These Are The Best Alternatives To Safely Grill Indoors
Grilling may mark the summer season, but there are times when we may crave or be in the mood for delicious grilled steak or skewered chicken over an open flame. If you've ever contemplated bringing an outdoor barbecue inside, whether it's a small, transportable one or a huge grill on wheels, you don't need to think about it anymore; it's a definite no because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Luckily, there are other options that will work and provide a similar outcome. Although some foods may not have the same flavor as if you cooked it over a charcoal barbecue, there are other methods that will keep you safe — and more importantly, alive — so you can enjoy many grilled lunches and dinners to come.
There are some tools and gadgets you can use when you want to grill, but can't do so outside and need to go indoors.
A contact grill is one option you can consider
Although nothing quite compares to food cooked over a fire, there are too many risks to do this indoors, unless you have a fireplace in your home. According to FoodFireFriends, "Modern fireplace grilling uses a specially-made grate set into a frame that straddles the fire" that makes it safe and convenient to cook over the fire. If you don't have a fireplace, there are a couple other possibilities. A contact grill is small and compact, usually featuring a flat or sloped surface with a built-in lid; this may be most well-known with the brand George Foreman.
If you have a gas or electric stovetop, there is often a built-in range that lets you opt for an indoor-style grill or even a griddle (via FoodFireFriends). You don't have to worry about the smoke going throughout the house because there is a ventilation fan that's above the stove (or there should be). No matter how much you want to use your outdoor grill inside, remember that it's not worth the risks — you could end up in the hospital or worse — but there are alternative methods to cooking your food that will be similar to cooking outside.