Exposing food to direct, high heat from above.

What are the fundamentals of broiling?

Broiling is the act of using direct heat, usually from above, to quickly cook, brown, or char food.

Because this takes place at high temperatures, the reaction takes place rapidly, which also allows you to get color on the surface of an ingredient without overcooking the interior.

  • Broiling is a great way to achieve light, controlled on foods, which yields a pleasant note and contrast in texture.
🍳 Kitchen Tool: Broiler, Oven, Torch
🔥 Heat Type: Radiation
🌡️ Pan Surface Temperature: 500°F/260°C
🧪 Food Reaction(s):

Example Foods

  • Cheesy tops — pizza, lasagna, mac & cheese
  • Roasted Vegetables
  • Oven finished ribs

The Mouthful Newsletter

Become a smarter home cook every Sunday

Join 60,000+ home cooks and get our newsletter, The Mouthful, where we share:

  • Recipe inspiration
  • Recipe frameworks
  • Cooking trends
  • Q&A from expert home cooks

We hate spam too. Unsubscribe anytime.