The accessories for the perfect BBQ

Barbecue accessories: the ones you should never be without

With the arrival of the warmer weather, there is nothing better than gathering with friends and family to enjoy delicious outdoor grilling. However, to ensure maximum enjoyment and success of your grilling, it is important to have the right accessories on hand.

In this article, we will explore the best grill accessories that will help you cook more efficiently and achieve perfect results as every grill master knows. From grill tongs to grill brushes, meat thermometers to marinade bags, we’ll show you the essential tools for a successful grilling experience.

Whether you are an experienced grill master or a novice just starting out, this article will help you improve your grilling skills and get the best results possible.

What to buy for a barbecue?

To have a successful barbecue, there are some essential accessories that you should have on hand. Here is a list of what you can buy to make sure you have everything you need, along with some items that we suggest purchasing with links:

• Grill : Choose a grill that suits your needs and the type of food you want to cook.
• BBQ Tongs : Make sure you have a good quality pair of grill tongs to turn your meat without ruining it.
• Grill Cleaning Brush : A good grill cleaning brush will help keep your grill clean and ready for the next cut of meat.
• Meat Thermometer : To ensure that your meat is cooked to perfection, it is important to have a high-quality meat thermometer.
• Gloves : to protect your hands from heat, dirt or grease from the meat.
• Marinade Bags : If you want to add flavor to your meat, use marinade bags to soak up the RUB.
• Grill Plate : To cook foods like fish and vegetables, you may want to opt for a grill plate or griddle.
• Kitchen Utensils : Keep all the kitchen utensils you might need, such as forks, knives, and spoons, handy.
• Charcoal, wood or gas cylinder : choose the fuel you prefer to power your grill.

Focus on the most important accessories for the BBQ

Although there are many tools for true BBQ lovers, here are the fantastic 3 that in our opinion really cannot be missing from a respectable barbecue.

Barbecue gloves: which one to buy?

Choosing the right BBQ gloves can be a daunting task for newbies. It is important to pay attention and know the key features that a pair of BBQ gloves should have to ensure maximum comfort and safety while grilling.

There are many types of barbecue gloves available on the market, including leather gloves, silicone gloves and fabric gloves. While branded manufacturers usually offer high-quality products, you can also find low-quality gloves in supermarkets that are not specifically designed for barbecuing. These gloves may only last for one barbecue or, worse, they may cause burns to your hands.

That's why we want to prevent this from happening by providing just two useful tips on choosing the right barbecue gloves: the most important features to consider and the different materials to choose from, so you can make the right choice for you.

A good barbecue glove should have certain essential features to ensure maximum protection and comfort while grilling. Here are the requirements that we consider fundamental:

• High Temperature Resistant : Gloves must be able to withstand the high temperatures of the barbecue, to protect your hands and forearms from the heat.
• Long Cuffs : Gloves should have long cuffs that cover the forearms for added protection.
• Elastic Material : The material of the glove should be elastic, so that it fits your hand and you can handle the meat precisely.
• Good mobility of individual fingers : The shape of the gloves should allow good mobility, to be able to easily handle the tools and the meat on the grill.
• Liquid-resistant : If possible, gloves should be resistant to liquids or grease to avoid getting dirty or burned.
• Good quality and durable materials : Finally, gloves should be made of excellent materials, so that they last over time and ensure maximum protection.

In conclusion, there are different types of barbecue gloves that you can buy depending on what you will be doing, we suggest. Cloth gloves : the typical oven gloves perfect for not getting your hands dirty when collecting firewood or charcoal, with good heat resistance but not suitable for handling meat or wet parts; Silicone gloves : perfect for having an excellent grip on the barbecue parts, to avoid burning yourself and to keep the cuts of meat still during cutting; Leather gloves : old school doesn't do wrong, however they are as useful as the cloth ones but provide greater heat protection. Be careful of grease stains from meat.

Meat knives: the highlight

Knives are an essential tool for any barbecue enthusiast. It is important to have good quality knives to cut the meat, vegetables and various ingredients used during the barbecue.

Here is a list of the most common and used knives for barbecue with some items that we suggest with links:

• Chef's knife : It is a versatile and indispensable kitchen knife for cutting meat, vegetables and ingredients. It is characterized by a sharp blade and a curved shape, which allows for easy and precise cutting.
• Barbecue knife : This is a long-bladed knife, ideal for cutting large pieces of meat, such as ribs and chops. It has a sturdy, sharp blade that allows you to cut meat effortlessly.
• Folding knife : This is a knife with a serrated blade that makes it easier to cut cooked meat, especially if it is crispy on the outside. It is very useful for cutting ribs, chicken, and sausages.
• Slicing knife : This is a knife with a long, thin blade, ideal for cutting meat into thin slices, such as cooked ham or salami.
• Bread knife : This is a knife with a long, serrated blade, used primarily for cutting bread but also for cutting the crust of some types of meat, such as pork.

It is important to choose good quality knives , made of stainless steel and with a sharp blade. In addition, it is advisable to always have a sharpener on hand to keep the knives always sharp and ready for use.

In order not to dwell too much on choosing the perfect knife for the barbecue, we recommend reading our article dedicated to finding the perfect knife: The meat lover's tools: knives .

The right temperature: the meat thermometer

You may be wondering why it is important to have a meat thermometer . Knowing by heart - or by eye - the cooking times for each cut of meat for barbecue is one thing, understanding the perfect temperature for all its parts is another matter entirely.

Having the ability to precisely control the degree of doneness of food during a barbecue is essential, as it avoids ruining the carefully done cooking work. Even if you are experienced in preparing grilled meat, using barbecue thermometers, you can have full control of the situation and know exactly the internal temperature of the food. In this way, you will avoid Florentine steaks that are too raw or overcooked and dry.

Here in last place, but not least, the meat thermometer is the real tool for those who aspire to a higher level in the BBQ world. This is because some cooking and some cuts of meat require millimetric precision in the internal and external temperature of the cut of meat.

The thermometers to consider for your BBQ, and make you exclaim "never again without", suggested by us with a direct purchase link are:

• Instant-read probe thermometer : old-school, made of steel and with non-digital reading;
• Digital thermometer : the most modern with steel probe and digital display that guarantees instant reading;
• Tech digital thermometer : the most complete, they can have multiple probes, be wireless or Bluetooth, warn you with alerts, instant readings, timers and many other features.

And if having a good BBQ thermometer isn't enough, here are our 10 secrets to cooking meat perfectly .