and recommended for regular use, and non-toxic.
Do Grill Mats Catch Fire?
We have mentioned that a grill mat might emit some fumes if the heat is very hot.
So we did mention very hot, so as far as grill mats bursting into flames and sending the whole family and friends running for the hills.
No.
The last thing you want to do is singe your whiskers or eyebrows…
In fact – the grill mat actually prevents those flare-ups that you get every so often.
It is achieved by the grilling mat holding those oils and other fats on the top surface of the mat so that they do not fall straight through to the flames below.
While this usually isn’t an issue, the pooling of grease can be a potential safety risk, depending on what and how much you are grilling on the surface of your grill mat
Can You Put the Mat on a Glass Top Stove?
I guess you want to stretch the use of the grill mat to other things then…
If you do in fact have a glass stovetop as many of us have I guess it is a fair enough question.
You can indeed use the mat on an oven glass top as a barrier between your cooking pot or whatever you are using and the surface of the stove.
Do make sure that you are not turning the stove top up very high though.
The grill mat now turned into an oven surface mat…
Will catch any of those splatters for say a frying pan and of course, any of those spills.
Making it easier for you to not have to do so much cleanup.
I thought you would like that!
Can You Put It In Dishwasher?
So now you are asking if you can even do less by putting the mat into the dishwasher.
Well…
If you do decide that you do not want to wash it by hand and by having a dishwasher to do the dishes if you can through it in as well…
Yes, you can…
Happy now…
You can indeed dodge cleaning it up by hand by throwing the grill mat into the dishwasher with the other dishes.
Just make sure that when the dishwasher is finished to allow the mat to cool, and then you can wipe it over with a wet cloth.
Lay it flat on the top rack of your dishwasher if you want, or anywhere else of course, and let it cool. Ready for the next round of cooking.