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How to Use Grill and Fan-Grill Settings for Crisp, Even Results

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How to Use Oven Grill and Fan Grill Settings for Crisp, Even Results

Modern ovens come with a variety of cooking functions, but two of the most useful for achieving crispy, golden finishes are the grill and fan-grill settings. Whether you want to quickly toast bread, melt cheese to perfection, or evenly roast chicken with a crisp skin, knowing when and how to use these modes makes all the difference.

In this guide, we’ll explain what the grill and fan-grill settings do, when to use each one, and share tips for getting the best results every time. By the end, you’ll be ready to cook with confidence, achieving evenly cooked meals that look and taste restaurant-quality.

What Does the Grill Setting Do?

The grill setting works by using direct radiant heat from the top element of your oven. It’s very similar to an upside-down barbecue, giving food a fast, intense heat from above. This makes it perfect for browning, toasting, and adding a crisp finish to your dishes.

  • Toasting bread or bagels
  • Melting cheese on pasta or pizza
  • Browning the top of a gratin or casserole
  • Finishing dishes with a golden crust

Because the heat is concentrated at the top, it can be less effective for cooking thicker cuts of food all the way through. For those, you’ll usually get better results using the fan-grill setting.

💡 Quick fact
The grill works like an upside-down barbecue inside your oven.

What Does the Fan-Grill Setting Do?

The fan-grill setting combines the direct heat of the grill element with a circulating fan. This spreads the heat more evenly around the oven, meaning food doesn’t just brown on top — it also cooks more consistently throughout.

This makes it especially useful for foods that are thicker or need both a crispy finish and thorough cooking inside.

  • Roasting chicken with golden, crisp skin
  • Baking fish evenly while keeping it moist
  • Crisping vegetables such as peppers or courgettes
  • Cooking casseroles that need a browned topping
💡 Quick fact
Fan-grill gives you a balance of crispness and even cooking by circulating heat around the food.
What Does the Fan-Grill Setting Do

When to Use Grill vs Fan-Grill

Both settings are designed to crisp and brown food, but they work in slightly different ways. The table below shows when each option works best, how heat is distributed, and the kind of results you can expect.

SettingBest forHeat distributionSpeedCrispness
GrillToast, cheese, finishing dishesDirect heat from topFastHigh (surface only)
Fan-GrillChicken, fish, veg, casserolesCirculated + top heatModerateBalanced (crisp & even)

Tips for Getting Crisp, Even Results

Whether you’re using the grill or the fan-grill, a few simple techniques can help you achieve perfectly cooked, evenly browned food:

  • Always preheat the grill or fan-grill before adding food.
  • Use the right shelf position: higher for quick browning, lower for thicker items.
  • Cook on a wire rack to allow heat to circulate around the food.
  • Keep a close eye — grilling can go from golden to burnt quickly.
  • For fan-grill cooking, marinate meats or vegetables to lock in flavour while crisping the outside.
Tip: For the crispiest results, finish fan-grilled foods with a final blast under the standard grill setting.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the right oven settings, it’s easy to slip up. Avoid these common mistakes to keep your food crisp and evenly cooked:

  • Placing food too close to the grill element, which can cause burning.
  • Using a solid tray instead of a wire rack, blocking airflow and crisping.
  • Forgetting to adjust cooking times when switching from grill to fan-grill.
  • Expecting thick cuts of meat to cook evenly under grill alone.
  • Leaving food unattended — grilling requires close monitoring.
Crispy Vegetables on Baking Paper Grilled to Perfection

Recipes & Meal Ideas to Try

Not sure where to start? Here are some easy meal ideas that highlight the strengths of each setting, with recipes you can try at home:

Using the Grill

Using the Fan-Grill

Final Thoughts

The grill setting is perfect for quick, high-heat browning, while the fan-grill setting delivers a balance of crispness and even cooking for thicker foods. Mastering both functions means you can create meals that are not only delicious but also look beautifully finished.

Experiment with different dishes to see which setting works best, and don’t be afraid to combine them — for example, use the fan-grill to cook chicken through, then finish under the grill for extra crunch.

Looking for more oven know-how? Explore our oven guides and advice for tips on installation, cooking techniques, and energy-saving tricks.

FAQs on Grill and Fan-Grill Settings

The grill uses direct top heat for fast browning, while the fan-grill circulates heat for more even cooking with a crispy finish.
Yes, preheating ensures the element is hot enough to give food an even, golden result from the start.
Foods like toast, cheese toppings, bacon, and gratins are ideal for grilling as they need fast surface browning.
Fan-grill is best for thicker foods like chicken, fish, and vegetables as it cooks evenly while still crisping the outside.
In many cases, yes. Fan-grill gives you the crisp finish of a grill with the evenness of a fan oven, great for meats and veg.
Use the right shelf position, keep food slightly lower, and watch closely as grilling works quickly.
Yes, a wire rack allows heat to circulate around the food, ensuring it crisps more evenly than on a solid tray.
Fan-grill can be more efficient for thicker foods, as it reduces cooking time compared to using grill alone.
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