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Grilling at home usually means one of two things: a barbecue outside, with coal, smoke, and a lot of cleaning afterwards, or a flat pan on the stove that cooks one side at a time and leaves the other side pale. A double grill pan solves both problems. It is a hinged, two-sided pan that closes over the food and cooks both sides at once, on a normal stove, indoors. No coal, no outdoor setup, and dinner is ready in half the time. This guide explains what a double grill pan does, how to choose the right size, what to cook in it, and how to look after it.

What is a double grill pan?

A double grill pan is two grill pans joined by a hinge, with a locking handle that holds them shut. You put the food on one side, close the other side over it, and cook on the stove. The heat reaches the food from both sides at once, so a chicken piece cooks through without you standing over it turning each piece. When the food is done, you open the pan and serve. The Sonex Double Grill Pan is made from die-cast aluminium with a marble coating. The die-cast body spreads heat evenly across the surface, so the middle cooks at the same rate as the edges, and the marble coating keeps food from sticking and makes washing up much easier. The raised grill ridges give food the striped marks and the slightly charred flavour that make grilled food taste grilled, and they lift the food above the fat that drips out while it cooks.

30 cm or 36 cm: which size fits your kitchen?

The Sonex Double Grill Pan comes in two sizes, and the choice is simple. The 30 cm pan is Rs 6,886 and suits a small or medium family. It fits easily on a standard stove, it is light enough to lift and flip with one hand, and it is the right size for two to four chicken pieces or a few kebabs at a time. The 36 cm pan is Rs 7,759 and suits larger families and anyone who cooks for guests. It holds more food in one round, so you are not grilling in batches while the first batch goes cold. If you regularly cook for six or more people, or you host weekend dinners, the extra size is worth it. If you cook for two to four people most days, the 30 cm pan is the better fit, and it takes up less cupboard space.

What can you cook in it?

Almost anything you would put on a barbecue works in a double grill pan. Chicken tikka and malai boti are the obvious starting point: marinate the pieces, lay them on the ridges, close the lid, and cook on medium heat until the juices run clear. Fish is another good choice, because the pan holds the fillet together and the closed lid keeps it from drying out. Seekh kebabs, shami kebabs, and grilled vegetables such as capsicum, aubergine, zucchini, and mushrooms all cook well on the ridges. The fat drips away from the food into the channels between the ridges, so grilled food comes out lighter than fried food. Try it for sandwiches and toast as well: the ridges press the bread flat and give it a crisp, grilled finish. Avoid very watery foods and anything with a lot of loose batter, which will run out of the sides before it sets.

How to use it well

Four habits make the difference between good grilling and a stuck-on mess. First, preheat the pan for two or three minutes on medium heat before the food goes in. A hot surface sears the outside quickly and stops the food from sticking. Second, brush the food lightly with oil instead of pouring oil into the pan. The marble coating needs very little fat, and too much oil will pool and smoke. Third, do not overcrowd the pan. Leave a little space between pieces so the steam can escape; packed food steams instead of grilling. Fourth, trust the closed lid and do not open it every minute to check. Open it once halfway through to see how the food is doing, then close it again and let the heat finish the job. Most chicken pieces take ten to fifteen minutes, depending on thickness. Cut the thickest piece open before serving to be sure it is cooked through.

Cleaning and care

Let the pan cool for a few minutes before washing. Pouring cold water into a very hot pan can warp the base over time. Wash it by hand with a soft sponge and mild dish soap, and dry it before putting it away. Never use steel wool or metal scourers on the marble coating, and use wooden or silicone utensils instead of metal ones, which scratch the surface. Store the pan with the lid slightly open or with a soft cloth between the two sides, so the coating does not rub against itself in the cupboard. Looked after this way, a double grill pan lasts for years of weekend grilling.

What pairs with a grill pan?

A grill pan covers the main course. For the rest of the meal, three pieces round out the kitchen. A Classic Non-Stick Wok with Glass Lid (from Rs 3,763) handles stir-fried vegetables and noodles to serve alongside grilled chicken. A Sonex Classic Non-Stick Frypan (from Rs 3,297) is the everyday pan for eggs, parathas, and quick frying. And for roti and parathas to go with the grilled food, the German Imported HoneyComb Laser Coating Tawa (from Rs 7,080) gives an even, non-stick surface that cleans up in minutes. Together, the four pieces cover grilling, frying, stir-frying, and roti, which is most of what a Pakistani kitchen cooks in a week.

The short answer

If you like grilled food but do not want the coal, the smoke, and the outdoor setup, a double grill pan is the piece to buy. Pick the 30 cm pan for a small family and the 36 cm pan for a large one, preheat it, oil the food not the pan, and let the closed lid do the work. Browse the Sonex Double Grill Pan on King Bazar and choose the size that fits your family.