When the summer months are finally here, the last thing that we want to do is to make the house even hotter. That’s where the classic covered grilled comes to the rescue. Since the grill can technically double as a stovetop heat source and an oven to boot, you can try using it (for the first time) for baking cookies. But how can you do this safely?
Can You Use Baking Sheet On A BBQ?
This is the most common concern of people who want to bake cookies on their grill. Can the regular baking sheet or parchment paper withstand the heat of a grill with a cover? Yes, you can use a baking sheet on your grill or BBQ, as long as you use a buffer that would prevent the heat from frying the metal directly. Your outdoor grill can miraculously be used for so many kinds of recipes and cooking methods, not just specifically for grilling. Many people who have tried this method of baking skip the oven all summer so they can bake cookies outside, where the heat can dissipate harmlessly into the yard. Imagine the money you will be saving from skipping the oven this summer. Your HVAC system will thank you for it.
Baking on a BBQ grill requires some essentials. The most important one is the grill itself. You can’t bake on an open grill. It would help if you had a large grill with a cover (smokers will work), and preferably the grill should have a dome-shaped cover to bounce the heat perfectly on your cookie dough.
Next, you need to have a thermometer. You can’t use a meat thermometer for this experiment cookout because you can’t stab the cookies to check their internal temperature. Many modern grills already come with a built-in thermometer, but if your grill doesn’t have a thermometer, use an oven thermometer instead. Just place the oven thermometer inside the dome while cooking.
And finally, we have the buffer against the direct heat of the grill. The most practical choice for buffering the baking tray is a large cast-iron pan. Cast iron pans have incredible heat resistance, they are sturdy, and their inner walls are of the proper height to separate the baking tray from the heat source, so the tray and its contents don’t burn.
This is the big difference between ovens and grills. With ovens, there is plenty of distance between the fire and the layers that receive heat. With a grill, the food is only a few inches from the burning hot coals. The impact of the heat is different with each cooking method.
This cooking method might not be perfect the first time around. The grill will likely be too hot, and the cookies will cook too fast, and some of them might be burnt. With this in mind, it’s best to add hot coals to the grill gradually and always check the temperature, so you are within the normal baking range for cookies. Another factor here is the type of grill that you have in the first place. Not all grills have that proper depth for baking. If the charcoal is too close to the tray, the cookies are going to burn. If you have an electric outdoor grill with a dome, you also have to estimate if the distance between the tray and the heat source is just right or too close. Feel free to double the cast iron pans to buffer the extra heat.
Can You Use a Roasting Pan On The BBQ?
Yes, high-quality roasting pans can be used on the BBQ. However, to be sure, always check the manufacturer’s notes and make sure that it indicates “grill-safe” or at least, “oven-safe.” Many roasting pans are built to withstand the heat of a grill (which is a direct heating method) and remain nonstick throughout so that any large pieces of meat will not stick to the bottom of the pan.
If it is your first time baking using a grill, there are a couple of things that you have to consider:
- If you plan to bake with a gas grill, you can better control where the heat is coming from. The part where the grill remains unlit will be the perfect spot to place the baking tray. We do not want to place the baking tray or roasting pan on top of the fire even if there is a heat buffer.
- If you are using a charcoal grill, arrange the charcoal so that there is an empty area where there is no charcoal so that the heat can radiate toward the center. This empty area will be the safest place to situate the baking tray.
- Preheat the oven before baking. The temperature should be at least 375°F/190°C. You can go up to 400°F/204°C. Keep in mind that it will be challenging to sustain the temperature at the right level, but don’t give up! Eventually, you are going to get it right. Just keep adjusting the burner or adding charcoal, and don’t forget to check the built-in thermometer or baking thermometer.
What Is the Best or Safest Material of Baking Sheet to Use On BBQ?
The safest material for baking on a BBQ or grill will still be parchment paper or baking paper. If the baking paper does catch fire or becomes too charred in the process, you may not have added sufficient buffer between the baking tray and the heat source. That’s something for you to modify when you bake the next batch of cookies on the grill. If the baking paper gets too charred, you certainly have to change your tack and increase the height between the heat source and the tray itself. Eventually, everyone gets it, so keep trying.
