Kathy Murphy, the owner of a catering business that specializes in barbecue, offers advice on the basic accessories you'll need for barbecuing and how to keep them organized. Long-handled cooking utensils are the most basic of the necessary tools you'll want to have on hand for outdoor cooking (figure A). These should certainly include long-handled tongs, fork, spatula and basting brush. These can be purchased individually or as a kit. A kit may contain additional items such as a grill-cleaning brush and extended propane lighter for lighting charcoal. Tongs are the most useful item since they can be used to lift and manipulate items on the grill and turn them without piercing the food. Piercing the surface of the food should usually be avoided so that flavorful juices are not allowed to escape during cooking. Tools of this type should have wood or other non-heat-conducting handles so that you won't burn your hands by touching the hot metal portions of the tool. Cooking thermometers come in several varieties(figure B). The most common are the grill thermometer and the meat thermometer. The grill thermometer is placed inside the barbecue grill -- or inserted down into one of the air vents in the lid -- and measures the overall cooking temperature inside the cooking chamber. This is particularly important since some dishes are best prepared within a specified temperature range. The meat thermometer has a long probe that is inserted into the meat (or other food) to measure the internal temperature of the food portion as it cooks. Once the probe is inserted, the meat thermometer gives a readout fairly quickly. It is most often used to gauge when a cut of meat is done, or to determine when a dish has reached a desired temperature as specified in a recipe. Certain foods, such as chicken, must be cooked until they reach a certain temperature to ensure that any harmful bacteria have been killed off. Keep a cutting board handy while you're cooking outdoors so that you have a clean surface to place and cut foods either during or after the cooking process( figure C).
- Safety alert: If you cook chicken on your grill, either keep a separate cutting board to be used exclusively for chicken or use a two-sided cutting board and mark one side "chicken." Use the marked side for chicken only and the other side for other types of meat or other foods. Chicken is the meat that becomes contaminated most readily with bacteria. Extra precautions should be taken when preparing and cooking chicken, and use of a separate cutting surface will help prevent cross-contamination of other foods.
To keep all of your barbecuing accessories together and clean, consider using a plastic storage container. These sturdy plastic boxes (figure D), available from department stores or specialty container stores, will help keep your accessories from getting separated or lost and will help keep them free of dust and contaminants. Check out the sauces and condiments section of your supermarket or specialty-foods market. There are numerous varieties and brands of barbecue and basting sauces on the market -- including traditional tomato-based sauces, vinegar-based marinades, rubs, dressings, hot sauces, fruit-based sauces, ethnic flavorings (e.g., jerk sauces from the Caribbean, Thai and Asian seasonings), sauces of regional U.S. origin (e.g., Tennessee-style, Texas-style and Carolina-style barbecue) and more. You might also experiment with flavorings not specifically intended for the barbecue. Some salad dressings make excellent marinades, and mustards, fruit jellies and jams can make for a good glaze. Seek out some unusual recipes, and don't be afraid to experiment. Explore your bookstore and specialty cooking stores for books devoted to the art of the barbecue. As this culinary specialty grows in popularity, so does the availability of books containing recipes, history and other interesting information. Finally, if you're going to be a barbecue chef, you'll want to look like one. Consider having some fun with your barbecue apparel. Aprons and cooking mitts serve useful purposes to protect you and your clothing, and you may want to have some backups in case of spills or charcoal stains. When you go to make a purchase of these items, you might as well get some enjoyment by seeking out styles that suit your personality or perhaps are emblazoned with a printed message that makes a statement about your (professed) cooking expertise.
DIY Barbecue Fun Fact: Q: Ever wonder what the difference is between a slab and a rack of ribs? A: A slab has 12 to 13 ribs; a rack has eleven or fewer. Web site resources for gas grills, general barbecue information and Brazilian barbecue (churrasco): Information and supplies for gas grills and accessories Barbecue gift packages and accessories One of the most popular sites about barbecue on the Internet -- great general information. A site dedicated to Brazilian barbecue (churrasco) About.com barbecue information, including a list of associations
RESOURCES :
Skewer Cooking on the Grill
Model: 1558671226
Author: Bob Simmons and Coleen Simmons
(1995)
Bristol Publishing Enterprises
Website: www.bristolpublishing.com
National Barbecue Association
National Barbecue Association
Douglas , GA 31533
Website: www.rbjb.com/rbjb/nbbq.htm
Barbecue Supplies (Barbeques Galore)
Barbeques Galore
Website: www.bbqgalore.com
The Great Barbecue Companion: Mops, Sops, Sauces, and Rubs
Model: 0895948060
Author: Bruce Bjorkman
(March 1996)
Crossing Press
The New Grilling Book: Charcoal, Gas, Smokers, Indoor Grills, Rotisseries
Model: 0696210290
Author: Kristi Fuller
(April 2000)
Better Homes & Gardens Books
National Agricultural Library (USDA)
USDA's national agricultural library
National Agricultural Library
Website: www.nal.usda.gov
Memphis Barbecue, Barbeque, Bar-B-Que, Bar-B-Q, B-B-Q
Model: 0925175161
Author: Carolyn S. Wells
Finger Lickin, Rib Stickin, Great Tasting Barbecue
Model: 0894802089
Author: Jane Butel
Workman Publishing Co. Inc.
Website: www.workman.com
Weber's Art of the Grill : Recipes for Outdoor Living
Model: 0811824195
Author: Jamie Purviance
(1999)
To order this title from Amazon, click here.
Chronicle Publishing Company
Website: www.chroniclebooks.com
On the Grill : A Complete Guide to Hot-Smoking and Barbecuing Meat, Fish, and Game
Model: 1558218068
Author: A.D. Livingston
Jerk: Barbecue from Jamaica
Model: 0895944391
Author: Helen Willinsky
The Cook's Encyclopedia of Barbecues, Grills & Outdoor Eating
Model: 0754808025
Author: Christine France
Weber's Big Book of Grilling
Model: 0811831973
Author: Jamie Purviance
Chronicle Publishing Company
Website: www.chroniclebooks.com
The Gas Grill Gourmet: Great Grilled Food for Everyday Meals & Fantastic Feasts
Model: 1558321101
Author: A. Cort Sinnes, John Puscheck
Harvard Common Press
Website: www.harvardcommonpress.com
Better Homes and Gardens Gas Grill Cookbook
Model: 0696000628
Author: Shelli McConnell (Editor)
Better Homes and Gardens Books
Website: www.bhg.com
GUESTS :
Kathy Murphy
Member of the National Barbecue Association
Owner of Ranch Hands BBQ, a catering business
3037 So. Bristol
Santa Ana, CA 92704
Phone: 714-754-6397
Fax: 714-754-0632
E-mail: dsmith@ranchhandsbbq.com
Web site: www.ranchhandsbbq.com
| 
)
)
)
)
