What are the common misunderstandings about using and cleaning the fish grill?
This answer is a draft. It stays unpublished until legal review and source verification are complete.
The fish grill built into a Japanese gas hob is the fitting that makes visitors ask, "What is this drawer for?" It is a small broiler that sits under the burners, and most rental kitchens have one. Here is how to use it, the cleaning method everyone dreads, and the fire warnings that come with it.
Use and care
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Types | Water type (fill the drip tray with water; cuts spitting and smoke) / Waterless type (no water needed; easier to clean, but the oil has to be dealt with) |
| Temperature | About 300–400°C on double-sided models. Preheat 1–2 minutes |
| Beyond fish | Toast (1–2 minutes), vegetables (green peppers, aubergine), chicken, mochi (rice cake), aburaage (fried tofu), grilled rice balls (yaki-onigiri) |
| Cleaning (drip tray) | Straight after use, once cool. Water type: pour off the water and wash with detergent before the oil sets. Lining with aluminium foil or a purpose-made grill sheet makes it easier (on a water-type grill, check the manual allows it) |
| Cleaning (rack) | Soak 30 minutes in baking-soda water (重曹, jūsō; 40°C / 104°F, 2 tablespoons per litre), then sponge. Baking-soda paste for burnt-on bits |
| Cleaning (interior and door) | Monthly, with neutral detergent. For fish smell, grill used tea leaves or coffee grounds in the tray after use — a household trick |
- Grill fires: the Tokyo Fire Department reports oil pooled in the drip tray catching fire every year, and warns: "do not use the grill with oil pooled in the tray", "use the specified amount of water in a water-type grill", "do not leave the grill unattended".
- Grills on Si-sensor hobs have overheat protection and an auto-off timer (most switch off automatically after 15–20 minutes).
- Grill smell comes mainly from oil in the tray and burnt residue on the rack. Cleaning straight after use works best.
[Verify] Check fire cases against Tokyo Fire Department fire statistics, and grill safety features against JGKA and manufacturer materials.
Misunderstanding 1｜The grill is for fish only
It is a direct-flame oven above 300°C: toast in 1–2 minutes, and good for vegetables, chicken and mochi. Many people in Japan skip the toaster and use the grill instead.
Misunderstanding 2｜Clean it once a month in one go
Oil sets as it cools, and pooled oil causes fires. Straight after use, once cool is the only easy way. Line the tray with a sheet or foil (check the manual).
Misunderstanding 3｜The water in the tray can be skipped
A water-type grill is designed so the water suppresses spitting and smoke and prevents fire. Always use the specified amount. Never add water to a waterless grill (it causes faults).
Misunderstanding 4｜Mask the smell with a deodoriser
The source is oil and burnt residue. Clean first. Grilling tea leaves or coffee grounds is the finishing touch after cleaning.
Misunderstanding 5｜Foil can line any grill
Foil in the drip tray of a water-type grill stops the water evaporating properly and can let oil touch the flame directly; some models forbid it. Check the instruction manual. If you line the rack with foil, punch holes so the oil drains.
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Sources
- Tokyo Fire Department, "Beware of grill fires" [グリル火災に注意] (causes of residential fires)
https://www.tfd.metro.tokyo.lg.jp/lfe/kasai_yobo/
- Japan Gas and Kerosene Appliances Industry Association (日本ガス石油機器工業会), "Safe use of gas hobs and grills" [ガスこんろ・グリルの安全な使い方]
https://www.jgka.or.jp/
- Consumer Affairs Agency, "Beware of fires and burns while cooking" [調理中の火災・やけどに注意]
https://www.caa.go.jp/policies/policy/consumer_safety/caution/
⚠️ Editorial note: the source URLs above were identified by search. Our working environment cannot reach go.jp domains, so the contents have not been checked against the text. Verify every source before publication and record who checked it and when.
About this article
What we share here are ideas and everyday practices passed down among people living in Japan, together with general information drawn from public sources. They are not official recommendations, and they are not professional instruction. Practices vary between households and regions.
This is general information. Results vary from person to person and depend on your own conditions and surroundings.
Please decide for yourself, using your own judgement, whether any of this suits your situation. We cannot accept responsibility for any damage, loss or injury arising from following this article.
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