Why is there a dirty rag in the freezer? was my first thought. I was cooking at work, so I knew who it belonged to: my co-worker Shanti, who is known for her ingenious solutions to common kitchen issues. You see, this isn't just any dirty rag. It is an indispensable tool we pull out every time we use the grill pan.
With their grooved surfaces, grill pans are difficult to oil properly. The oil settles in the bottom of the ridges and never really coats the tops. The best way to get an even coating of oil is to hold a clean rag in a pair of tongs and rub the oil over the surface of the pan.
If your grill pan is properly heated, a paper towel won't survive the contact, so a cotton cloth is the way to go. Storing it in a plastic bag in the freezer means you can reuse it without having to wash an oil-soaked rag every time you grill, or worry about the oil turning rancid. No, it isn't pretty — but it really works.
Do you have any tips or tricks for using a grill pan?
Related: Summer in the City: Indoor Grilling Tips and Techniques
(Image: Anjali Prasertong)
You might also like
-
Smart Tip: For Quicker, Cleaner Cooking, Make a Lid for Your Grill Pan
-
Truffle Hunting in Tuscany, Vegetarian Barbeque Recipes, Cooking with a Tiny Grill, and Tips For Perfect Grilled Pizza
-
5 Grilling Essentials You Should Always Have Within Arm's Reach
-
Recommendations for an Inexpensive Stovetop Grill Pan?
How to Make Easy 3-Ingredient Energy Bars at Home
How To Cook Tender, Chewy Wheat Berries on the Stovetop
Good Food to Share 
The Big Book of Small, Cool Spaces 
Apartment Therapy Presents 
The Eight-Step Home Cure 
Straw Mat from The ...
Find Your Style: 20 Classic to Contemporary Kitchens to Add to Your Inspiration Board
Beth's Romantic & Retro Residence
oiled paper towels will definitely survive. i use one on my outdoor grill, which routinely gets to 600 degrees. it will all be ok.
you cook on a grill pan at work??? we have an occasionally broken microwave and a coffee pot.
@al24lola: Maybe it's because the surface of the grill pan is solid rather than the grates of outdoor grill, but the one time I tried using paper towels on our cast-iron grill, they immediately disintegrated, so this solution works best for me.
@elizabethann: We are chefs, which explains the beyond-office-kitchenette equipment!
you can also use an onion cut in half, it will grease the grill pretty well, with an extra touch of flavor, and there is nothing to clean or store afterwards
I use the same thing on our outdoor barbeque. It works great.
From the title I thought this was going to be a lesson on how to minimize the risk of spontaneous combustion; but using it to oil a grill pan works too.
I use a silicone brush and it works great.
The paper towel definitely won't survive....and using a rag is more eco-friendly. We don't use ours enough, but I definitely find myself looking for ideas when we do. Thanks for the great idea.