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Our take on the Top Tools to Own for Charcoal Grilling – some may surprise you! |
When I get the chance to visit a
brick-and-mortar barbecue specialty store, I am always amazed at the
number of accessory items currently offered for grilling and smoking.
The options are staggering! I certainly can see why an individual might
end up purchasing too many items, thinking that it’s a necessity when
it comes to the grill or smoker.
My intent is to guide you on the
bare basics tools that are needed when you own a charcoal grill. Of
course, I may slip in there a couple of “next in line” purchases that
may not be necessities but sure come in handy. Let’s get started!
Tool #1
Chimney Starter:
Honestly, I don’t know a safer, easier method of lighting the fuel for
your grill than with a chimney starter. Are they pretty much the same?
Pretty much but here’s my recommendations on what to look for: one that
is made of plain steel meaning no paint; one that has a heat-safe
handle that is placed far enough away from the chimney body to prevent
you from receiving burns and includes a heat shield; large enough to
hold enough charcoal for the size of your grill; well vented at the base
to get things hot within 15 minutes.
Tool #2
We
just talked about the chimney starter which emits very high-heat so
this next item is going to keep you fire safe. High-temperature
resistant gloves. Personally, I use welding gloves as I appreciate that
I can purchase a longer length glove, plus, these gloves tend to have
great flexibility to them since most are made from cow leather. Best
of all, they last forever!
Tool #3
Long-handled
tongs. Your standard tong length for the traditional kitchen just
won’t work at the grill, as you need to keep some arm distance from
those hot coals. I like the 20-inch length with silicone grips as well
as silicone tips as silicone can tolerate extremely high heat.
Tool #4
Like
the tongs, a must have is long-handled spatula for those food items
that need to be flipped. I prefer one that is made of solid steel and
has a bit of a beveling to the edge. Again, the longer the handle to
better for keeping away from intense heat. Of course, you’ll be wearing
your high-temperature resistant gloves as well!
Tool #5
Even
if you don’t grill every day you’re still going to need a good brush to
clean up the residual food bits and grease. There’s been a lot of
controversy over the use of metal bristles but most of these brushes are
made well. You simply forget that like your toothbrush, they need to
be replaced periodically
before the bristles
start to come loose and have the potential to be transported to your
foods. I prefer a brush with metal bristles, with a long handle to keep
my arm away from the heat, as often you want to clean the grill when
it’s still hot. Remember, most of these brushes are under $10 so think
about purchasing one a couple times per season to ensure the bristles
stay put.
Tool #6
An
easy to read, digital thermometer. It is a must when you grill or
smoke. Look for one that has a longer probe for when your grilling
larger roasts and thicker cuts of meats and poultry. Be sure the
readout is easy to see and if you grill a lot at night, get one that has
a backlight to see more clearly. If you cook a lot of different animal
proteins at the same time, try to have a thermometer dedicated to each
food so you don’t cross-contaminate while bacteria may still be an
issue. Most of the digital thermometers on the market today are under
$18 with even more under $10.
Other Recommended Tools:
These are additional items I love to have on hand to use with my charcoal grilling and smoking.
The Disposable Foil Pan: Perfect to use as a water pan, cooking pan with a roasting rack insert, grease collection pan, and warming pan.
Fine Wire Mesh:
Cut to size to fit my charcoal area, I prefer to use fine wire mesh
when I want to ensure I can retain every small hot coal for my cooking.
This works particularly well when you plan to ember cook foods like
peppers, onions, eggplant, and garlic.
Fire Brick: I
use one or two fire bricks to set up my two-zone cooking area. The
bricks also work great for positioning a pan on to allow for elevation
in the cooking area.
There you have it! My top choices
for the tools that will bring ease to your charcoal grilling and
smoking. Just remember to include some clean, bark-free hardwood on the
charcoal for an even better flavor to your foods.
There you have it our take on the Top Tools to own for Charcoal Grilling!