How To Roast A Whole Eggplant

You may be used to salting eggplant slices before cooking them, but if you're cooking an eggplant whole—either on the grill or in the oven—you can forget the salt. This crucial step, however, you can't forget.

Steam builds up inside of the eggplant while it's cooking, and the pressure can cause it to burst. To avoid said disaster, use the tip of a sharp knife or the prongs of a fork to pierce the nightshade so the steam can escape. If you're grilling, you can cook the poked eggplant directly on the grate. If you're baking, place it on a rack or on a baking sheet for stability.