Barbecue Tricks

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Gadgets

The 10 Best Barbecue Grill Tools to Have on Hand

By Billy Bristol

These are the 12 BBQ grilling tools that no grill chef can be without. Most of the gadgets are basic, inexpensive, and not so fancy, but they will help you get to where you want to get…and that is grilling and barbecue perfection.

The first tip for using these gadgets is to have them within arm’s reach of your grill before you even start grilling. Organization is key to producing quality grilled foods.

1) Butane Lighter: Forget having to ever look for matches again. With a long handle and long nose, the butane lighter makes it safer, easier to use, and easier to find than matches.

2) Meat Thermometer: Having to repeatedly open the lid to your grill to check for done-ness causes you to lose heat, and adds to your cooking time. Have a digital roasting thermometer with a probe. This stays in the meat during cooking, and allows you to read the temperature without lifting the lid.

3) Chimney Starter: For those with a charcoal grill, a chimney starter is a must-have. All you do is place the charcoal in the top of the starter, wad up some newspaper and stick it in the bottom. Place the chimney starter on the food grate and ignite the newspaper. As soon as the coals are ready, just pour them into the grill.

4) Grill Tongs: These help you turn foods without poking them. The best grill tongs have long handles and spring hinges.

5) Timer: A standard kitchen timer is all you need to keep from over-cooking your grilled foods.

6) Basting Brush or Mop: Use a basting brush to apply sauces to meats without keeping the grill lid open for long periods of time. A paint brush with natural bristles works well also.

7) Metal Spatula: A long-handled spatula with a wide stainless steel blade. is one of the more essential grill items. Perfect for flipping large cuts of meat.

8) Long-Handled Fork: This helps to lift large cuts of meat or poultry from the grill. Never poke the meat until after it is done cooking, as the juices will run off into the grill.

9) BBQ Gloves: Flame-retardant gloves protect your hands when working with the hot grill and coals.

10) Wire Grill Brush: A stiff wire brush allows for a quick cleanup of food grates before the grill cools.

Often you can find many of these grill tools within one barbecue set. Buy a good grill set and keep the tools clean and ready for any time you’re ready to grill.

Billy Bristol is the editor and chief BBQ pitmaster for TexasBarbeques.com, an outdoor cooking and entertaining website devoted to backyard living. TexasBarbeques.com has been providing barbecue recipes, cooking tips, grilling techniques, and backyard entertainment ideas since 2005.

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Gadgets

Basting Brush goes High Tech


Have you ever looked at an old wooden handle basting brush and thought, “That CAN’T be sanitary!”

The more you think about the porous wood… the residue in the fibers of the brush… the nooks and crannies that are almost impossible to clean… the more you think there has to be another way. There is; and too many cooks are still skeptical.

Even I never thought the new fangled silicone basting brushes would EVER work as well as my trusty paint brush – type basting brush. It wasn’t the price… you can buy a bag of cheap paint brushes at Lowes for just a few bucks. In fact, I always thought the plastic / silicone basting brushes would just not grab enough sauce. That was before I tried it.

The designers of the BBQ tool (the brush shown is made by Rubbermaid) really thought it through. The individual brush “needles” are textured with hoops and bumps that “grab” onto everything from oil to BBQ sauce. Unlike the old style brush there’s no deterioration, no loose brush hairs, and it’s easy to clean. They feel great in your hand and are easy to manipulate. Best of all they’re relatively cheap, especially considering may brands come with a lifetime guarantee. There are now lots of different manufacturers: see them here.

It’s easy to stick with tradition in cooking, but a silicone brush for cooking this is a tool worth trying.

Gadgets

Scrubbing Up In a Pinch

Ever find yourself with company coming over and you need to clean the grill but you’re left with out a grill brush?!

Here’s an easy trick: Grab a wad of all American aluminum foil. It’s the pit master’s duct tape!

Crunch it up in a ball and utilize a pair of long handled tongs. Voilà! Instant scrubber. It’s not quite as good as a wire brush but it is more disposable! Follow up the scrub by wiping down the grate with a folded and oil-soaked paper towel to remove any additional residue and to additionally season the grill.