How to prepare the perfect barbecue in Xiaomi aerogrill: from marinade to serving

Xiaomi Mi Smart Air Fryer or Xiaomi Smart Oven is not just a kitchen baking gadget, but a versatile assistant that can replace a barbecue even in a city apartment. Cooking a barbecue requires knowledge of the nuances: proper marination, stacking of pieces and accurate temperature settings. Unlike classic charcoal heat, aerogrill provides uniform circulation of hot air, which allows you to achieve juiciness inside and appetizing crusts outside - without carcinogens and soot.

In this article, we will discuss the step-by-step recipe for kebab in Xiaomi aerogrilla, including meat selection, marinade secrets, optimal cooking modes and typical mistakes that spoil the result. And also share life hacks, how to adapt your favorite recipes from the barbecue to closed camera techniques. Get ready to surprise guests or just treat your family to a fragrant dish without unnecessary hassle!

What meat is suitable for barbecue in the aerogrill

Choosing meat is half the success. Xiaomi's aerogrilla is best suited for moderately marbled low-fat varieties that don't overdry when the air is circulating.

• 🥩 Pork (neck, ham, ham) is juicy, soft-fibre, perfect for a classic kebabs.
• 🐔 Chicken (hip, shin, fillet) - cooks faster but requires marination for tenderness.
• 🐄 Beef (cut, thick edge) – suitable for lovers of dense texture, but needs long-term pickling.
• 🐑 Mutton (scapula, ham) is fragrant but specific in taste. Better combined with pork.

Avoid too lean parts (such as pork cut or chicken breast without skin) - they can turn out dry. Also, do not take meat with large bones: in an air grill it warms unevenly. The optimal size of the pieces is 3×3×3 cm (for pork / lamb) or 2×4 cm (for chicken).

⚠️ Warning: Don't use frozen meat! Freeze it in the fridge 12 to 24 hours before cooking. Fast defrosting in the microwave or water will spoil the texture.

Secrets of marinade: 3 recipes for aerogrill

Xiaomi’s aerogryll shashlik marinade has two tasks: soften the fibers and protect the meat from overdrying. Unlike the grill, there is no open flame, so you can experiment with acidic components (vinegar, lemon, kefir) and sugar for caramelization.

The timing of pickling depends on the type of meat:

• 🕒 Chicken: 2-4 hours (file) or 4-6 hours (hip/tibia).
• 🕒 Pork/lamb 6-12 hours.
• 🕒 Beef 12-24 hours.

1. Classic onion marinade

Ingredients per 1 kg of meat:

• 🧅 2 large bulbs (grate or cut finely).
• 🍋 Juice of 1 lemon or 2 tbsp. l. of apple cider vinegar.
• 🧂 1 tbsp salt, 1 tsp black pepper, 1 tsp paprika.
• 🌿 2 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp. dried basil.
• 🛢 3 tbsp vegetable oil (sunflower or olive).

Mix all the ingredients, add the meat and stir. Refrigerate, stirring every 2-3 hours.

2. Kefir-honey marinade (for tenderness)

Perfect for beef or chicken, and kefir softens the fibers, and honey makes a mouth-watering crust.

• 🥛 200 ml of kefir (or yogurt without additives).
• 🍯 1 tbsp of honey.
• 🧄 3 cloves of garlic, 1 tsp of ginger.
• 🌶 1/2 tsp ground chili (to taste).

3. Beer marinade (for aroma)

It's good for pork or lamb, and beer gives the meat its depth of flavor, and mustard gives it its spiciness.

• 🍺 150 ml of dark beer.
• 🥄 1 tbsp mustard (preferably Dijon).
• 🍯 1 tbsp of honey or sugar.
• 🌿 1 tsp cumin, 1 bay leaf.

💡

To better penetrate the marinade into the meat, make shallow cuts with a knife (especially important for beef).

Preparation of Xiaomi aerogrill for cooking

Before you cook the barbecue, you need to configure the technique correctly. Xiaomi aerogrili (for example, Mi Smart Air Fryer 3.5L or Xiaomi Smart Oven models) have several key features:

1. Use a grille or a sword. The kit usually comes with a grille. If you want a classic kebabs on the skewers, buy metal or wooden ones (pre-soak them in water for 30 minutes).
2. Preheat. Turn on the aerogrill 200°C 5 minutes before the meat is laid, and it simulates hot coals.
3. Convection mode: Activate Air Fry or Grill (depending on the model) and it allows hot air to circulate.

If your model has a Dehydrate function, you can turn it on in the last 5-10 minutes to dry the crust.

⚠️ Warning: Do not fill the air grill basket with more than 2/3 volume! Overloaded meat will cook unevenly, and air will not be able to circulate freely.

Step-by-step instructions: how to cook barbecue

Now, let's get to the process itself. Follow this algorithm for the perfect result.

Put the meat on the grille or strung on the swords | Heat the air grille to 200°C | Set the timer for 15 minutes | Turn the pieces in 10 minutes | Check the readiness with a fork-->

1. Styling the meat. Spread the pieces on the grille so that they do not touch each other. If you use the swords, leave a gap of 1-2 cm between them for air circulation. Under the bar you can put the batter or foil to collect fat (this will facilitate subsequent cleaning).
2. First cooking step: set the temperature at 200°C and the time at 15 minutes. Open the aerogrill in 10 minutes and turn the pieces over with forceps. If the meat starts to burn, reduce the temperature to 180°C.
3. Readiness check: The finished barbecue should have a golden crust and clear juice when punctured with a fork. For chicken, the internal temperature should be 75 °C, for pork, 63 °C, for beef, 60 °C (use a culinary thermometer).
4. Final refinement. If the crust is not sufficiently rosy, turn on Grill mode for 3-5 minutes. For juiciness, you can pour the meat with the remaining marinade 2 minutes before the end.

A critical nuance: in aerogrill Xiaomi meat cooks 20-30% faster than coal, due to intensive convection.

Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even with a good recipe, you can ruin a barbecue, if you don't take into account the peculiarities of the aerogrill.

• 🔥 Too hot. Many people put a maximum of 220 °C in hopes of crisp crust, but the meat inside stays raw, and the outside burns. The optimal range is 180-200 °C.
• 🕒 Under-marination. In a closed chamber, the meat is not soaked in smoke, so the marinade is the only source of flavor. Minimum time is 4 hours.
• 🥩 Uneven pieces. If the meat is sliced in different thicknesses, some pieces will dry and others will remain raw. Use a kitchen scale or ruler for uniformity.
• 💨 No ventilation. Don't cover the grille with foil completely, it blocks the circulation of air. Maximum, partial spray protection.

Another mistake is using plastic skewers, which can melt at high temperatures, and take metal or wood (pre-soaked).

💡

In an aerogril, the kebab cooks faster than on a grill, but requires more careful control of temperature and time.

What to serve with a barbecue from aerogrill

The barbecue from the aerogrill is less greasy than the barbecue, so you can choose the lighter side dishes.

• 🥗 Fresh vegetables: sliced tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet peppers, onions, poured with olive oil and salted.
• 🍚 Rice or bulgur: boiled rice with greens or pilaf in Azerbaijani.
• 🥔 Baked potatoes: can be cooked in the same aerogril in parallel with meat (at 180°C for 25 minutes).
• 🍞 Lavash or pita: heated in a dry pan or in an aerogril for 2-3 minutes.
• 🌿 Greens and sauces: cilantro, parsley, mint, as well as adjika, tkemali or yogurt sauce with garlic.

For completeness of taste, you can add pickled onions: thinly cut the bulb, pour boiling water with 1 tbsp. l. vinegar and 1 tsp. sugar, leave for 15 minutes - a sweet-sour accompaniment will be obtained.

Comparison with other methods of preparation

How does Xiaomi aerogrill compete with traditional methods? Consider the pros and cons:

The aerogril wins in convenience and speed, but loses the grill in terms of flavor. To compensate for the lack of smoke, add liquid smoke (1-2 drops) to the marinade or use spices with smoked notes (for example, smoked paprika).

FAQ: Frequent questions about barbecue in the air grill