As the intriguing name suggests, an anti griddle is an exact opposite of what a griddle is. Rather than a heated surface, it offers a completely chilled surface for ultra-fast cooling. And what would you use this for? With this anti griddle appliance, you will be able to freeze purees, oil, crème, and a lot of frozen food into delicacies with a crunchy outer layer with creamy soft filling in a matter of seconds.
Understanding the mechanism of an anti griddle
As we all know, a griddle refers to a flat surface for preparing meals usually carved from high-quality iron or stainless steel. Regular griddles are used for preparing dishes in high heat and are very popular in fast cooking, stir-frying, and grilling.
Temperature control is a crucial feature of any culinary space. And if you are wondering what is an anti griddle, instead of inflating the temperature, it takes away heat from food in a flash. The resulting drop in temperature allows you quickly prepare frozen and semi-frozen creations. The appliance features a – 30°F / – 29°C that helps in fast unidirectional freezing.
The anti griddle freezing technique was actually inspired by the state-of-the-art technology developed by Grant Achatz in 2005, a famous chef who is widely revered for his contribution to molecular gastronomy. It allows easy preparation of bi-textured creations and explores a completely new line of creation. Some of the most appealing dishes that can be prepared in anti griddle include:
- Salads accompanied with frozen vinaigrettes that can melt down when served on a plate
- Frozen appetizers and desserts with cool semi-liquid centers
- Different flavored ice cream rolls
- Flash frozen lollipops with a new ingredient in place of conventional sticks. For instance, a vanilla or mint chocolate ice cream served on top of a rosemary sprig
- Peanut butter brownie served in a frozen Anglaise coating
- Double-flavored swirl with a hard outer covering
- Flash freeze tableside or a buffet counter for serving the guests with a unique and exciting dining experience.
What is an anti griddle: A brief overview
The purpose of designing an anti griddle was to create food with a unique texture at an extremely low temperature below freezing point. Quite similar to the griddle, the anti griddle is also a flat metal surface. It comes with a flat surface made of steel measuring around 15×19 inches. This working surface is attached to a super cold and even freezing unit rather than a source of heat.
To mitigate the chances of frost formation when not in use, the anti griddle is also equipped with a lid. The primary use of anti griddle lies in flash freezing food and creating semi-solid to solid forms of food. As you turn on the appliance and allow it to hit the desired temperature, preparing freezing dishes would hardly take a couple of minutes.
The cooling unit is capable of maintaining a steady temperature which solidifies the food almost instantly. As is already mentioned, the anti griddle can be used for freezing anything from creams to purees to puddings. The innovation lies in the fact that it opens up a new vista of cooking. You will be surprised to know that this appliance is able to freeze even hard to solidify ingredients like alcohol and oil.
If you are still wondering what is an anti griddle, then it’s better to say that it allows culinary enthusiasts to create dreamy dishes with unique and fabulous textures. Think of anything you wish to have with a solid outer coating and a rich creamy interior. The dual texture of the food comes as a surprising element and you will never be able to get it with regular freezing.
Advantages of using an anti griddle
The primary advantage of an anti griddle is the low temperature it can reach which allows rapid cooling of any ingredient you are willing to prepare. In traditional freezers, the temperature inside the compartment can reach zero degrees. In sharp contrast, the anti griddle will be able to hit a whopping – 30°F This suggests that you will be able to have the same results in a few minutes with this appliance in place of waiting for hours on end with a regular freezer.
Moreover, with a traditional freezer, you can have very limited control over the resulting dish. In some creative dishes, you may have to mix various ingredients and try various techniques for achieving the desired texture. But no appliance will give you the liberty to play around as you can with the anti griddle.
Professional chefs from around the globe have to mix as well as combine different items for creating exciting dishes with the help of anti griddle since it offers better control. If you love trying out various ingenious items and manifesting your creative abilities, an anti griddle is worth an investment. You can also whip up various frozen dishes before your guests at a party.
No matter whether it’s a catering zone or a buffet station, the anti griddle will bring an interactive experience for the diners. The appliance almost instantly becomes the center of attraction in dining events. For expert chefs, it becomes effortless to create fascinating double-textured gourmet dishes with the assistance of an anti griddle.
Using the anti griddle in the right way
The anti griddle appliance requires around 10 to 15 minutes after you turn it on to reach the optimal desired temperature. Before you place any ingredient on the surface of the machine, it’s crucial to prep up the top surface. For this, you will have to spray a thin sheath of oil to the surface for preventing the ingredients from getting stuck to the surface.
By doing this, you can ensure that the surface has become non-sticky and allow effortless release after the process is complete. Some pastry chefs prefer using plastic wrap or parchment on the surface for easy transfer. If you want to create various shapes in specific sizes, you can also use silicon molds. Different tools can be used for this purpose – metal ones made of stainless steel are very common.
Sometimes, the use of metal molds can lead to the formation of scratches; but you have nothing to worry about it. The formation of mild scratches on the surface of your anti-griddle won’t impact the function and efficiency of the appliance. It will also not interrupt the effortless transfer of ingredients. If you are too worried about scratches, it’s better to use molds made of plastic or silicon.
Caring and maintaining your anti griddle
In areas of high humidity, the anti griddle might develop a layer of frost. When you see this, you may simply scrape the layer before adding the ingredients you wish to prepare. It allows recreating a lot of famous dishes and adds an interesting signature twist with ease.
But it’s worth noting that the machine must be handled with care as you would have to do with any premium appliance for domestic and commercial use. Also, since it operates at a very low temperature, you should be very careful while working with it. You should always use the recommended tools and steer clear of direct contact with the surface of the appliance as it might burn the skin. In other words, you should exercise a similar level of caution as you would have with a hot griddle.
The electric specification of the appliance is generally 240V and 6.5 Amps. And it needs to be plugged directly into the power outlet. It’s better to stay away from the use of an extension cord since it can drastically bring down the performance of the appliance.
An anti griddle is a high-power machine that deserves its own power system which is not shared with other gadgets or appliances. If you connect the same with other appliances like power blenders or fridges or microwave ovens, then it will pull power to function, which, in turn, can impact the efficiency of all your appliances.
If you ask what is an anti griddle, then it’s an exclusive piece of advanced appliance that’s not very common in regular kitchen spaces. But most modern commercial arrangements feature this device. You may also have seen it in catering events and buffets. It is very popular with culinary experts and pastry chefs who are enthusiastic about molecular gastronomy.
Ice cream manufacturers also use these machines for freezing and rolling ice creams, however, those appliances come with an expansive surface. While some people opt for various alternatives to these high-end machines, they wouldn’t offer a similar level of efficacy and performance.
Wrapping Up
In the last few years, modernist cuisine with molecular gastronomy has earned immense popularity by blending physics and chemistry for transforming the taste and texture of creating revolutionary food. The anti griddle is an innovation by modernist cooking experts which resembles the essential qualities of a cold pancake griddle. This means you can try out enormous possibilities with various ingredients and prepare never-seen-before gourmet dishes effortlessly.
