Oven grills may not be discussed very often, but they are an extremely versatile part of the kitchen. They can be used to make a variety of delicious meals that will feed the whole family and can also be used as a BBQ substitute on those days of unpredictable English weather.
Over the years, there has been much debate on the correct way to use an oven grill.
One of the main questions people ask is, “should you grill with the oven door open or closed?” Although this question may seem simple on the surface, this is not a situation in which one answer fits all.
For a detailed guide on the correct use of an oven grill, read on!
Can You Grill With the Oven Door Closed?
In the past, it was common practice to keep the oven door open when using the grill. Unfortunately, many people still believe this is the best practice and argue that closing the door will cause the grill to overheat. However, this is not always the case in today’s day and age.
Plenty of modern appliances now allow you to keep the oven door closed while using the grill, and they actually work better that way in many cases.
Keeping the door closed also helps to prevent excess heat from escaping and melting the appliance knobs, as well as using less energy to maintain the desired heat inside the oven.
That said, some brands still require the oven door to be open for safety purposes, and leaving the door of gas ovens closed can result in carbon monoxide release (more information on this below).
Therefore, whether or not you can grill with your oven door closed depends on the make and model of your appliance. Some should be closed, whereas others should be kept open!
Your oven’s instruction manual will have recommended guidelines for your specific brand of oven grill.
We highly suggest you follow the manufacturer’s advice to ensure you use the grill safely and achieve the best results when cooking.
Can You Get Carbon Monoxide Poisoning From a Grill?
Although unlikely, a gas oven grill can accumulate a build-up of carbon monoxide. However, this only occurs if the oven door is closed during grilling when the instruction manual says to do otherwise.
Carbon monoxide is a clear, odourless gas that can cause serious harm or even death when inhaled in large quantities.
Because it is undetectable, we highly recommend installing a working carbon monoxide detector in your home just to be safe.
This being said, you will be in no danger of carbon monoxide poisoning from your grill if you follow your oven’s guidelines.
If your oven’s manual tells you to close the oven door while grilling, this means it won’t put you in any danger when used in this way.
How Does a Grill in an Oven Work?
Nowadays, most ovens have a grill function and come with a grill pan that can be used to cook foods like sausages, burgers, and vegetable skewers.
This grill element will be located on the roof of your oven and is thermostatically controlled. This means the grill will remain at your desired temperature by cycling on and off, even when the oven door is closed.
Most oven grills come with two primary settings – full grill and part grill:
- Full grill: A full grill means that your food is being cooked using the whole of the heating element. The symbol for a full grill is a small square with two zigzagged lines inside and is the best setting when cooking large quantities of food.
- Part grill: Part grill means that only one section of the heating element is used to produce heat and cook your food. This setting is best used when cooking small portions, as you have to ensure the food items are placed directly under the heated section of the grill. It is also symbolised by a small box, but this time it will only have one zigzagged line inside.
Hannah is a freelance content writer and self-proclaimed foodie. When Hannah isn’t sitting tapping at her laptop, you’ll probably find her in the kitchen. As an ex-chalet host, she’s used to cooking four-course meals for 10+ people and loves feeding friends and family whenever possible.
