Barbecuing can be as simple as throwing a steak on the grill, but if you want to get a little more adventurous, there are many to do so. Along with those opportunities come specialized tools and gadgets designed to make the job easier or broaden your cooking horizons. George Gonzales of Barbeques Galore demonstrates some of the accessories that can help simplify and enhance your outdoor-cooking experience.
- Spray degreaser makes cleaning of your grill easier. Once sprayed on, the degreaser (figure A) will soften the baked-on grease on the grill making it easier to clean away.
- Grill mats are placed under your grill and keep drips and spills from staining your deck or patio.
- A smoker box is used for adding smoke flavoring to foods prepared on a gas grill just as you would in a wood-smoker or charcoal grill. Moistened hardwood chips from wood such as hickory, mesquite or oak are placed in the metal smoker-box (figure B), which is in turn placed in the grill close to the heat source. As the chips slowly burn, they produce smoke that adds to the flavor of meats and other foods.
- A kabob rack helps solve the problem of kabobs sticking to the grill surface, making them difficult to turn. The rack holds several kabobs suspended slightly above the grill (figure C), and makes it easy to turn all of the kabobs at the same time.
- A kabob basket serves a similar function. Built like a cylindrical cage (figure D), the kabob basket can hold one or more kabobs, and is easy to turn and control on the grill.
- A multipurpose grilling basket can hold several small steaks, hamburger patties, fish filets, chicken pieces, roasting vegetables -- or a combination of those -- so that they can be cooked and turned together.
- Because fish can be difficult to flip on a grill, a fish basket is contoured in the shape of a fish (figure E). It is made to hold the fish securely as it cooks, preventing it from falling apart on the grill or sticking.
- A rib rack sits on top of the grill and enables you to stand rib-slabs or larger chicken-pieces in an upright position and cook several at the same time (figure F). With the rib rack, you don't need to worry about flipping the meat, and it simplifies basting.
- A potato rack also sits on top of the grill and makes it easy to bake several potatoes in a small area, and it speeds up the cooking time.
- The cajun injector allows you to inject sauces and marinades directly into meats such as turkeys and roasts (figure G).
- Temperature gauges are essential tools for outdoor cooking (figure H). They are designed to tell you the cooking temperature of your grill or, in the case of a meat thermometer, the internal temperature of the meat. Some modern have digital readouts and timers, and some are remote so that you can walk away from the grill while food is cooking, and be informed by an audible alarm when your meat is fully cooked. An instant-read thermometer (figure I) has a probe that can be inserted into a piece of meat; the thermometer will then give an instant readout of the internal temperature indicating whether or not it is done.
- Long-handled cooking utensils are essential tools for outdoor cooking. They include tongs, forks, spatulas basting brushes, and grill brushes. Cooking tools can be bought individually or in sets (figure J).
- Rotisseries provide another dimension to outdoor cooking. Foods are suspended above the flame and continually rotated for even, slow cooking. Because the meats are not in contact with the grill surface, natural juices and moisture aren't lost in the cooking process. Rotisserie accessories such as tumble baskets are available also.
- Poultry roasters allow whole chickens, game hens or turkeys to sit upright on the grill so that they cook from the inside out, resulting in a moister, more flavorful dish.
DIY Grilling and BBQ Quick-Tip: If you don't have a poultry roaster, you can fashion one from a can. Simply empty a beer or soda can and insert it into the opening at the base of the chicken. This will allow you to stand the chicken upright on the grill for more efficient cooking and less loss of moisture and flavor.
Web site resources for gas grills, general BBQ information and Brazilian BBQ (Churrasco): Information and supplies for gas grills and accessories BBQ gift packages and accessories One of the most popular sites about BBQ on the Internet -- great general information. A site dedicated to Brazilian BBQ (Churrasco) About.com BBQ 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 :
George Gonzales
Barbeques Galore (see Resources for information)
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