Different Ways of Searing on Cinder
The Cinder Grill is not only the best and fastest way to sous vide, but also provides a professional-level sear. It eliminates two inconveniences of sous vide, the heavy water bath and the need to dirty another pan. By doing so, the Cinder Grill makes it easy to enjoy restaurant-quality dining at home. Here’s a brief informative guide to maximizing results when searing on the Cinder Grill.
Food Preparation
Between the cooking phase and the searing phase, a few quick steps can make all the difference in the quality of the sear. The Cinder Grill encloses the food while it cooks, providing a moist environment that needs no additional liquid. Because of this, foods emerge from the Cinder Grill deliciously juicy inside and a little bit damp on the surface. Moisture inhibits browning, so the first step in getting a good sear is to gently pat the food dry. Then transfer it to a plate or other holding station.
Cooking Surface Preparation
The next step is to quickly wipe the plates dry as well, directing any excess drippings into the drip tray. This has dual purposes. The first is that liquid boiling off the plates will remove heat from them. This significantly delays reaching searing temperature. The second is that any juices or fats rendered from the cooked food are likely to be protein-rich. Proteins tend to be sticky and to burn. Wiping the plates before bringing the Cinder to high heat helps maintain the nonstick and prevent any buildup or char on the plates. Once the plates have been wiped, the Cinder can be set to sear.
Choosing an Oil to Sear With
Choosing the right cooking oil is an important step in searing. Every cooking oil has a smoke point, a temperature at which it begins to burn. It is essential to choose an oil with a high enough smoke point to withstand the 450 F heat of searing. It’s tempting to choose an oil for its flavor, such as rich and peppery extra virgin olive oil, but don't do it! As a general rule the more flavorful an oil, the lower its smoke point. This is because more flavorful oils contain a greater number of compounds. This includes large organic molecules which are susceptible to burning at relatively low temperatures. In general, the more refined the oil the higher its smoke point, so oils such as peanut, canola, and avocado are best for searing on the Cinder.
However, there is an exception so notable we wrote an entire article on it. Ghee, a toasted variant of clarified butter, can withstand the heat of searing and has a delicious flavor to contribute to any dish.
Lower Temperature Searing
However, if a flavorful oil such as the earlier mentioned extra virgin olive oil is required, there’s a compromise: set the Cinder’s temperature to 350 F. This isn’t the blazing temperature of the Sear setting, so it will take a little longer to build up a brown appetizing crust on the food. However, it can be used with more heat-susceptible fats such as butter. It may help to monitor the internal temperature of the food while searing at 350F, to ensure that the interior doesn’t absorb too much extra heat during the extended sear.
The Cinder Grill makes complex cooking tasks easy, most notably sous vide and searing. With a little attention paid to details, this super-smart indoor grill can and will reliably produce a delicious and beautiful sear on any food you desire.
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