Essential BBQ Accessories
So you finally bought your dream house with that spacious backyard to for all those barbecue parties you've been dreaming about hosting. You've been helping out your dad and your friends grill food over at their respective houses before, but it's not the same because you're not working with your own gear.
For a man, hosting your very own barbecue is when you really feel that you are the man of the house. The success of the whole event is entirely in your hands, and everyone is looking to you to deliver a feast that will satiate even the most unquenchable of appetites.
In order to bring you to the pinnacle of culinary masculinity, you need to equip yourself with the right equipment. It's very tempting to just buy the cheapest (or the most expensive, depending on your budget) piece of equipment you find, but this will often result in disappointment. More often than not, you will find that your initial instinct may not be correct. Or you may not be even able to decide at all because of all the choices.
With our essential BBQ guide, we aim to make things a little easier for you by giving you a brief description about each piece of equipment and what it is needed for. This guide also serves as a list of the essential equipment you need when barbecuing.
Type of Grills
There are two basic types of grills: charcoal, gas (propane & natural) grills.
Charcoal grills are still the most popular among BBQ purists because they produce the right smoky flavour that makes grilled food taste so good. The problem with charcoal grills is they take such a long time to get ready (at least 45 minutes to get them heated up to the right temperature). Cleaning out the ashes also makes working with charcoal grills more cumbersome than say, gas grills. The heat produced by charcoal grills can be inconsistent and require constant attention to maintain.
Gas grills are more convenient to use because they get fired up almost immediately, and are easier to clean than charcoal grills. They are also the more common in homes. The only problem is they just can't quite bring out the smoky flavour in the food as well as charcoal grills can. They are also much more expensive. However, they cook at a consistent temperature which requires less attention to maintain.
The differences between using propane and natural gas for this kind of grill are also worth mentioning. Propane gas usually comes in tanks. This makes it more portable and can be used out of the box. If you see yourself bringing your gas grill to the beach or to another location, it should be fitted for use with propane gas.
If you want to use natural gas, you need a natural gas line already. While not as portable as propane grills, the lower cost of natural gas and the convenience of not running out of fuel as quickly as propane grills make this option appealing for some homeowners.
The decision on what type of grill to get is entirely up to you and your lifestyle. If you are looking to use it more as an outdoor kitchen, you may need to spend more time considering options. Take a look at your budget, as well as your personal food preferences to find out what will work best for you. At this point, we don't recommend you to over-accessorise. Sure you can spring for that rotisserie or that fryer, but if you're just starting out, you may not need them yet. More importantly, you may be effectively decreasing your cooking space with the addition of too many accessories.
Essential Accessories
Tongs
You will be doing 90% of your grilling using tongs. So you need a sturdy pair to handle those thick slabs of meat you will be cooking. You need one with a firm grip, and preferably one with a self-locking mechanism for easier storage.
If you're working with nonstick cookware (such as an electric grill), a tong with a heat-resistant nylon head is ideal. But for most circumstances, working with stainless steel tongs will give you a better grip on heavy foods. If you are using a charcoal grill, best to get at least two tongs: one to grip the food, and another to rearrange the charcoal. Good tongs like will cost around $15.00.
Spatulas
A good spatula will have a long enough handle to give you ample distance from the heat, and strong enough to support heavy food. For most grilling purposes, it may be better to opt for stainless steel spatulas over those with silicone heads. Once again, if you're working with an electric grill, you are going to have to get a spatula with a silicone head. Some spatulas even feature a serrated edge which lets it double as a knife when cooking.
Good spatulas will cost you an average of $10.00.
Gloves
Protection is important especially when you're cooking over an open fire as with a charcoal grill (not so much an issue with gas grills). Try to find gloves that are fireproof, can protect up to your forearms, and let you move your fingers individually.
Such gloves can cost you anywhere from $20-30.
Barbecue Brushes
If you like your meat smothered in sauce, then it is important to have a good barbecue brush handy. It is best to look for one with an angled handle so you can reach the nooks and crannies of your food. Silicone bristles will work best regardless of what type of grill you are working with. They are heat-resistant, dishwasher safe, plus they won't shed as much as regular bristles. Good brushes will cost you around $10.00
Aluminum Drip Pans
Don't you just hate it when dripping oil from your food causes flare-ups? To avoid them, simply insert an aluminum drip pan under the food. For the safety conscious chefs out there, this is a must have when cooking with a charcoal grill. Disposable aluminum drip pans will cost you around $8.00.
Cleaning Brush
No self-respecting grill owner will be without a good cleaning brush. You should go with one that has brass bristles as these are softer and won't damage the cooking surfaces of your grill. The better ones will have a flat scraper at the top of the brush for those hard to remove food remains. As the bristles and the scraper will regularly meet with hard work, look for a brush with a replaceable head. Brushes like this will cost anywhere from $13-16.00.
So there you have it. Hopefully by now you would have a better idea of what kind of grill to buy and the accessories you will need for your first barbecue; or if you are looking to beef up your current BBQ. Note that this list assumes that you will be cooking with standard fare such as steaks, hotdogs, and burgers. Should you plan on preparing fish and chicken, additional accessories like rotisseries, and wire baskets can be used. These however, are beyond the scope of this guide, but we can talk about them in a future post. We purposefully stuck to the bare essentials when talking about accessories because we want to remind you that barbecuing need not be expensive, or lavish. You can create a respectable feast using only the most basic materials, perfect for those working on a budget.
If you are looking for a commercial kitchen, you can seek the help of companies who offer rent-to-buy arrangements for their equipment. These excellent grills and other cooking equipment can be acquired through such an arrangement.