How to Use a Grill Mat: A Step-by-Step Guide for Better BBQ Grilling
Using a grill mat is straightforward: choose a compatible grill setup, measure the cooking area, place the mat flat over the grill grate, add your food, cook as usual, then allow the mat to cool before cleaning it. A reusable grill mat is especially useful for shrimp, sliced mushrooms, vegetables and other smaller foods that can be difficult to manage on open grill grates.
The key is correct placement. A grill mat should be used according to both the mat instructions and the grill manufacturer’s guidance, and it should not be treated as a surface designed for direct contact with open flames.
If you are using the UNTIOR 40 × 60 cm Reusable Teflon Grill Mat & Oven Liner, its thin 0.1 mm Teflon-coated fiberglass construction gives you a flexible, cut-to-fit surface for compatible grilling, oven-lining and baking applications.
How Do You Use a Grill Mat?
A reusable grill mat works best when it is used as a continuous cooking surface over a compatible grill grate.
The basic process is:
- Check your grill setup and the mat instructions.
- Measure the usable cooking area.
- Trim the mat if necessary.
- Lay the mat flat over the compatible grill grate.
- Add food once the cooking setup is ready.
- Turn and monitor food as you normally would.
- Let the mat cool before cleaning.
- Dry and store it for the next use.
Each of these steps matters, especially when you are using a grill mat for smaller foods or on a charcoal grill.
Step 1: Check Your Grill Before Using the Mat
Before placing any reusable grill mat on a barbecue, look at the grill design and heat source.
Different grills can use different heating systems, including:
- Gas burners
- Charcoal
- Electric heating elements
A grill mat should be positioned only where the product instructions and grill manufacturer permit it.
Do not assume that every grill mat can be placed directly over exposed flames or in direct contact with heating elements. Grill design, airflow and heat distribution can vary significantly between appliances.
If you are unsure about compatibility, read our guide on using a grill mat on gas, charcoal and electric grills.
Step 2: Measure the Grill Cooking Area
Before using a grill mat, measure the part of the grill grate where you actually plan to cook.
You do not necessarily need to match the full outside dimensions of the grill. The important measurement is the usable cooking surface.
Measure:
- The width of the usable grill area
- The depth of the usable grill area
- Any areas that should remain uncovered according to the grill manufacturer
The UNTIOR grill mat measures 40 × 60 cm / 15.75 × 23.62 in, giving you a relatively large sheet that can be adapted for different compatible cooking setups.
If you are deciding whether this size will work with your barbecue, read our 40 × 60 cm grill mat size guide.
Step 3: Trim the Grill Mat If Needed
Some reusable grill mats are designed to be cut to fit. This can be useful when the full sheet is larger than the cooking area you want to cover.
The UNTIOR 40 × 60 cm grill mat uses a flexible cut-to-fit format.
Before trimming:
- Measure the grill area carefully.
- Mark the intended size.
- Use clean cutting tools.
- Avoid cutting more material than necessary.
Do not trim the mat while it is sitting on a hot grill.
For a more detailed explanation, see how to cut a grill mat to fit your grill.
Step 4: Lay the Grill Mat Flat
Place the grill mat flat over the compatible cooking grate.
The mat should lie smoothly without excessive folds, bunching or loose edges that interfere with cooking.
A flat position creates a more consistent surface for food and makes smaller ingredients easier to manage.
When placed correctly, the mat acts as a continuous cooking surface between the food and the open grill-grate gaps.
Do You Put a Grill Mat Directly on the Grill Grates?
In compatible setups, a grill mat is typically positioned over the grill grate rather than underneath the food at the bottom of the grill.
However, placement must still follow the instructions for both the grill and the grill mat.
The important distinction is this:
On the cooking grate does not mean directly in open flame.
Do not place the mat in a location where the manufacturer specifically prohibits liners, mats or covered surfaces.
Step 5: Add the Food
Once the grill and mat are positioned correctly, place food on the cooking surface.
One of the strongest use cases for a grill mat is cooking ingredients that are small enough to slip between traditional grill grates.
Examples include:
- Shrimp
- Sliced white button mushrooms
- Bell pepper slices
- Onion slices
- Zucchini slices
- Small vegetable pieces
- Fish portions
- Small pieces of meat
A continuous cooking surface helps keep these ingredients supported instead of balancing each piece across open metal bars.
If small foods are your main grilling problem, see our guide on how to stop shrimp, mushrooms and vegetables from falling through grill grates.
Step 6: Cook and Turn Food Normally
A grill mat does not eliminate the need to monitor food while cooking.
You should still:
- Turn food when needed
- Watch cooking progress
- Adjust heat according to your recipe and grill
- Use appropriate grill tools
For delicate foods such as shrimp and sliced vegetables, use controlled movements when turning or repositioning ingredients.
A grill mat can make these foods easier to handle because they remain on a flatter surface rather than directly over open grate gaps.
What Foods Work Best on a Grill Mat?
There is no single food category that must be cooked on a grill mat, but some ingredients benefit more from a continuous surface than others.
Small, delicate or irregularly shaped foods are often especially convenient to cook this way.
Examples include:
- Shrimp that may fall between wide grate gaps
- Sliced mushrooms that are difficult to balance on grill bars
- Mixed vegetables
- Onions and peppers
- Smaller fish portions
- Foods with marinades that can leave more residue on the grate
For more ideas, read what foods you can cook on a grill mat.
Should You Preheat a Grill Before Using a Grill Mat?
Preheating depends on the grill, recipe and product instructions.
Many grilling methods involve bringing the cooking setup to the appropriate temperature before adding food, but you should not rely on a universal rule for every grill mat and every appliance.
Always follow:
- Your grill manufacturer’s instructions
- The grill mat product instructions
- The cooking requirements for the food you are preparing
Avoid exposing the mat to conditions outside the approved use instructions.
Which Side of a Grill Mat Goes Up?
This depends on the specific grill mat design.
If a product identifies a dedicated cooking side, use that side facing upward. If the mat does not designate a specific side, follow the product instructions and make sure the cooking surface is clean, flat and undamaged before use.
Do not assume that all grill mats have identical construction or identical side requirements.
Can You Use Oil on a Grill Mat?
Whether you add oil should depend on the food, recipe and product instructions.
A non-stick cooking surface can help reduce sticking, but that does not mean every recipe should be cooked without oil.
Some foods may still benefit from a small amount of cooking oil, marinade or seasoning for flavor and cooking performance.
Avoid turning a product feature such as “non-stick” into the assumption that no oil is ever needed.
Can You Cook Shrimp on a Grill Mat?
Yes, shrimp is one of the most practical foods to cook on a continuous grill surface when your compatible grill setup permits use of a mat.
Loose shrimp can be difficult to manage on wide grill grates because individual pieces may rotate, shift or slip between the metal bars.
A grill mat gives the shrimp a flatter surface to rest on while cooking.
This is particularly useful when preparing several small shrimp at once.
Can You Grill Sliced Mushrooms on a Grill Mat?
Sliced white button mushrooms are another good example of a food that can be awkward to cook directly on open grates.
Thin mushroom slices can shift while turning and may fall through larger grate gaps.
Using a continuous cooking mat helps keep the slices together on the cooking surface while still allowing you to move and turn them with normal grill tools.
How Much Food Should You Put on a Grill Mat?
Avoid overcrowding the cooking surface.
Leaving some space between ingredients makes it easier to:
- Turn food
- Monitor doneness
- Move smaller ingredients
- Keep different foods organized
If the mat is completely overloaded, food can become harder to manage even though it is no longer falling between grill-grate gaps.
Step 7: Remove Food and Let the Mat Cool
When cooking is complete, remove the food using suitable cooking utensils.
Allow the grill mat to cool before handling or cleaning it.
Do not immediately move from a hot grill to aggressive washing or folding while the material is still hot.
Following a consistent cool-clean-dry routine is better for everyday care.
Step 8: Clean the Grill Mat
Once the mat has cooled, remove loose food residue and clean the surface according to the product care instructions.
For routine cleaning, avoid unnecessarily abrasive tools that could scratch or damage the cooking surface.
After cleaning, dry the mat thoroughly before storage.
For a complete care routine, read how to clean and store a reusable grill mat after cooking.
Common Grill Mat Mistakes to Avoid
1. Putting the Mat Directly Into Open Flames
Do not treat a reusable grill mat as a flameproof barrier. Use it only in locations permitted by the product and grill instructions.
2. Using the Wrong Size
An oversized mat should not simply be forced into a cooking space. Measure first and trim only when the product is designed to be cut to fit.
3. Overcrowding the Surface
A continuous surface helps with smaller foods, but too much food can still make cooking difficult.
4. Using Sharp or Abrasive Tools Carelessly
Metal edges, aggressive scraping and abrasive cleaning can unnecessarily damage a coated cooking surface.
5. Ignoring the Grill Manufacturer’s Instructions
Your grill’s airflow, burner configuration and heating elements matter. The grill manufacturer’s placement guidance should always be considered.
How to Use a Grill Mat on a Charcoal Grill
When using a grill mat with a compatible charcoal setup, the mat is used at the cooking-grate level rather than placed directly among the charcoal.
The charcoal remains below the grill grate, while food cooks on the mat above according to the permitted setup.
This distinction is important because a grill mat should not be presented as something intended to sit directly on burning charcoal.
If charcoal grilling is your main use case, read our detailed guide to grill mat compatibility with charcoal, gas and electric grills.
How to Use a Grill Mat for Smaller Foods
For shrimp, sliced mushrooms and chopped vegetables, arrange ingredients in a single manageable layer rather than piling them together.
Keep enough space between foods to turn them easily.
This setup makes it much easier to handle ingredients that would otherwise require skewers, a grill basket or careful positioning across individual grill bars.
Can a Grill Mat Be Used for More Than BBQ Grilling?
Some reusable cooking mats are also designed for compatible oven-lining or baking applications.
The UNTIOR model combines grill-mat and oven-liner use in one flexible format.
However, oven placement is a separate topic from grill placement. Never assume that a mat belongs directly on the bottom surface of every oven.
For oven-specific guidance, read how to use a grill mat as an oven liner.
Frequently Asked Questions About Using a Grill Mat
Do you put a grill mat directly on the grates?
In compatible setups, the mat is generally positioned over the cooking grate. Always follow the grill and mat instructions and avoid prohibited direct contact with open flames or exposed heating elements.
Can you put food directly on a grill mat?
Yes, when the grill mat is being used according to its instructions, food is placed directly on the cooking surface of the mat.
Can you cook shrimp on a grill mat?
Yes. Shrimp is one of the most practical smaller foods for a continuous grill surface because individual pieces can otherwise slip between open grill grates.
Can you cook sliced mushrooms on a grill mat?
Yes. Sliced mushrooms can be easier to manage on a grill mat because the continuous surface helps prevent thin pieces from dropping between grill bars.
Can you cut a grill mat to size?
Some grill mats are designed to be trimmed. The UNTIOR 40 × 60 cm grill mat uses a flexible cut-to-fit format. Measure carefully before cutting.
Can a grill mat touch charcoal?
A grill mat should not be placed directly among burning charcoal. Use it only at the appropriate cooking level and follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Do you have to clean a grill mat after every use?
Food residue should be removed and the mat cleaned according to its care instructions after cooking. Allow it to cool first and dry it before storage.
A Simple Way to Make Small-Food Grilling Easier
Learning how to use a grill mat is mostly about proper sizing, placement and food management.
For people who regularly cook shrimp, sliced mushrooms, onions, peppers or other smaller ingredients, a continuous cooking surface can make the grilling process easier to control while keeping food from slipping through open grill grates.
If you want a larger flexible option that can be adapted to different compatible cooking setups, see the UNTIOR 40 × 60 cm / 15.75 × 23.62 in cut-to-fit grill mat and oven liner.
For a broader introduction to the product category, you can also read what a Teflon grill mat is and how it works.