Indispensable Grill & Smoker Accessories

Essential BBQ Grill & Smoker Accessories

Introduction

Proper preparation and efficient tools translate into increased time for beer drinking and comRADery. They also contribute to your safety and the overall enjoyment of your cooking rig. Solid tools = better results = less frustration = I LOVE TO GRILL!

Safety

Gloves

Heat Resistant Gloves

Heat resistant gloves are highly recommended for moving hot and potentially dirty objects:

• Grill Grates
• Heat Deflectors
• Charcoal Baskets
• Griddles / Cast Iron Cookware
• Etc.

Good options for these include traditional welding-style leather gloves and newer style aramid (Nomex/Kevlar) gloves:

• Leather gloves are more durable
• Aramid (Nomex/Kevlar style gloves) are machine washable
  • Typically advertised to resist heat up to 932˚
• Neither are waterproof
• Neither provide protection from hot liquids 

Waterproof Food Safe Gloves

A good set of waterproof gloves are highly recommended for moving and handling hot food:

• Minimalist solution is standard food-safe nitrile gloves with cotton liners. 
  • Cotton liners used for added heat protection
• Silicon gloves such as Ekogrips provide an additional level of heat protection
  • Less dexterity / sloppy fit
• Purpose-built gloves such as the RAPICCA Griller provide more heat protection
  • Long sleeve for protection when working with hot liquids and oils

All-Purpose Gloves

Some gloves offer all of these benefits in a single pair:

• Grill Armor Revolutionary Gloves are an example
• Consider needing to wash them when moving from dirty grill items to food and back
• Two different pairs of purpose-built gloves might be a better solution

Cut Resistant Gloves

While not specific to BBQ Grilling a nice set of cut resistant gloves can be a finger-saver during prep work:

• Fabric style gloves such as the NoCry Gloves offer excellent Cut Level 5 Protection and are machine washable
  • Three sizes to maintain dexterity
• Stainless steel mesh gloves such as the Anself Cut Resistant Glove offer the best protection and are also machine washable
  • Six sizes to maintain dexterity

Quality

Temperature 

Temperature is the most important component regarding controlling your cook and monitoring your progress to a finished product:

• Built-in thermometers are often inaccurate or located poorly
  • These can be replaced with higher quality analog units
    • Tel-Tru Thermometers are a well regarded product.
• A quality thermometer is your best friend for both hot/fast cooking and slow/low cooking
  • Here is a solid and detailed overview if you like to research 'the best'
• For hot and fast cooking directly over heat such as hamburgers, chicken breasts, and steak preparations use a handheld probe thermometer to check internal temperature
  • Provides a nearly immediate temperature reading
  • Want to minimize research?
    • The ThermoWorks ThermoPop is solid and inexpensive
    • The ThermoWorks Thermapen Mk4 is universally considered the best
• For slow and low cooking over indirect heat a cabled or remote temperature probe is your best bet
  • Allows the probe to remain in the meat the duration of your cook
  • Can provide continuous monitoring and alarms at set points
    • Multi-probe units also allow you to monitor the temperature of your grilling/smoking environment along with your meat temperature
      • Additional probes allow for the monitoring of multiple pieces of meat and/or grills simultaneously
    • Wireless thermometers are based on numerous technologies including proprietary RF wireless, Bluetooth, and WiFi
      • Only WiFi allows you to monitor your progress via the Internet from any location with Internet Access
  • Want to minimize research?
    • The Maverick ET-733 is a great two-probe unit
      • No smartphone required
      • Everything comes in the box
    • The ThermoWorks Signals and FireBoard are widely considered to be the best four-probe units
      • The Signals has a larger four unit display
      • The FireBoard can be expanded into a temperature controller if you run charcoal
    • If you plan to use a rotisserie the MEATER+ and The Meat Stick are fully wireless options than can freely rotate with your meat

Convenience

Transportation

Having a solid means of transporting your food from inside the house to your grill and/or smoker contributes greatly to the overall experience:  

• You do not want a brisket landing on your deck (stains) or carpet (more stains)
• If you don’t have a suitable piece of kitchenware a quality heavy-gauge half-sheet pan and wire rack is a great investment

Making Fire 

If you are dealing with charcoal or traditional wood a standard method of starting your fire will minimize frustration and add to the overall enjoyment of your grill:

• Reliable Methods of Starting Coals:
  • Chimney Starters
  • Fire starters such as Cubes or Tumbleweeds
    • Available at most hardware or home improvement stores
  • Looftlighter 
• You will see the Chimney Starter used most frequently in Internet videos
  • Both a starter and a rough unit of measurement ie. use 1/2 chimney
• Above all - lighter fluid is gross and classless
  • It can also effectively ruin ceramic grills

Mess Prevention & Cleanup

Loose embers and dripping fluids can burn, stain, and stress out relationships:

• Grill mats to protect your deck and patio surfaces