how to cook fajita veggies
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Nothing satisfies quite like a favorite food hot off the grill. Whether it's fish, meat, vegetables, potatoes, or any other dish made more delicious by grilling, grill baskets make foods look and taste better. They also provide an easy way to grill up some grub without the danger of food falling through the cooking grate.
Designed to be a kind of frying pan for the grill, grill baskets offer endless options. Coming in various sizes, materials, and designs, choosing the best grill basket can be challenging. Read on to find out what you need to know to select a grill basket for your next backyard cooking session, and check out our picks for some of the best on the market.
- BEST OVERALL: Weber Style 6435 Professional-Grade Grill Pan
- BEST BANG FOR THE BUCK: Overmont Stainless Steel Grill Basket
- BEST SMALL: Yukon Glory Premium Grilling Basket
- BEST FOR VEGETABLES: Weber Deluxe Stainless Steel Vegetable Basket
- BEST SET: Yukon Glory Set of 3 Professional Grilling Baskets
- BEST ROTISSERIE: only fire Chrome Plating Steel Flat Spit Grill Basket
- BEST BASKET: The Seasoned Griller Professional Grade Grill Basket
- BEST FOLD-OVER: Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket
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What to Consider When Choosing the Best Grill Basket
Identifying the best grill basket requires taking several factors into account. Material, size, design, handle type, and other details dictate the quality of the grilling experience and product. Below is a quick rundown of some of the most important characteristics to consider when selecting the best grill basket for your needs.
Material
The best grill baskets are sturdy, well-constructed, and resistant to prolonged exposure to high temperatures. Popular grill basket materials include copper, aluminum, cold-rolled carbon steel, or stainless steel.
The right grill basket could be a part of your grill tools collection for decades. Regardless of material, examine the build quality before purchase. Long-lasting grill baskets will be made of thick wire. A thin wire may warp under the onslaught of heat.
Anyone who has grilled knows the pain of losing that distinctive smoky flavor to a sticky grate. Some grill baskets include nonstick chemicals that make getting the meat off the grill as easy as putting it on. Keep in mind, the nonstick chemicals can break down with excessive heat of more than 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and some grilling methods call for temperatures in excess of 500 degrees.
Size
Grilling baskets should fit nicely on your grill and have a large enough capacity to simultaneously cook several pieces of meat, fish, or vegetables. When identifying the best grill baskets, consider how many people you hope to feed and the size of your favorite food. Tuna steaks take up more space than hot dogs, and it is nice to accommodate everyone in one grill session.
A larger cooking surface translates to more food getting access to heat. If you host frequent barbecues or enjoy larger foods like salmon fillets, a broad grill basket accommodates high-volume grilling. Also, take into account the height of favorite foods. If leaning toward a folding basket, consider one with an adjustable height to guarantee its ability to close over thick steaks or tall vegetables.
Basket vs. Fold Over
When identifying the best grill baskets on the market, the design is a critical consideration. The name "grill basket" is actually a bit of a misnomer, as not all come in basket form. However, true grill baskets are just what they sound like: a metal basket that holds food while resting directly on the grill. Baskets often have high sides and an open top. The sides help prevent food from spilling across the grill, and the open top makes it easy to flip or turn the food.
Fold-over grill baskets close like a book, securing the food in place, and feature a long handle that hangs off the side of the grill. This allows you to simply grasp the handle and turn the entire thing at once; no more flipping each morsel individually, as they all go over together. Since fold-over baskets close on four sides, be sure to find one that is not too short for the food. Many manufacturers build fold-over grill baskets that adjust for foods of varying heights.
Hole Size
Grill baskets have holes so that the distinctive grilled flavor can get to the meat or veggies. Make sure the holes are small enough to contain even the most diminutive portions. The more food that slips through, the less is left to be enjoyed.
Holes also allow unwanted runoff like fat and grease to slip through the cracks. If your favorite foods call for being steeped in their juices, a basket-type grill with small holes allows for more flavor to be retained. Finding the right hole size could mean the difference between perfectly grilled deliciousness and a grill filled with tidbits of food leftover when the meal is done.
Handles
More than just a matter of convenience or preference for portability, handles help with safety. The best grill baskets come with handles that stay cool enough to touch and secure enough to pull the food off the grill confidently.
Fold-over style baskets have long handles similar to those of oven griddle pans. They may be made of wood, plastic, or metal and extend several inches from the heat so that grabbing one while flipping or serving won't burn skin.
Basket-style handles tend to be shorter, with handles that end up over the heat. Depending on the basket's height, the handles may become too hot if left on the grill for a long time. These handles are often rolled metal attached directly to the side of the basket. Regardless of which handle type arrives with your grill basket, be sure to follow all proper safety precautions and use grilling or oven mitts to ensure safe and happy grilling.
Our Top Picks
Identifying the best grill baskets for your next party can be a labor-intensive task. Our list of some of the best grill baskets on the market takes the guesswork out of a great grill experience. Read on to learn more about which options may best fit your grilling goals.
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More pan than a basket, this professional-grade product from grill expert Weber makes up for depth with size. A whopping 17 inches by 11 inches of grill surface leaves plenty of room to grill for a party. While the basket is large, the holes are small, each measuring 0.125 inch to allow juices to drain away while food remains put.
Wide and high handles make carrying and removing this basket from the grill safe and comfortable. Stainless steel construction combined with the small hole size precludes warping under high temperatures and makes the Weber dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
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This fold-over style grill basket is especially suited for vegetables, fish, or other delicate foods that call for easy flipping. Measuring just more than 13 inches wide by 8.5 inches long, it can accommodate enough food to feed three people in one grilling session.
Manufactured from food-grade stainless steel fashioned into thick and sturdy wire, it is unlikely to warp or bend even after prolonged exposure to high heat. The 5.5-inch handle folds in for easy storage and makes flipping food a cinch. Beware that this basket allows just more than 0.5-inch height clearance in the cooking area, so thick meat cuts will not fit. Still, the Overmont is a very capable grill basket at a budget-friendly price.
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Limited outdoor spaces, such as those found with apartments, may call for a small grill. Yukon Glory has it covered with this diminutive grill basket that leaves a little space on the side. Measuring 11.75 inches long by 7.5 inches wide, this basket can house a respectable amount of food, including thicker cuts of meat or large vegetables, thanks to a 3.25-inch height.
The heat-resistant handle folds to reduce the storage footprint and is rated to withstand temperatures up to 500 degrees. A secure locking mechanism, built into the handle, allows for flipping food without fear of unexpected opening. In case accessing the food while grilling is required, grillers can remove the top entirely.
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Vegetables make an excellent addition to any grilling experience, whether as a side or a main course. Taking cues from Weber's other offerings, small holes combined with high sides are perfect for cooking piles of vegetables while reducing the chance of spillage.
At 13.8 by 11.8 by 2.5 inches, this vegetable basket includes wide and high handles for safe and convenient handling. Sturdy stainless steel construction guarantees durability and longevity that will keep veggie lovers grilling for years. Although Weber does not include a nonstick surface on this model, coating it with cooking spray beforehand will achieve this result. This basket is also dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
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Yukon Glory strikes again with this professional-grade set of grilling baskets that serve a multitude of needs. Including three grill baskets, this set employs small perforations that allow heat and smoke through while keeping food inside.
A 10-inch by 7-inch grilling pan accommodates fish or meat. The 8.5-inch by 3-inch square basket is perfect for accompanying vegetables, while the third piece, a 9-inch by 9-inch grill basket with a 2-inch height, is a happy medium between the two. Stainless steel manufacturing promotes durability, and thick rounded handles provide secure and safe carrying points.
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Get the advantages of rotisserie cooking on a home grill with this spit-style grilling basket. Slowly revolving food over heat keeps juices in while producing crispy, evenly cooked meat. Measuring 13.9 by 7.48 by 2.2 inches, this basket fits a respectable amount of fish, pork, poultry, vegetables, or beef.
This basket employs a net-style design, so small food may not be ideal, as it could fall through the holes. Chrome-plated steel offers nonstick qualities without the need for oiling, making this product suited for delicate food. This basket will not fit on all grills, but those equipped with .5- or .375-inch hexagonal or .375- and .3125-inch square spit rods will find a worthy companion in this rotisserie basket.
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This multifunctional grill basket is built from 430-grade stainless steel. Pencil-size holes and a height more than 3 inches help prevent food spillage. Dimensions are 14.5 inches by 12.4 inches, allowing for plenty of food to grill at once. Wide stainless steel carrying handles disperse heat and are set well above the cooking surface for comfortable removal.
This grill basket is versatile and dishwasher safe. At under 2 pounds, it is a lightweight and portable addition to any camping kit and also functions as a wok or smoker. Reinforced corners prevent bending or warping. This basket fits on most grills and makes an excellent addition to any griller's tool kit.
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Char-Broil's basket keeps food secure with a locking lid and mesh-style holes. Two steel pieces gently grip the lid to keep it secure. Small foods and vegetables are no problem in this stainless steel fold-over basket. A nonstick coating ensures removing food without a struggle and makes for simple cleanup.
The dual-sided design allows for even cooking. However, the lack of a handle makes transportation and removal from the grill a risky proposition, so be sure to wear heat-resistant gloves when handling this basket. At 11 inches by 10 inches by 2.3 inches, this fold-over basket can cook enough food to feed three people.
The Advantages of Owning the Best Grill Basket
Grill baskets add another facet to the backyard chef's grill game. Grill baskets neatly package food in one convenient utensil that offers versatility, neatness, and convenience. Pile your favorite meat, vegetables, or fish into the basket, and set it on top of the grill for a no-fuss grilling option.
Individually flipping each piece of food is a thing of the past with fold-over style baskets, while deep and wide baskets with open tops allow easy access to food while cooking. Multiple styles offer nearly endless possibilities for your favorite foods to be grilled, smoked, or rotisserie cooked. Nonstick and dishwasher-safe materials reduce damage to delicate foods while offering easy cleanup.
- Grill baskets save food by safely preventing loss through the grill grates.
- Grill baskets make cooking food easier by making it possible to flip the entire contents at once.
- Grill baskets ensure foods retain more nutritional value and lose unhealthy fat when cooked on a grill grate.
- Grill baskets allow the user to load up the food in the kitchen and conveniently carry it out to the grill to save trips back and forth.
FAQs About Grill Baskets
There is a lot to consider when choosing the best grill basket. For a quick reference to some of the most pressing queries, check out the answers to these frequently asked questions for more information.
Q. What can you cook with a grill basket?
One of the best things about grill baskets is their versatility. Virtually anything that can be grilled can go in a grill basket, from delicate slices of fish and thick slices of meat to mushrooms and onions.
Q. How do you keep fish from sticking to a grill basket?
Many grill baskets come with a nonstick coating designed to prevent sticking. For noncoated varieties, apply a healthy amount of cooking oil to the basket before putting in the food.
Q. What is the correct way to use a grill basket?
Grill baskets sit directly on grill grates and allow heat to pass through. Simply place the seasoned and prepped food within and place it on top of the grill until it is thoroughly cooked.
Q. How do I clean my grill basket?
Grill baskets are made to withstand high temperatures and tough conditions. These same characteristics make most grill baskets dishwasher safe for easy cleaning.
how to cook fajita veggies
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