Want to know what the top Grill masters can not live without then BBQing? Here we bring to you the Top 5 items you can not live without when BBQing.

Be sure that you have these items in your BBQ tool chest for the best chance at a better BBQ experience.

Tongs

No1 on our list of Top 5 items you can not live without when BBQing is an obvious choice. There is no way that you can get through the BBQ season without a good, sturdy heavy duty pair of quality BBQ tongs. Depending on your grilling style and what food you are throwing down, there may be the occasion to have more than the one set of quality tongs.

From flipping sausages or some smaller cuts to turning the biggest tomahawk steaks, there is an ideal set of tongs to suit you.

Some of the considerations for when choosing your ideal pair.

  • The job you want them to do. Pick the right tool for the right job.
  • Your hand size. If you have large hands, using a smaller set of tongs can be difficult.
  • The construction material. I like to ensure they are a good quality Stainless Steel
  • Cleaning – Safe for the dishwasher is a must.

Here is a couple of good examples available over at Amazon. How is your current pair – need an upgrade?

Thermometer

I see this one as a cornerstone or fundamental piece of the BBQ tool chest. I grew up in a family that knew the food was cooked on the BBQ when it resembled an old leather shoe!  You don’t need to do that anymore. Invest in a good quality digital thermometer it will take your BBQ to the next level.

Knowing the temperature of your food will give you better control of the food safety aspect of cooking. No one wants to hand over some underdone chicken to friends and family and cause an outbreak of food poisoning for example. The consequences of getting it wrong can be pretty bad.

Then if you want to step up your BBQ game again add the second level and invest in a remote digital thermometer for your BBQ. There is a wide range of quality and price options, here is a couple of the ones we recommend.

I have written an article on why to measure food temperature here.

The pen style/instant-read units are awesome and fast, but have the downside that you need to open the grill to take the temp. And as a mate says “If ya lookin ya aint cookin”

 

"If ya lookin ya aint cookin"

 

Next on my buy list is the remote style, like the Inkbird series. Will make for a lot less hassle during those longer cooks.

Gloves (Heat Resistant)


I think we all have suffered a burn or two from our BBQing experience from picking up something that was left on the grill or reaching in with your tongs over a blazing fire. This is the reason that heat resistant gloves are on the Top 5 Items you can not live without when BBQing list.

There is no better pick up tool in the universe than the human hand, it’s downfall is that it is quite sensitive to heat.

Luckily the solution is very simple, add some protection in the form of a glove. We have found that the best gloves around are generally those made for the welding industry. They are made for the exact purpose, protecting your hands in high-temperature environments.

Check out some of these options.

Gloves (Prep)

Food safety is of utmost importance, not only during and after the cook. But also during preparation.

Did you know that in the United States, 1 in 3 or 76 million people contract food poisoning annually? That’s 1,461,538 cases per week. According to the “WHO” almost 1 in 10 people in the world – fall ill after eating contaminated food and 420 000 die every year.

To help battle against one of the ways to reduce the chance of contamination is to use disposable gloves during your preparation. They are relatively inexpensive and provide another layer of protection for you and your guests.

You can also layer a disposable latex glove over a cotton glove to give you some heat protection for what you are cutting or pulling the meat while it is still hot.

Beer

Now this one is my personal No1. BBQ and beer go hand in hand. There is a whole culture in most western countries where a BBQ is almost always accompanied with beer. You drink beer while getting the BBQ ready, you drink beer while cooking, you drink beer when eating and you keep drinking beer until it’s gone. Can be very dangerous on the long cooks 🙂

Here is a couple of my favourite ALE’s. I have a preference for the Pale Ale varieties and am not normally shy when trying different varieties.

 

On a side note I am also starting a new website wholly related to BEER. Currently in development but If you would like to be informed when we are up and running please head over and sign up for the updates

Don’t forget to stop by the shop for the latest accessories for your grill

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