BBQ Tools


	It almost goes without saying that you could spend a small fortune on tools and accessories for your BBQ. There are some tools though which are essential if you are going to grill safely and successfully.

First off are tools to turn and remove the food. Good tools have long handles and are made from stainless steel.

The ones I use mostly are the spatula and the tongs. I also have a spare pair of tongs for moving charcoal.

Next up you will want a glove to stop your hand from getting burnt. It is going to get dirty so it might as well be black to start with. Most important though it must be long enough to cover your wrist.

An apron is a must to stop your clothes getting messed up. Again black is sensible and cotton is better than PVC.

You will need a brass bristle brush to clean the grill. Cheap ones last no time at all so invest in a better one to start with. You may also want to buy oven cleaner or specialist BBQ cleaner to get your grill back to near new condition.

A meat thermometer is essential for larger cuts of meat or for chickens and turkeys.

A gas lighter is a lot easier to use and a lot safer than matches (even the longer cooks matches).

If you want to prepare your own kebabs you’ll need a set of skewers

There are of course loads of other gadgets and gizzmos that you can buy. Some you may use a lot and others only once or twice. If you are intending to cook large joints though these three are pretty useful. The rack keeps the joint off the grill and makes it easier to remove at the end of cooking. The rotisserie turns the meat to ensure even cooking.

My favourite though is the wireless thermometer. It has a probe which goes into the meat and stays there. The transmitter is connected to it and sits outside the grill. The receiver you can take anywhere within range. The advantage is that you don’t have to keep opening the lid to check the temperature because every time you open the lid the grill cools down thus extending your cooking time. I got mine for Father’s Day!








	You can get fish holders, buger holders etc etc. You have to decide what is going to be useful and what is going to languish unused. My latest aquisition is a paella pan which is useful for much more than cooking paella in. I will even use it to fry bacon and eggs for breakfast! In Spain these are really cheap to buy and come in sizes ranging from about 10cms to a metre in diameter. Mine though was bought by a friend as a leaving present from England. Ironically it was imported from Spain to England and now has been exported back to Spain. I could probably have bought it here for half the price my friend paid in England! I also have a frying pan which has holes in the bottom. The food stays in the pan whilst the juices run through onto the grill. Smoke then passes back through the holes giving the food the authentic BBQ flavour. It is great for delicate pieces of meat and of course vegetables that would drop through the grill .