Ritilällä

Ritilä, or grating, is a metal grid used as a supporting surface above heat in grills, ovens, and fireplaces. The adessive form ritilällä means “on the grate” and is used to indicate the position of food or other objects placed on the grate.

In cooking, food is laid directly on the bars and grilled or roasted as heat rises from below. The gaps between the bars allow heat to circulate and fats to drip away, producing characteristic grill marks and a smoky flavor. Ritilällä can refer to outdoor barbecuing with charcoal or gas grills, as well as to indoor grilling using a kitchen grill or an oven’s grill function.

Ritilät are typically made of steel or cast iron, sometimes enameled or coated to resist rust. They can be fixed into a grill or oven or be removable for cleaning. Proper care includes cleaning after use and drying to prevent rust; periodic oiling may be recommended for metal grates.

In Finnish cooking and home life, grilling on a ritilä is common during the summer months and during outdoor camping. The concept also appears in descriptions of traditional fireplaces where food is cooked on a grate above embers.