As the days get longer and we start up the barbeque grill more often after work or on weekends, you have probably pulled out your collection of barbeque tools to see if any need replacing. It is just a fact of life that anyone who loves to barbeque is pretty hard on their tools. I know that sometimes by the end of the season I may have a pair of tongs that look like they have been run over by a car!

If like me you have a tendency to be pretty hard on your barbeque tools, or if you just like to try out some new gear from time to time, it is always fun to pick up a new set of tools for your barbeque.  Of course, we all like to think that the barbeque grilling would be great no matter what we used; after all it is our skill that makes that steak sizzle! But just in case you were considering some new handy items to help you out along the way, here are a few suggestions of what you might want to try out!

The Weber Grill Brush

One of the chores I always hate to do but know is needed, is to scrub down that grill. The job can be messy, but if you have the right tool for the job you just may find yourself getting down to the fun of grilling that much faster. Weber has made this great 21-inch T-brush that really works well. The shape gets down into the corners and hard to reach areas and the stainless steel bristles are perfect for porcelain enamel because they won’t scratch it. With the handle all of 21 inches long you can really reach down into those areas that need this brush and the rawhide strap handle means you can leave it hanging nearby so it is always handy.

Fabulous Barbeque Gloves

Now, most of us grew up with the idea that an old towel is just fine for around the grill, and probably have the burn scars to prove it. Personally, as I get older the idea of burning my hands just seems like a dumb idea. I used to use the traditional oven mitt style barbeque gloves until someone gifted me these puppies. These insulated food gloves are just so much better, once you try them you will never go back to the old quilted barbeque gloves. You can pick things up with these on and they are designed to be used with hot food so the insulation protects you just fine. The finish on them allows you to just rinse things off, so that barbeque sauce is not a problem. I don’t know why someone didn’t think of this before, but I really recommend them if you love to really get in there when you are using barbeque tools at the Bar BQ.

Weber Stainless Steel Barbeque Tool Set

I don’t know if it is just because the design of them looks so good, but I actually feel like such a pro when I use this set. They are sleek, they have just the right heft to them and they handle so well because the balance center is at just the right place. These all sound like strange things to consider in a barbeque tool set, until you pay attention to them. Once you have used these you will be chucking those old tired cheap barbeque tools you got at the hardware store into the bin! These are pro level barbeque tools that will last and last.

Well, that is probably just the basics for barbeque tools but we can take a look at the bigger picture next time around. It is always fun to anticipate the coming barbeque season by picking up the right tools, and with these around you know it is going to be a long hot and very tasty summer!

Preparing the Grill

If you want a great barbeque grilling season, you need to start with great preparation. For me, that means taking the time to prepare both your grill and your meat so that both reach a point of perfection at the same time. Let’s start with what you use to start your fire. If you use a grill that requires charcoal, then try starting it using something other than starter fluid, as this will definitely leave a gassy after taste to even the best steak.

Why ruin a perfectly good piece of meat by cooking it over a fire that creates that kind of taste? One of the best alternatives I know of is a Fire Chimney to get the fire started. These handy little guys will get your fire started without that foul-tasting fire starter, are better for the environment and are quick and easy to use. You just put some wadded up newspaper in the bottom, add the charcoal and in about 20minutes you have some nicely burning coals to pour into your waiting grill. Hey – pour yourself a brew and sit for 20 minutes while it gets started – you deserve it!

Preparing the Meat

Now, while you are sipping that cold one and waiting for the fire chimney to do the hard work of starting up your fire, why not check on that steak and be sure it is marinating just fine? No matter how good a piece of meat it may be, a good marinade will make it better. There are all kinds of great marinades out there, but one of the best I have seen in a while is one that uses an old favorite, Jack Daniels as the flavoring agent. There are hundreds of varieties out there, usually involving liquid smoke, Jack Daniels, vinegar and brown sugar in varying degrees. Here is one I found online that is pretty good. If you are a real barbeque grilling enthusiast, there are some great books online. Even better, you can download some like this one to your Kindle and have them handy as you get things together while the grill is heating up. Go ahead- you know you want to check out using your Kindle this way!

So these are just two little tricks of the trade to get your summer barbeque grilling season off to a good start. You know, if won’t be long before it is time to tuck it back away, summer is always too short! So let’s get that grilling season started now and enjoy it!

Summer will be here before you know it – do you have your summer barbeque grilling planned? For many of us spring is the time to dust off that BBQ grill and start planning, especially if that grill is the Big Green Egg. I don’t remember the last time that a design has so changed the way we do our summer BBQ, but this baby has certainly made an impression on mine.

One of the things I love is that there are so many great ways to cook on it, and this Big Green Egg Cookbook has to have all my favorites. Of course, it doesn’t hurt that cooking on the egg is so easy, but then if you are looking for new recipes to try out on your big green egg, I don’t have to tell you that.

This one has it all, from appetizers to dessert and everything in between. It even gives you some of the history of the egg and why it works so well. I have to agree with the authors that if ever there was a cooker that has spawned a whole sub-culture, this is it. And of course the reason is how well it cooks just about anything you put in it. That is one of the values of this particular book, it isn’t just a book of recipes; it is a road map to the culture of the Big Green Egg.

So whether your taste runs to alder-smoked mushrooms or barbecued beef ribs there is something for everyone’s taste in this book. The explanations on how to get the best from your green egg and the sections on baking in it alone are worth every penny you will spend. If you have a Big Green Egg and you love to spend you Saturday afternoons in the back yard doing a bit of barbecue grilling with it, then The Big Green Egg Cookbook is the BBQ planning book you have been waiting for.

The first piece of advice I have is to clean that smoker after every session. You have plenty of time to relax while the coals die down and the metal cools off. At that point it is time to get cleaning. You know the cleaning routine. It is the same process as with a charcoal grill. We don’t need to go over that here. What’s important is regular cleaning. It’s easy to say “I’ll do it next time” and by the time you actually do it, the smoker is half filled with ash and rusting.

Speaking of rust, don’t leave your smoker out in the rain. They are all made of metal and most of them are going to rust. Even the ceramic smokers that have been all the rage recently come with instructions that tell you to protect it from the rain. If you don’t have a good place to store the smoker then get a heavy duty tarp and some bungee cords. Also, make sure to check the smoker over for any points of rust or corrosion and treat them right away. Sand away any surface rust and use a heat resistant paint designed for smokers or charcoal grills.

Make use of a drip pan. The dripping from meat are astoundingly corrosive and will eat a hole in the bottom of your smoker. I have seen many propane grills where the burners have been corroded away, almost completely, by the drippings. A drip tray is less useful when using direct heat, like with propane grills, but smokers use indirect heat exclusively and a drip tray is ideal.

No matter how you spell it, the barbeque grill or Bar BQ Grill or barbecue grill – it always spells delicious! Anyone can tell you that summer and Bar BQ are so linked in most people’s minds that they can almost smell the aroma of the barbeque grill the moment you say summer.

So in order to get ready to think about all those great summer barbeque grill moments, it is a good idea to think about what you will need to make that backyard Bar BQ the best!

Positioning for Perfection

Your friends are gathered in your backyard and you are ready to have the first backyard barbeque of the year. But if you want it to be successful, where the barbeque grill is located is going to be important. You want it close enough so you aren’t cut off from the conversation while you are grilling. But you want it out of the flow of traffic, as it will generate heat and smoke. Also, unless it is small enough to move around between parties, you will want it somewhere that is will be sheltered off season and between parties. Off to the side, under a shade cover is the ideal spot for most barbeque grills. Before you start up your grill, spot out a good place in your yard and set up the rest of the party area around it.

Tools Make the Griller

Of course, even the best barbeque grill needs some tools to make the grilling successful. A little table sitting next to the grill if it doesn’t have one built in is always handy. On it you should have a thermometer for checking interior heat of the meat you are grilling. It is always better to know, and these are handy tools for anyone who is serious about their Bar BQ. Long handled forks, plenty of protection for hands, covers for non-meat on the grill and cleaning brushes are also great tools to use and have handy. And don’t forget thongs for turning those steaks! You might want to consider these wonderful barbeque tool sets from Weber.

No matter what kind of barbeque you send up having this summer, be sure to take some time to find a great place to start the action, the right tools to help along the way, and of course the best barbeque sauce to tie it all together! Then it is on to some happy grilling!

Replacement Grill Grates

Cast Iron Grill Grates

Of course, no amount of grilling or amazing grilling machine will matter if you don’t have a killer receipe for what you put on that grill. Here are some steller cookbooks that explore grilling and southern style food.

If you are a die hard grilling fan, you will want your info and receipes with you everywhere. And the best way to do this is to put them all on a kindle! Doesn’t hurt if you throw in some great stories about grilling while you are at it.

The company that makes these grills, the W.C. Bradley Company is a fourth generation family owned business that is a true American Success story. Originally founded in 1887, the company made it’s first Char Broil Grill in 1949 and went on to be one of the most successful Home Leisure Business.

Gas Char Broil Grills – From the best-selling Quick Set to their mid-range series to their fabulous six -burner that can handle any size party, their gas grills are a superb example of great gas grilling.

Charcoal Grills – Whether you use their traditional Tabletop Charcoal Grill, the mid-sized Santa Fe or the Silver Smoker, Char Broil Charcoal Grills are an old idea made new again.

Portable Grills – This is the coolest thing, great for those tailgating parties as well as camping and city park picnics. The great thing is you can use these at home and away, so you only need one grill to go anywhere and get that same wonderful grilled flavor.

Infrared Grills – Grilling with infrared is the latest technology applied to one of the oldest methods of cooking. These innovative grills are available in everything from the top of the line grills, the envy of any neighborhood Bar B Q Chef to the newest model, the retro-designed Patio Bistro. 

It is just so much easier to find what you need when you only need one company to go to for your grills. So whatever your needs; from on the go grilling to a state of the art kitchen in the yard, there is something here for everyone.

Although there are a wide variety of gas grills and smokers, the majority of them still follow some very basic precepts. Grills, particularly gas grills, are intended to cook the meat directly via the hot air produced by the grills flame. The heat will sear the outside of the meat and quickly cook the inside. Smokers, on the other hand, may cook from an offset heat source such as gas or charcoal, but their primary cooking method is from the smoke produced by either wood pellets, chunks, discs, or chips.

Gas grills come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Most of them use propane, although many also use natural gas. They usually are sold on a cart that allows storage of the gas tank below and also provides side table for food prep.

Another type of grill that is gaining a lot of popularity is “the green egg”, an egg-shaped ceramic cooker based on centuries old Chinese traditional cooking. The ceramic cooker captures the moisture in the surrounding area while cooking and uses charcoal briquettes as it ‘s main cooking fuel.

Smokers can vary from giant wood burning units that can cook for a party of 100 to simple portable charcoal-burning grills where you add wood chips to enhance the flavor of the meat. Keep in mind that a truly authentic smoker will take hours to cook and will need to be maintained throughout the process for a successful end product. Keep in mind how much you will use it, how much effort you are willing to expand while cooking and how much you are willing to spend when considering which smoker to use.

No matter what you choose to use in the end, a great Bar B Q is only as good as the recipes you use. I have found some great sauces and other things that make a Bar B Q great. Check these out – and happy grilling!

There are as many types, sizes and prices of outdoor electric grills as there are types of people who use them. Their are sites that can show you more ways to cook outdoors than you thought possible. Everything from sleek little portable grills for one to giant pro-level stainless steel systems that can cook for an army.

 If you are an urban apartment dweller with just a patio, you can easily sit one of these little beauties on your balcony table and grill with very little smoke to annoy the neighbors. One thing I really like about these smaller outdoor electric grills is that they are the perfect size for a single person who just wants to do a bit of quick after-work grilling. And you can take these with you anywhere: take it camping, on the boat or even to your next tailgate party.

Here is a great indoor or outdoor grill that is not only a great way to Bar B Q in a way that is healthy but also comes in a beautiful package, with a great lid to keep the smoke out of your neighbor’s backyard.

For the traditional backyard Bar B Q there are also a variety of great outdoor electric grills that can accommodate steaks, chops and chicken all on one grill. For those Fourth of July celebrations, those long summer evenings of hanging by the grill with a beer and your buddies or just the weekly family cookout – these grills are economical but big enough to take on your hungry crew.

For the truly serious griller, these professional level electric grills are heaven in a grill. Many are restaurant grade stainless and all of them can cook on several levels at once, allowing the chef to plan for grilled vegetables and skewers while searing the steaks. Everything from the traditional looking outdoor electric grill to the latest in technology that let you set it up and just walk away. 

These guys are the perfect grill for those cool summer parties:

And of course, there are always those little extras that always make the grilling just that much better.