Grilling Tools and Accessories

Merely choosing the right grill is not the end of it – it is also very important that you choose a good set of tools and accessories to make the task of grilling more convenient for you. Let us take a quick look at some of the most basic tools and accessories that you should have before you get started on your grilling.

It is true that in the grilling process, other than the actual grill, there are very few extra tools that one could say are an absolute must. However, there are some tools that make the process more convenient, help prevent accidents and also ensure that the very best results are delivered, thereby making them almost essential to the whole process.

• For example, it is best to have long-handled utensils like spatulas for turning, basting brushes for smearing sauces and basting and tongs for taking food off the hot grill. It is a good idea to have two sets of tongs – one to get food off and on the grill and the other to keep turning the charcoal and regulating the heat. Buy utensils that have hooks or loops so that they can be hung out of reach when not in use.

• Many experts can gauge very correctly when the meat or poultry is done. However, if you are just starting off or would prefer a more certain way of ascertaining whether the meat is done, food thermometers are the safest way of doing so. While most food thermometers can be inserted and read instantly, some may also be inserted before grilling. Since these thermometers are not heat proof, they cannot be left inside the meat when it is being grilled.

• It is absolutely essential to have a pair of heavy-duty mitts whenever you are using the grill. Use mitts that can not only protect your hands but even safeguard your forearms.

• When the juices from meats being grilled fall on the coals, they tend to cause flare-ups. The best way of dealing with these juices is to use metal drip pans or even disposable foil drip pans, placed right below the grilling meats to collect the dripping juice. Ideally, the pans should be about one to one and a half inches deep and extend up to three inches beyond both sides of the grilling rack. You need not throw away the juices being collected in the drip pan – you can use them in your gravy or even as a sauce. Just make sure that these drippings are well boiled before being used.

• It is inevitable that despite all precautions, there will be flare-ups in your charcoal grill. The best way of dealing with these flare-ups is to use water spritzers or water pistols to quench the flare-ups. If nothing else, fill a household plastic spray bottle with water and keep it handy. However, bear in mind that you should not use water with gas grills.

• Many foods are not easily turned over using a spatula, especially delicate foods like shellfish or mushrooms. When you try turning them over with a spatula they can stick to the spatula or even break. A hinged wired basket designed specially for use on grills can hold these foods and can be turned so that these small foods can be grilled individually and evenly.

• Along with larger cuts of meat that you can cook easily on the grill rack, you may also be simultaneously grilling smaller pieces of vegetables or meat. At times, they can get so small that they fall through the grid of the grill. Grill toppers are excellent solutions for this kind of food. These toppers are metal plates with perforations so small that you can place small vegetables and other pieces of food on it without fear of them falling through. If you are using grill toppers, make sure that you spray them with some non-stick cooking spray as well as preheat it before placing any food on them. You can even find grill skillets and woks that allow you to stir-fry or toss food on the grill itself.

• To cook more slabs of ribs and to cook them more efficiently, one can use rib racks that allow you to rack up the slabs at an angle to the source of heat.

• Kabobs are an all-time favorite and skewers are a must to grill kabobs. You can find both metal and bamboo skewers of different lengths. However, if you are going to be using bamboo skewers, you will need to soak them well in water for about twenty minutes before you start using them on the grill so that they do not get burned.

• Finally the most indispensable item in the grilling process is the aluminum foil. While it is used for a variety of purposes during grilling, vegetables can be wrapped in aluminum foil and then placed either directly on the charcoal or placed on the grill rack. They have to be packed a little carefully though, to avoid any leakage.