Must-Have Tools to Be King of the Grill This Summer
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You blinked, and now it is spring. In a matter of weeks, summer will be upon us all, and you will want to invite friends and family over to your backyard to enjoy a traditional summer barbeque — with you confidently manning the grill, of course. There’s just one problem: You have never hosted a grill-out before, and you lack most if not all of the tools essential for functioning as a grill master.
Fortunately, it isn’t too late for you to establish yourself as King of the Grill. Regardless of your level of skill at the grill, here are the tools you must have on hand to host a successful barbeque:
A Grill
Your other grill tools will go to waste if you don’t have a grill to use them on. There are various types of grills for you to choose from, and each grill variety has distinct pros and cons. Gas grills tend to be attractive to beginners; they are faster to heat up, use an affordable type of fuel, are easy to control and have a variety of useful features. However, charcoal grills can offer more flavor and electric grills can be easier to maintain. You should consider your space, evaluate your budget and extensively research your options before you commit to your first grill.
Basic Utensils
There are four tools that together make up the essential components of a grill master’s kit: a spatula, a pair of tongs, a meat fork and a knife. Though you might already have a few of these tools in your indoor kitchen, you need a set that was designed specifically for use in grilling. Usually, grill utensils are longer and stronger, capable of withstanding higher heat and holding heavier loads than regular kitchen tools. You should try to keep these utensils accessible to you while you grill, which might mean installing hooks, shelves or cabinets around your grill.
Thermometer
Grilling is a science, and every science requires tools for measurement. Especially if you are going to be grilling meats, you need a thermometer to help you understand the heat of your grill and the contents inside it. Because of the high temperatures of grills, meats can quickly look cooked on the outside but remain dangerously raw on the inside. A grill thermometer will give you more information about how your food is cooking, so you can improve your skill and produce high-quality results.
Basting Brush
Many self-proclaimed grill masters neglect to baste the food they place on their grills, which results in flavorless and dry meats and veggies. Even as a beginner, you can learn to use a basting pot and brush to ensure that your grilled meals are exciting for everyone. A cast iron pot is a good investment, as you can keep it on your grill and allow sauces to stay warm.
Skewers or Forks
Skewers help you keep control of bite-sized pieces of veggies and meats while you are cooking them on your grill. Forks allow you and others to roast hotdogs, marshmallows and other simple grillables from a safe distance, which means everyone can get in on the grilling fun. You might need a large number of skewers, depending on how many guests you intend to feed at one time, but you can probably get away with a small number of forks if you save them for special occasions.
Racks
There are many different types of racks that make it more convenient to grill certain types of food. For example, there are bacon racks, rib racks, chicken wing racks and jalapeno racks, all of which are specially designed to hold the food in ways to ensure even, clean and flavorful grilling. You might consider the foods you are hoping to grill and invest in a few racks to make grilling them easier.
Light
You can’t grill in the dark. If you can’t install sufficient lighting over the location of your grill, you might want to invest in other forms of illumination, such as a task light that attaches to your grill or else a headlamp you can wear as you are grilling. Not all parties end before the sun sets, so having some form of light around your grill will allow you to practice the grilling arts well into the night.
No matter the season, a grill and some key accessories can give you more options for your meals. The sooner you equip yourself with grilling essentials, the sooner you can become King of the Grill.
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This content is brought to you by Richard Clayton
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