It is easy for the novice barbecuer to get confused with a lot of the grilling tools that are out there, not to mention how easy it is to get a low quality one if you do not know what you are looking for. Here are five grilling tools that you cannot live without, how to use them, and what to watch out for when you are looking for quality.
BBQ Tongs : One of the most important and most used tools, BBQ tongs allow you to turn the meat while it is cooking without burning yourself or piercing the meat. Look for long handles that are at least sixteen inches. Avoid wire tong because they are weaker than steel-armed BBQ tongs. To keep your hands cool while barbecuing, find tongs that have insulated handles. Check out some reviews of 2020 tongs HERE!
Instant Read Thermometers : Avoid undercooking or overcooking your meat with instant read thermometers. When choosing one, look for one that is lightweight, moisture-proof, and is able to hold the temperature even when you take it out of the meat. Instant read thermometers are best because they allow you to take the temperature without burning your hands or piercing the meat too much. Insert the thermometer at the thickest part and not near the bone when using. Check out some reviews of 2020 Thermometers HERE!
Grill Brush : This is a handy tool that is essential to cleaning your grill when it’s hot. Use it to scrape off burnt food residue from the grill. Get one with insulated handles that are at least 20 inches long to keep your hands and arms out of the heat. The last thing you want is to burn the hair off your arms and the back of your hands by holding them over the heat for too long. Under no conditions should you get a grill brush with plastic in it, because it will not hold up in the heat from the grill. Also please, PLEASE!: Be careful with metal wire brushes. Sometimes the metal wires come off and get stuck in your food, if consumed it could potentially cause need for serious medical attention. Check out some reviews of 2020 Grill Brushes HERE!
Basting Brush : Basting brushes are used to baste the meat on the grill. This means you use the brush to brush a sauce, marinade, or even the meat’s own juices onto the meat while cooking. It adds nice, vibrant flavors to the meat. There are a lot of basting brushes available, but you should get a silicone basting brush because it is easy to clean. It can get tossed in the dishwasher or cleaned by hand with relative ease. Basting brushes with natural bristles are a lot harder to clean and food residue often lingers and can spoil the rest of your cooking. Check out some reviews of 2020 Basting Brushes HERE!
Bamboo Skewers : These are essential for when you are cooking shish kabobs, shrimp, or grilled vegetables. These are available in 8 inch packs of 100 and 12 inch packs of 100. Both sizes are good to use. Before using, you need to soak your bamboo skewers, but not necessarily in water. Also try soaking them in wine, bourbon, or whiskey to give your food another dimension of flavor. Soak them in a pan of the liquid of your choice for at least 20 minutes and up to four hours. To save time in the future, soak them all when you first get them and freeze them until you need to use them.
