A list of the most common tools used for grilling or bbq. Also includes hints about what to look for when buying these very basic, begginer tools.
The culinary art of barbecue has been around since men have hunted for food. The earliest forms of barbecue meant impaling dead animals on a stick and roasting over a fire. From these humble beginnings sprouted an entire industry's worth of pits, tools and techniques. Though some tools are specific to certain types of barbecue, such as turkey hooks or chicken holders, there are several tools which are a must for all recipes. Below is a list of the tools that everyone from a novice to a master griller must have in order to make the absolute best barbecue possible.
1. Spatulas- An absolute must-have, unless you want to pick the meat off the grill with your bare hands. But a spatula has much more reason for being that simply to pick up meat. It also helps keep your meat juicy. If you don't have a spatula, you would likely use something like a fork to take the meat off the fire. This pokes holes in the food, which means valuable fat and juices that add to the taste could be lost. They are also great for scooping up meat that has stuck to the grill without tearing it apart.
2. Knives- These are needed for carving, particularly if you are working with larger pieces of meat, such as a brisket or pork belly. A large, sharp knife is necessary to carve unless you want the meat to look like something out of a bad horror movie. Stainless steel knives stay sharper longer, but are very rarely big enough for carving. Look for a carbon knife and make sure to keep it clean and dry between uses in order to avoid rust.
3. Carving forks- The perfect accompaniment to the aforementioned carving knife, a carving fork is necessary to hold the meat in place while you use your knife to slice. If you do not hold the meat in place, you will risk tearing the meat instead of slicing it, which means odd-shaped pieces and lost juices.
4. Tongs- These can also be used to keep meats in place while slicing, instead of a carving fork. But the most useful function they provide is to grab odd-shaped items off the grill. Have you ever tried to grab a hotdog with a spatula? How about a kielbasa? Doesn't work too well with a flat item, but a pair of tongs ensure you can get the job done without anything falling on the ground.
5. Gloves or oven mitts- Many grills are made of metal, including the handles. Gloves or oven mitts will prevent you from burning your hands on them. They also allow you to pick up larger cuts of meat like a brisket directly off the grill with your hands, instead of poking them with items and losing tasty juices.
6. Thermometer- Though the more experienced grillers may laugh at the thought of using a thermometer, these are a good idea for new grillers. Until you are savvy enough to tell a steak's state by sight, a thermometer is the best way to find out if your steak is medium or well-done.
7. Sauce mop- Many barbecue connoisseurs prefer this to a brush because they do not scratch the surface or skin of meats like a brush will. They are also very absorbent, meaning they really coat the meat well, even if the sauce or marinade is thin. Since a brush does not absorb well, thiner items will be harder to coat using a brush. Thus, the sauce mop, though odd-looking is a great alternative.
8. Cutting board- This is another must. A good barbecue cutting board will be at least an inch thick and made of wood, not plastic or glass. Plastic or glass cutting boards dull knives quickly, making your carving a chore. Wood not only prolongs the sharpness of your knife, but also keeps meats placed atop it juicier, since it allows juices to pool up instead of running off, like plastic or glass would.
9. Grill topper- This is a relatively new tool and resembles a small metal basket. If you are planning on grilling things like shish-kabobs or skewers, a grill topper will ensure that the small pieces do not fall into the fire and burn. They are also great for items that might roll, like mushrooms or tomatoes, which are becoming increasingly popular items to grill.
Sure, a barbecue master (or just those that claim to be) will have a longer list of items than the one seen here. There are many high-dollar accessories and vanity tools that can be had in this burgeoning market. But these tools are all basics that even the pros use, and will give you a great place to start from.
