Grilling 101 | 10 Must-Have Grill Tools for Your Barbecue
Every "Grillionaire"™ has go-to tools for their grilling kingdom! We all have the trusty spatula, that is our excalibur for the grill. We have our tongs that we click between 3 to 17 times before we pick up the sizzling cut of meat that is being roasted over flames as we openly grunt in pleasure for the outcome.
BBQ tools are ESSENTIAL for your barbecue, your grilling deck, your open flame kingdom! I want to share with you 10 Must-Have's for your barbecue.
A few months ago, I partnered with a great company called Grillaholics. They are just as passionate about barbecue as I am, and share the same vision. Over and over, I get asked (by about 6 people) what are the best tools to use? Or, what can I get my up and coming BBQ master for their grill? Don't worry, I got you!
I made a video a few months back about some of the tools that Grillaholics sent me. Check it out and make sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel for weekly recipes and reviews!
Now that you see the quality and craftsmanship that Grillaholics has to offer, feel free to use THIS LINK or the code GRILLMARKCO at checkout for a percentage off! HOWEVER, let me walk you down the path of some other tools I use or that you MUST-HAVE for your barbecue!
10 Must-Have Grill Accessories
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
Best Fire Starter: Charcoal Chimney
Lighting your grill or smoker with a chimney, like this one, is easy and affordable.One of the best grill tools for charcoal grills, you need only some newspaper, charcoal briquettes, and a grill lighter to get started.
Buy It: https://amzn.to/3Ofwbrq
Credit: Courtesy of Jessica Ashby
Best Performer: Grill Tongs
The days of the pitchforks are over! Grill tongs, like these, are GREAT for grilling because they don't puncture the meat. Pictured above are my GO-TO tongs that I have had for over seven years! I purchased them on-sale at Williams and Sonoma. You can get a GREAT pair of tongs from Grillaholics!
Buy It: https://www.grillaholics.com/products/grill-tools (use code "GRILLMARKCO" for 20% off)
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
Best Heat Monitor: Wireless Air Probe
Most grills come with a thermometer on the lid of the grill. Don't be fooled, because they are not always accurate. The first thing you should do, for any new grill, is the boil calibration test. Bring a pot of water to a boil, insert the thermometer and see if it reads 100ºC or 212ºF. If it does, you are spot on. If not, usually, there is a way to adjust it in the back to get it calibrated. If you are like me, you love grilling technology and data. Using a wireless air probe will allow you to monitor the temp of the grill, right on the grate.
Buy It: https://amzn.to/3aT6Aa4 or https://bit.ly/3B1agRO
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon and OXO
Best Way to Grill Vegetables: Skewers
Nothing tastes better than roasted vegetables over an open flame. Often times, the veggies can fall between the grate spacing, and you lose it to the fire. Keep everything together with a set of sturdy skewers! I like to use metal or stainless steel ones because cleanup is a breeze and they are reusable; great for cooking and the environment!
Buy It: https://amzn.to/3PljMU4
Credit: Courtesy of Amazon
Best Meat Monitor: Instant Read Thermometer
You don't want a well done steak...or maybe you do. An instant read thermometer helps you maintain food safety, but also offers an instant accurate reading of the meat you are grilling over an open flame.
Buy It: https://amzn.to/3B11iUE or https://bit.ly/3B1agRO
Credit: Courtesy of Grillaholics
Best Burn Prevention: Heat Resistant Gloves
Grills get got. Fire, smoke, searing temps. All these point to signs point to potential burn hazards. With heat resistant gloves, you can turn the kabobs, grab the handle, or lift the lid on anything inside the grill. Certain gloves are rated to a certain degree point; such as the ones above are rated for 660ºF!
Buy It: https://www.grillaholics.com/?ref=grillmarkco
Credit: Courtesy of Grillaholics
Best Grill Cleaning Tool: Grill Brush
There are many different kinds of brushes out there. The popular and cheap ones are the wire metal brushes. More expensive ones are the wooden scrapers that you burn your grate into it and scrape food off. This essential nylon brush, from Grillaholics, is the one I use almost every time. It is triple tested, American made, and you use it on a cold grill. So right before you fire it up, you brush it off. A clean grill is a happy grill...or something like that. Cleaning your grill will also enhance your grilling experience, because burnt left overs don't always add the flavor profile you're looking for.
Buy It: https://www.grillaholics.com/?ref=grillmarkco
Credit: Courtesy of Jessica Ashby
Best Tool: Grill Spatula
Pictured above is my excalibur. I use it almost exclusively for two reasons: it was a gift and it represents my favorite NFL team (as hard as that may be). A solid grill spatula is a NECESSITY when it comes to grilling. Flip the burgers, roll the dogs, or just bang it on the side table like you are a hibachi chef! Whatever you do, you need this, probably before any other tool you buy!
Buy It: https://amzn.to/3IQnVx1
Credit: Courtesy of Grill Mark Co.
Best Clothing-Saver: Leather Apron
Barbecue, in general, is messy. There are sauces flinging, fire roaring, splatters splatting all over the place! A nice leather apron, like the one pictured above, offers you a versatile way to prevent your clothes getting dirty while providing a shield from flare ups and sparks. Adding an apron to your arsenal will help keep your grill game strong!
Buy It: https://bit.ly/3IW3ej5
Credit: Courtesy of Jessica Ashby
Best Space Saving Tool: Pocket Size Grilling Multi-Tool
Helping a pal cook in their backyard? Grilling on-the-go at the park or a campsite? This versatile and compact multi-tool features a grill spatula, fork (remember not to poke that meat!), basting brush, plus a corkscrew and bottle opener for all of your drink pairings.
Buy It: https://bit.ly/3IQ689c
Grilling season never stops on my grilling deck! I make sure that I have the best tools that will make me feel like a grillionaire™. These are simply suggestions, because everybody's grill set up is different. If you have a gas grill, you won't need a chimney starter. Customize it to your needs and wants, but make sure you have the right tools for the job!
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