Make Grilled Paneer in microwave

What Happens When You Grill Paneer in a Microwave Instead of a Tandoor?

Are you someone who enjoys grilled paneer but is lacking a tandoor? Well, this is a common problem. Many Indian families desire that perfectly grilled smokey paneer tikka. Let’s face it though, constructing a tandoor is simply out of the question for most kitchens.

Imagine if you could microwave it instead. With the right oven and features, you could get panned grilled goodness right on your microwave without any hassle. No coal, no clay, just a simple cook microwave grill would do. 

Modern microwave ovens allow for an indoor grill. Juicy grilled cubes and melt-in-your-mouth texture grilled edges, all with the right appliance.

Grilling methods for domestic use are changing with modern convection microwaves that have advanced rotisserie and combo cook modes. The only problem is it was a job suited only for a tandoor. It’s no longer an issue to have marinated paneer, stuffed capsicum, or smokey mushrooms cooked with these new microwaves.

And what’s even better? Less oil, more enjoyment without the chef’s life oil.

Wondering how it all works and if the switching features are beneficial for you? Understanding the difference in how microwaves do the grilling compared to tandoors, and how some other features give results you did not expect can be eye-opening.

Grilled Paneer in a Microwave vs. Tandoor: Where Do They Differ?

Make Grilled Paneer in microwave
Credits: Freepik

In our minds, paneer gets grilled in a clay pot oven, or as we know it the tandoor, which can go as high as 480°C with an open fire charring the outside burning and steam infusing meats providing smoky aroma. Tandoors serve their purpose with absolute fire.

Paneer’s microwave version is wondrous because a convection microwave works with the mixture of heated air, grilling coils and even have microwave energy, Granted they lack the tandoor smoke, but they do provide grace, ease, safety and other alternatives like smart technology which serves non-smoke tandoor grilling in other models.

Let’s continue to dive deeper into this comparison

Important Grilling Features of the Microwave

1. Motorized Rotisserie

This one outshines them all!

With modern convection microwaves, the motorised rotisserie function enables you to skewer “tandoori” style cubed paneer (or veggies) and during the cooking process, rotate 360 degrees to ensure even grilling. Every face of the paneer that is grilled during this auto-rotation motion is akin to how it would spin over hot coals in a tandoor oven.

Advantages

  • No spinning or flipping required
  • Consistent texture throughout
  • Crisping and browning is uniform

If you’re someone who enjoys preparing tikkas, kebabs, or cottage cheese grilled dishes, this function serves convenient, restaurant-style grilling at the comfort of your home. 

2. Combination Cooking – Cut Time Without Sacrificing Quality

Combination Cooking in microwave
Credits: Haier India

Wondering if your microwave can properly cook the paneer within and out? Worry not, this feature has got you covered.

Differently, Combination mode works together with convection microwave to utilize the heat, grill coils and microwave energy simultaneously. So, for example, when we take a piece of paneer, the outer surface and inner layers both receive microwave penetrated heat, sealing moisture while the surface attains defined crust.

What is the result?

Paneer fills with soft textures internally, while the skin is crispy & with significantly reduced time compared to traditional grilling.

Actually, with this mode, it is possible to save up to 30% of the cooking time. Awesome when you have guests or need to rush.

3. No-Oil Cooking – Healthier Grilling, Full Flavor

One of the lesser known advantages of grilling is using less oil.

Owing to the advanced internal heating techniques, grilled paneer can be enjoyed without any oil or a minimal amount. The microwave’s heat helps the marinade to cling to the paneer and caramelize without additional fat.

For those wishing to lower their cholesterol or prefer light meals, this is a welcome change. The wonderful roasted flavor remains, without the weight.

4. Say Bye to Guessing Game Auto Cook Menu  

Auto Cook Menu in microwave
Credits: Haier India

Not everyone is familiar with the ideal time or temperature to grill paneer. This is where modern microwaves with 305 Auto cook menus features come to the rescue.

These presets change the power, time and heat distribution of the grill for every specific dish. Be it paneer tikka, kebabs or even stuffed bell peppers–just pick the right menu and the microwave does the rest.

No need for a cooking lesson or culinary knowledge. It feels like having a personal chef at home.

5. Multi-Stage Cooking – Perfectly Hands Off, Marination Done Right  

Here is the rest of the sleeve.

With multi-stage cooking, you can set your microwave to go through different working processes in a specific order. For example:

  • Stage 1: Defrost (if the paneer is frozen)
  • Stage 2: Microwave (to ensure that the inside is properly pre-cooked)
  • Stage 3: Grill (to ensure the top surface is properly browned)

This method makes sure that your paneer is grilled evenly throughout and has zero raw or overcooked edges. All you have to do is set it up once, and the oven will take care of everything while you relax.

6. Keep Warm – Actually, Serve Hot, Anytime

The most common problem with grilled food? How to serve it hot and juicy.

With the Keep Warm option, your microwave will preserve the temperature of the grilled paneer for a juicy 35 minutes. So if your guests are showing up late, or if you’re setting the rest of the meal, your pouch stays warm and appetizing without getting rubbery.

7. Deodorizer – No Residual Smells

Tandoori grilling at home tends to fill the house with quite a bit of smoke and food odor. This problem is taken care of with modern microwaves.

After cooking, the Deodorizer function gets rid of the rest of the odor and smoke from the oven. This keeps the kitchen fresh and the internal parts of the microwave in working condition for longer.

It might seem insignificant at first, but after barbecue sessions, you will come to appreciate this feature.

Putting All The Steps Together

For further understanding, let’s actually break down the process using a basic example:

StepWhat to DoWhich Feature Helps
1Marinate paneer cubes (with spices, curd, and lemon)
2Put the cubes on the rotisserie rod and skewer themMotorized Rotisserie
3Select Auto Cook or Combination ModeAuto Cook / Combo
4Setting the time manually or using a presetAutomatic Cooking Saves Time
5Activate Keep Warm (optional)Keep Warm
6Use Deodorizer after cookingClean & Refresh Microwave

A plate of grilled golden-brown paneer is ready in just 15–20 minutes without ever having to go outside or contend with smoke and coal.

Addressing Grilling Concerns

Grilling of paneer in microwave
Credits: Freepik

People tend to have a few particular queries so let’s tackle those:

The Benefits of Smoke: Can it really achieve the same tandoori taste when grilling in a microwave?

Not quite. While the appearance and texture can be achieved, the smoky flavor is difficult to achieve. On the other hand, lots of people love to add smoked paprika or even a dash of mustard oil to the marinade to give it a try.

Will it dry out the paneer?

Not if you are using the right settings. Combination cooking and rotisserie rotation help brown the outside while the inside moisture is retained in the paneer.

Is it safe to grill in a microwave?

Yes, completely, especially with ovens that are specially designed for this function. When you follow directions, use microwave-safe materials, and do not use metal skewers unless stated, everything should be fine.

Final Thoughts – Is It Worth Switching?

Grilling paneer in a microwave might not entirely replace the tandoor, but it is surely a better, faster, and cleaner choice for urban households. Uses of the right microwave make achieving fuss-free restaurant-quality results possible.

With features such as rotisserie, combination cooking, multi-stage presets, and oil-free technology, the microwave transforms from mere reheating tool to an indoor grilling ally.

A highly functional convection microwave will effortlessly take over the tandoor’s job. A slight difference in flavour is acceptable when the convenience, health benefits, and the consistency make up for it.

The next time you have a craving for grilled paneer, you don’t need to wait for a barbecue. Set the right parameters, let the rotisserie do its thing, and enjoy your tikka night in the comfort of your home.

If what you need is a microwave that can grill, defrost, and keep the food warm, then the Haier India  microwave ovens is a safe option specially made to handle Indian cooking.