What does chargrilled mean?
Chargrilled is an adjective and verb form meaning cooked over charcoal. In its most common adjectival use, it describes food, especially meat, fish, or vegetables, that has been exposed to strong radiant heat from glowing charcoal, often acquiring a smoky flavor and a browned or charred surface. The term is particularly associated with British English, where chargrill is a familiar word for this cooking method. In American English, charbroiled is much more common, although chargrilled is also understood. The expression has a warm, appetizing association with outdoor cooking, barbecues, and food prepared over an open charcoal fire rather than in an oven or frying pan. As a verb form, chargrilled describes the action of cooking something in this way and can therefore refer to both the completed preparation and its result.
Cooked over charcoal, especially with a browned or lightly charred surface.
"We ordered chargrilled chicken with a fresh salad."
Chiefly British; American English usually says charbroiled.
To cook something over charcoal, usually producing a seared or lightly charred surface.
"He chargrilled the steaks over the coals."
This is the past tense and past participle of chargrill, a chiefly British verb.
Chargrilled is the British name for food cooked over charcoal, while its American cousin is usually called charbroiled.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does chargrilled come from?
Chargrilled developed in 19th-century British English as a compound of char, in the sense of burning or scorching, and grill. The char element evokes a blackened or cooked surface and is related to charcoal, while grill refers to cooking over heat, traditionally in a grilling apparatus. The related American form charbroiled developed from the same charcoal-cooking idea but uses the American preference for broil in food terminology.
How chargrilled is actually used
The word is informal-to-neutral in food and restaurant contexts and is especially associated with British English. It is normally used attributively, as in chargrilled lamb, or predicatively, as in the sausages were chargrilled.
Easily confused with chargrilled
Chargrilled is the usual British term for food cooked over charcoal, whereas charbroiled is the standard American term and may also suggest a strongly seared exterior.