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Love a weekend barbeque with friends and family? Find out 7 grill tools you need to ensure delicious food, optimal safety and a healthy BBQ for years to come. You’re not a true BBQ-lover unless you have these 7 essential grill tools!
Long-Handled Tongs
Long-handled tongs are ideal for grilling and can be used for everything from thick steaks and hamburgers to delicate fish fillets. Tongs allow you to manoeuvre your food without impacting the shape or juiciness of the meat (unlike forks, which pierce the meat and allow flavoursome juices to escape) – we recommend that you choose a long handle (around 40 cms) to protect your arms from the heat of your BBQ.
Thermometer
A meat thermometer is essential if you want to ensure perfect meat doneness and prevent instances of under/over cooking. Not sure what temperature your meats should be?
Check out Australian Beef’s guide to meat temperatures to find out more.
Stainless Steel Spatula
Using a spatula to flip several small hamburgers on the grill over hot charcoal
When it comes to BBQ spatulas, being thin and flexible is key. This will give you the precision and control you need when working over flames. Whichever brand you opt for, we recommend that you look for a model with a slanted head, great flexibility. If you regularly cook delicate foods, it can be worth purchasing two spatulas and using them both at the same time to gently manoeuvre your foods.
Brass Brush
A clean cooking grate is essential for good grill marks, even cooking and ensuring that delicate foods like fish and vegetables don’t stick. A simple brass brush does a great job of cleaning and won’t damage your cooking grates. Or, If you’d rather not use a wire brush, you can use a hardwood paddle.
Flat Blade Stainless Steel Skewers
Have you ever gone to turn a kebab only to have the skewer turn and not the food? It’s a common problem with an easy solution – flat blade skewers. If you grill often, we recommend that you invest in flat blade stainless steel skewers, which can be reused and come in a variety of shapes and sizes. If you prefer to use wooden skewers, make sure that you soak them in water for 30 minutes before cooking to prevent them from burning.
BBQ Gloves
Don’t assume that the oven mitts you use in your kitchen will suffice for using with your grill! You need BBQ-specific gloves that will protect your forearms. There are heaps of choices on the market, but the overall objective is to find something that will protect you from the heat or flames when flipping meat, handling coals or moving food from one side of the BBQ to the other. BBQ gloves will ensure that cooking on your BBQ is as safe and enjoyable as possible.
Basting brush
The right basting brush will allow you to apply sauces and marinades without deteriorating over high heat or leaving stray bristles on your food. We recommend that you purchase a food-safe silicone brush, as they are hygienic, dishwasher safe, heat resistant and won’t fray or trap bacteria like natural brushes can. Basting brushes are perfect for applying all kinds of sauces to anything on your grill or smoker. Don’t forget to find a BBQ-specific brush with a long arm, so you can marinate your meat without singeing your arm hairs!
And that’s it for our grilling essentials! Got other ideas? Let us know on our Facebook page. Keen for more info? Check out our post on one of the most controversy-ridden topics of all time… Gas VS Charcoal BBQs.
The information in this post is adapted from The Spruce and Cooking Light.
