A Couple of New Gadgets to Grill

There are times when it makes sense to listen to gourmet shop owners and find out what their people are buying or what products are indeed selling. One kitchen gadget that seems to be getting some consumer interest is the Burton Stove Top Grill.

“The repeat order on it is unreal,” said Phil Carter, owner of Kitchen Kitchen in Rancho Mirage. “Even here in the desert, you don’t get to cook-out as much so this is good for people who want to have grilled food and still be able do it indoors.”

The Burton Stove Top Grill ($23) from Max Burton Enterprises in Tacoma, Wash., consists of a round, 10-inch non-stick aluminum grill set on a black porcelain, enamel-coated steel drip pan. Easy to use, the drip pan is simply set onto the center of any electric, gas or propane stove. The grill was developed from an old concept from Korea, where it is made, according to Sandi Bradley, sales director of Max Burton Enterprises. It was redesigned from a stove-top steamer she said.

Safety Measures

For safety reasons, two important measures should be taken when using the grill: First, insure that the pan is resting firmly on top of the stove (gas stoves may require removal of the grate so the pan doesn’t wobble). Secondly, the reservoir of the pan should be filled (and refilled as needed) with water to eliminate smoke and danger of grease fire, as well as to reduce spatter for fat-laden foods.

If grilling a large quantity of foods, the Burton grill may not be the solution; however, it’s quite efficient for everyday use for a small family. Use it for lean burgers, steaks, fish, sausages, fish, chicken and shish kebabs. You’ll be surprised how fast they cook and how succulent the grilled meats come out. One trick to learn, however, particularly when using an electric stove, is to preheat the unit first.

“For best results,” said Bradley, “start on high, then turn the heat down to medium. If you run out of water, just pour in a little more at the edge of the grill, using a spouted container. Also, avoid using hamburgers with very high fat content as you will not get the seared or browned effect.”

Bradley added that they’ve had good response with the unit from RV people as well as those who are eating more grilled food in order to cut down on cholesterol and fat levels.

The Burton grill is also wonderful for vegetables like green peppers, eggplants, squash and tomatoes. Southwestern enthusiasts will love it for conveniently roasting all kinds of chile peppers that require blackening the skins before peeling. Grilled cheese sandwiches and even garlic toast also have good results.

In addition to saving time and effort by avoiding the broiler, the Burton Stove Top Grill is easy to clean and still looks new even after many uses. For more information, call (800) 272-8603.

Electric Grill

On the upscale side, another grill to check into is the Bosch Avignon Automatic Grill ($79.95) from Robert Bosch Corp. Made in West Germany, the Bosch grill is a compact countertop electric grill, food warmer and sandwich griller. Euro-styled in white and black, the unit unfolds booklike to expose two non-stick grilling plates that are grooved with a drain spout for grease.

The interesting feature about this new grill is that the plates can be reversed to expose a waffle iron grill to make delicately thin continental-style waffles. The Bosch grill may be used for browning or toasting, as for grilled sandwiches, by first opening the grill and then simply flipping the browning levers and then lowering the top half of the grill. The heating controls are adjustable with 300-, 390- and 480-degree Fahrenheit markings. The lower temperatures may be used for warming food and for thawing.

The Bosch grill is easily cleaned by removing and putting the heating plates in the dishwasher or in warm soapy water. After cleaning and drying the plates, they may be locked in place into the unit. The appliance conveniently folds up for neat vertical storage. The grill is also provided with a cord storage in the back.

The Burton Stove Top Grill is available at Holiday Hardware (Reseda), Williams Gourmet (San Pedro), Kitchen Kitchen (Rancho Mirage), The Pantree (Pomona) and Cookin Stuff (Torrance and La Habra).

The Bosch Avignon Automatic Grill is available at Buffums, Barrington Hardware (Brentwood), Kitchen World (Santa Monica), Cook’s Corner (Glendale, West Side Pavilion, Redondo Beach).