Alfresco’s 15 Ways of Cooking and the Accessories You Need

When you think of grilling, visions of steaks, hot dogs and hamburgers might be what fill your mind. Perhaps you put some grilled veggies or kebabs right on the grate. There’s nothing wrong with that — in fact, that sounds delicious.

If you are in the market for a new grill (or have an Alfresco) already, what you may not realize is that your grilling capabilities don’t have to end there.

Alfresco grills actually boast 15 different ways to cook using your grill and accessory parts.

With an  Alfresco grill and some clever Alfresco BBQ grill accessories, your grill can become a fully-equipped chef’s kitchen. In your very own backyard, the world can be your oyster.

Let’s talk about Alfresco’s 15 ways to cook. Some may be familiar to you, while others may be a surprise. Let’s delve into how, by adding some unique Alfresco Accessories, you cook some restaurant inspired gourmet food in your very own outdoor kitchen.

Alfresco’s 15 Ways of Cooking

1. Searing

Searing is a cooking technique in which very high heat is concentrated on the surface of the food — typically meat. As a result, you get a delicious caramelized crust on your food, adding texture and color to your dish. Alfresco has perfected the searing technology to truly deliver restaurant quality dishes.

Since it’s easy to burn the food or introduce moisture in a grill environment, it helps to have a small, easily-controllable surface to work toward the perfect sear. 

The special ceramic burner in the Sear Zone reaches 1500 degrees Fahrenheit (about 816 degrees Celsius). You can flash caramelize food in minutes. Meanwhile, the included U-grate catches and vaporizes drippings to create great-smelling smoke and minimal cleanup.

Alfresco ALXE, available in four sizes ranging from 30 inches to 56 inches, can be configured with an infrared sear zone. We recommend only adding the searzone feature on grills 36" and larger so you do not sacrifice your traditional griling space. If you want to a grill with traditional blue flame burners and do not want to add a sear zone, do not worry, Alfresco has a Built-in Accessory for that. We would recommend the Sear Zone Pod (and protective screen).

2. Rotisserie Cooking

Using a rotisserie (also called a spit-roast) to slow-cook a skewered dish gives you several advantages.

Since your food is constantly rotating while cooking, the food will consistently baste itself in its own juices. When it’s finished, you’ll have a tender piece of meat that is crisp on the outside and juicy on the inside. While rotisserie cooking is ideal for large cuts of meat, it’s a great way to cook kebabs (complete with veggies) as well.

Alfresco rotisseries include skewers or shorter forks, the rotisserie motor, and rotisserie lights. Each of the four Alfresco ALXE models we carry comes with an integrated rotisserie system. Depending on your cooking needs, you can level up your rotisserie system with additional forks, a dripping pan, and more.

3. Grilling

At the end of the day, a good grill system needs to be able to grill, right? Grilling is a type of dry heat, usually applied to the surface of food both directly and indirectly. It’s a good method to use when you’d like to cook vegetables or meat very quickly. Grilling can result in satisfying sear marks where the food is in direct contact with a heating element or cooking grid.

Alfresco’s grills come in several sizes, from the relatively small to the luxuriously expansive. No matter the size of grill you purchase or accessories you add on, you’re likely to spend at least some of your time grilling. Make sure your burners are always in good working order, and you’ll have an easy source of dry heat for simple grilling at the push of a button.

4. Steaming

Interested in lighter fare? Whether you’re looking for some steamed veggies to go with hearty meat entrees or are interested in experimenting with different ways to cook seafood, you’ll make great use of a steam basket.

With a  steamer-fryer basket, you’ll be able to make your existing Alfresco grill even more versatile. While you’re grilling on one side of your grill, you can steam in the other by removing one cooking grid.

The Alfresco steamer-fryer basket is very easy to use — as simple as it is on your stove. Simply drop the steamer basket into the included steaming insert, fill the insert with water, and allow it to heat up. Then, once steam appears, place your veggies in the basket and it’ll be ready to eat in minutes.

5. Boiling

This may be a cooking method you haven’t considered for your Alfresco grill, but it’s likely to be one that sticks with you. Using your grill to boil water is an efficient way to cook a variety of foods (think: crab, lobster, even chicken) or to provide hot water as an ingredient (think: for mashed potatoes, or soups).

The thing is, a large pot of water usually takes quite some time to boil. With a  built-in power cooker, you can provide targeted heat to get water boiling in just a few minutes.

Consider adding one of these performance burners, along with a convenient  pot filler, to your outdoor kitchen. You won’t find yourself having to duck inside for any reason — everything you need for the gourmet meal of your dreams will be right there within reach.

6. Frying

For a crispy finish and sumptuous feel, consider frying your food in oil (or whatever fat you prefer). Frying is similar to sautéing, though more of the fat is typically used. To fry, allow a good quantity of oil to heat up in a deep pan or fryer basket, carefully place food in, and turn the food over once or twice during the cooking process using a spatula or tongs (again, carefully).

Alfresco makes frying easy — and much safer than most home-kitchen methods. Using the same  steamer-fryer basket we mentioned before, you can make fried chicken, shrimp, hash browns, and more.

Remove the grilling grate from your grill, drop in the basket, carefully fill with oil, and get ready to enjoy some delicious fried foods, made right at home in your outdoor kitchen.

7. Griddling

Think about the last time you had really good diner food. Likely, it was cooked on a griddle or a broad, flat cooking surface that heats up evenly. When you cook on a griddle, you can make a lot of food at once and get a delicious crispy edge on everything at the same time.

You can turn your Alfresco grill into a griddle by simply purchasing a griddle attachment. This griddle, a smooth, flat cooking surface, is designed to go over either your main grill or over an Alfresco side burner.

These griddles are made of thick, solid stainless steel, to encourage great heat dispersion and reduce the risk of burning your food before it cooks all the way through.

Interested in using your grill for diner-worthy pancakes, smash burgers, and more? A high-quality griddle could be just what you need.

8. Smoking

A smoker box with a dedicated a 5,000 BTU smoker burner has always been a standard on all Alfresco Grills. Add a deep, smoky flavor to meat, fish, and more right in your Alfresco grill. In order to smoke your food of choice, you’ll fill up your  smoker box with wood chips and your preferred herbs and spices.

Then, you’ll use the dedicated  smoker burner to heat the box up gently, filling your entire grill with delicious smoke. (If you are in need of a new smoker burner, they have changed over the years — so make sure to check the model and serial number of your grill to get the right part.)

When you place food inside the smoky grill, it will be infused with unbeatable flavor.

Typically, the smoking process requires a lot of dedicated space and bulky equipment. With this clever insert for your Alfresco grill, you can perform the same techniques right in your own backyard.

9. Roasting

You may be familiar with roasting already, as it’s a cooking method easily practiced in your home oven. Roasting involves a dry, indirect heat which slowly transforms tough cuts of meat into melt-in-your-mouth dishes. Roasting over the high heat provided by gas can bring your roasting game to a whole new level.

Alfresco’s indirect roasting pod makes it easy to roast your food without the mess.

Remove the cooking grate from your grill, place the roasting pod in its place, and enjoy a simple way to leverage indirect heat within the open space of your grill. (Pro tip: Use a  drip pan underneath the pod to catch drippings, and use those to create pan sauces and gravies that simply can’t be beat!)

10. Baking

Baking is also accomplished with dry, indirect heat. While you might not have previously considered using a gas grill to bake bread, cakes, cookies, and more, you absolutely can. Throwing together a quick dessert at the end of your meal or fresh-baked buns to go with your BBQ has never been easier.

Use Alfresco’s roasting pod or a Dutch oven within the main space of your grill to create an indirect heating environment, and you’ll be good to go. You may have to experiment a little to find the right heat settings and pod placement for your recipe, but that’s half the fun in making and using your at-home gourmet outdoor kitchen.

11. Braising

Braising may seem a bit intimidating at first, but it’s not as complicated as it may sound.

Braising is a French cooking technique requiring a few different steps utilizing both wet and dry heat. The end result is meat so tender it falls apart when you poke it with a fork.

First, you’ll sear a cut of meat at a high temperature. Alfresco’s  sear burner can help produce gorgeous brown color you’re looking for.

Then, you’ll simmer the meat in a pot of cooking liquid, which you can do in a cast-iron skillet or Dutch oven in the main area of your grill. When you’re done, you’ll have an incredible meal to enjoy!

Much like smoking, braising is fully possible in your outdoor kitchen, provided you have the right equipment. With Alfresco products, you’ll find you have all you need to take advantage of this combination cooking method.

12. Wok Cooking

Cooking properly with a Wok can be intimidating if you’ve never tried it before. It’s not as daunting as you may think, and mastering this cooking technique can help you make soups, stir-fries, noodle bowls, and more.

A Wok has a deep bowl and a long handle, allowing you to cook over very high heat without burning yourself. When using a Wok, you’ll move your veggies or meat very quickly around the pan. As a result, the dish will feel fresh and light, even though it’s fully cooked.

You might not think of Wok cooking as a traditional grilling method, but with  this adaptor and this Wok (or even this larger commercial Wok, if you’re cooking for a crowd) you can implement this traditional Chinese cooking method in your own outdoor kitchen.

13. Blanching

Blanching involves first scalding a piece of food (typically a fruit or vegetable) in boiling water before then plunging the food into ice to halt the cooking process.

While blanching can be a great way to prepare vegetables for salads — just-cooked asparagus, for example, or leveraging a very similar method to soft-boil eggs — it’s also a good way to prep veggies for storage.

After the blanching process, vegetables will stay a little fresher for a little longer. You can perform this task in your outdoor kitchen by boiling water in a pot over your grill’s heating element. Make sure you have an ice bath nearby, and you’re ready to begin.

14. Teppanyaki

Teppanyaki is a style of cooking named after a special metal griddle, or teppan, featuring end and backsplashes. This gives it many of the benefits of a griddle and the functionality of a sauté pan. You can cook rice, eggs, finely-chopped vegetables, and more on a Teppanyaki griddle — achieving a similar finish as a normal griddle, but with tiny or semi-solid ingredients.

Alfresco’s Teppanyaki griddle is multifunctional, making it a great option for cooking food across many different cuisines. Cook breakfast foods, fajitas, fried rice, reheat steak, or even warm plates conveniently on a Teppanyaki griddle in your outdoor kitchen.

15. Cold Smoke Roasting

Above, we briefly discussed the benefits of smoking meats, veggies, and more. With cold smoke roasting, you can enhance the flavor of food even further by slowly (very slowly) curing food with smoldering wood, kept at low temperatures.

Over several days (or even a month!), you can deepen the color of cheese, veggies, fish, poultry, and meat, while infusing a bold smoky flavor into every square inch of your food. This is a great technique for budding chefs to try, particularly during the winter or off-season for typical grilling.

To cold smoke on your Alfresco grill, you’ll need your  smoker box and smoker burner, as well as an appetite for the gourmet foods you can create with time and a passion for high-quality, incredibly delicious meals.

We can even expand the cooking possibilities by adding a Solid Fuel Insert. This unique accessory transforms your Alfresco grill into a alternate fuel-source system. Simply remove one of your briquette tarys and place Insert into the grill. Fill up with your favorite wood, lump charcoal, or other solid fuel for real wood-cooking flavor and put your cooking grate on top and start grilling up some delicious meals.

Creating the Ultimate Alfresco Outdoor Kitchen

The ultimate Alfresco outdoor kitchen is one you can use to create any type of food you love. With the grills, sear pods, woks, and side burners we’ve discussed, as well as the beverage centers, storage opportunities, and sleek pantry  options Alfresco offers, you’ll find the world is truly your oyster.

There’s no limit to how sleek, sophisticated, and gourmet-ready your outdoor kitchen can be. (You can even have a  pizza oven to make authentic Italian pizza in a matter of moments!)

At The BBQ Depot, we’re here to support your at-home culinary ambitions — and Alfresco grills and replacement parts are an excellent way to accomplish those goals. It is no secret Alfresco is one of our favorite grills! 

Our technicians love it because they say it is the easiest grill to repair and we stock many  parts!

Interested in something we don’t currently stock? We can always order parts for you. Need to know some  gas grill care tips,cleaning 101, or other handy information? Check out our I.Q. Learning Center.

Give us a call at 1-877-983-0451 or  contact us online with any questions you may have!