Rotisserie cooking is an ancient method that remains popular due to its slow and even cooking and meat basting. There are various types of rotisserie equipment, including traditional, camping, self-contained, grill-mounted, and oven-mounted rotisseries. Each type has its advantages and disadvantages.
Rotisserie cooking – that is, cooking food on a spit over a heat source – is one of humanity’s oldest cooking methods. It remains popular because it cooks the meat slowly and evenly and because it allows the meat juices to baste the meat. There is a wide variety of rotisserie equipment, including traditional, stand-alone, and broiler- and oven-mounted rotisserie systems.
Traditional rotisseries were skewers attached to cranks and suspended over a fire or hot coals, which required someone to turn the crank to rotate the meat and ensure even cooking. While traditional rotisserie equipment isn’t typically used in the developed world, something similar is still available. Camping rotisseries, like their predecessors, consist of a simple spit and hand crank design intended for use over an open fire. Unlike traditional designs, camping rotisseries usually include motors, so the cook doesn’t have to sit next to a smoky campfire for several hours to cook the meat.
A second type of rotisserie equipment is the self-contained rotisserie. This type of rotisserie is usually a countertop device similar to a toaster oven. While ideal for very small European-style kitchens or for cooking small cuts, freestanding rotisseries also have some disadvantages. Their small size doesn’t allow enough air circulation to brown the skin of a chicken or other large piece of meat. Some of them even require too much adjustment in use to make them comfortable for a busy cook.
Another type of commercially available rotisserie is the grill-mounted rotisserie. Some high-end barbecue grills come with rotisserie equipment already installed, although aftermarket grill rotisserie kits are also available at most kitchen stores. These grill-mounted rotisseries are powered by a motor whose housing rests outside the cooking area of the grill. They also generally feature a larger spit and sturdier construction than those used in countertop roasters. For those who live in mild climates, this may be the best kind of rotisserie.
One final type of consumer rotisserie is the oven-mounted rotisserie. Like higher-end grills, some high-end ovens come with rotisserie equipment. Larger toaster ovens also sometimes come with rotisserie equipment installed. The dimensions of the device depend on the dimensions of the oven. The rotisseries included with standard-sized ovens are the best choice for those who regularly cook turkeys or large roasts, while those included with toaster ovens are the best choice for those who want to make rotisserie meat or small chickens.
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