DrD23
Well-Known Member
Just moved to a new home and ordered a new grill. Looking for basic tools (spatula, tongs, grill brush). If y'all have any recs, id love to hear em!
best BBQ tools
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DrD23
Well-Known Member
saw some love for the rosle tongs on a previous thread, thinking the 17" would suffice for grilling
Michi
I dislike attempts to rewrite history
What I would not buy is one of these:
Personally, I find them useless. Instead, get an ordinary wide stainless steel painter's spatula. Much easier to use.
A pair of long tongs is useful, too, 30-35 cm in length. Ordinary kitchen tongs will be fine. The BBQ tongs that are often sold (such as the ones from Wiltshire) are heavy, awkward to use, require too much force to close, and do not open wide enough.
For cleaning, I use an ordinary steel wire brush from the local hardware store. Cost less than $5 and is indestructible.
Personally, I find them useless. Instead, get an ordinary wide stainless steel painter's spatula. Much easier to use.
A pair of long tongs is useful, too, 30-35 cm in length. Ordinary kitchen tongs will be fine. The BBQ tongs that are often sold (such as the ones from Wiltshire) are heavy, awkward to use, require too much force to close, and do not open wide enough.
For cleaning, I use an ordinary steel wire brush from the local hardware store. Cost less than $5 and is indestructible.
My favorite tongs for this use are the 16" ISI Pro tongs, but they seem to be out of stock everywhere. People seem to like Rosle's tongs, but I don't think I've seen them mentioned in a grilling context.
The Weber 12" wire grill brush is what I've used basically my entire life and I've never had any complaints. It's the Cook's Illustrated/ATK top pick for grill brushes.
I like having a set of the aluminum Grill Grates available to use when some specific foods are on the menu. Their Grate Tool grilling spatula thing can get directly underneath delicate items like fish or burger patties and lift them gently from below. And the design of the Grill Grates catches a lot of falling grease, preventing problematic flareups when cooking fatty foods.
Get a good instant read probe thermometer if you don't already have one.
The Weber 12" wire grill brush is what I've used basically my entire life and I've never had any complaints. It's the Cook's Illustrated/ATK top pick for grill brushes.
I like having a set of the aluminum Grill Grates available to use when some specific foods are on the menu. Their Grate Tool grilling spatula thing can get directly underneath delicate items like fish or burger patties and lift them gently from below. And the design of the Grill Grates catches a lot of falling grease, preventing problematic flareups when cooking fatty foods.
Get a good instant read probe thermometer if you don't already have one.
I very highly recommend not getting a wire bristle grill brush, and especially not a cheap one. Bristles can fall out of the brush, get stuck on the grates, end up stuck to your food and pit someone in the hospital.
Use a ball of aluminum foil as a grill grate scraper instead. It is cheap.and disposal and won't risk (even if it's a slight possibility) putting someone in the hospital.
Read more here: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/wire-grill-brush-danger/
Use a ball of aluminum foil as a grill grate scraper instead. It is cheap.and disposal and won't risk (even if it's a slight possibility) putting someone in the hospital.
Read more here: https://www.consumerreports.org/food-safety/wire-grill-brush-danger/
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
Can't say I really like the Rösle thongs any more than the cheap ones I've got. The main thing they've got going for them is the locking mechanism, but if you're just using them at home that's rather irrelevant.
For spatulas I do like the Tramontina stuff I bought recently, but watch the sizing; the one I originally got was on the small side.
For brushes, avoid the silicone brushes; they're complete garbage.
For thermometers I don't think you can beat the Thermapen from Thermoworks. It's definitly a lot better than any of the other cheap stuff I've used; it reads the temperature a lot faster.
For spatulas I do like the Tramontina stuff I bought recently, but watch the sizing; the one I originally got was on the small side.
For brushes, avoid the silicone brushes; they're complete garbage.
For thermometers I don't think you can beat the Thermapen from Thermoworks. It's definitly a lot better than any of the other cheap stuff I've used; it reads the temperature a lot faster.
Agreed. After reading about this happening, especially to kids, I only use a brush for my charcoal grates. Food surfaces get foil.
If you have a charcoal grill then I would recommend a good pair of heat-resistant gloves.
Buy and use a good wire grill brush. People who are afraid of the Weber 12" grill brush should probably not be eating grilled foods anyway, on account of the cancerous heterocyclic amines that grilling generates. Such folks should probably just stick to steamed vegetables, whole-grain gruel, and overcooked lentils. Preferably prepared by someone else. Do you know how dangerous cooking is? Between 2002 and 2014, there were an estimated 5000000000 visits to the emergency room from the simple act of preparing food. Kitchen knives were a leading cause of injury!!! AND THE BURNS! Oh heavens, I'd better get off this dangerous forum and back to my hermetically sealed bubble in the bunker beneath my basement. I'm never going outside again. Did you know that there are germs out there? And that's where they keep the grill!
Nah, there's zero reason for you to conflate those things. If I can eliminate any chance that my 4yo granddaughter will get a piece of wire in her throat from my grill, then I'm going to do that. No reason not to and grate cleaning can be way overdone anyway.
I have gone through many sets of grill tools. Some are good and some don't work out.
I still use a brush but I scrape the grills after brushing to get any loose bristles off the grates. I also do a thorough inspection to make sure there are no wire pieces left.
And tools I use for smoking are a little different than what I use for grilling. I smoke bigger pieces of meat than I use for grilling.
I still use a brush but I scrape the grills after brushing to get any loose bristles off the grates. I also do a thorough inspection to make sure there are no wire pieces left.
And tools I use for smoking are a little different than what I use for grilling. I smoke bigger pieces of meat than I use for grilling.
Jovidah
I'll make you a sponsor offer you can't refuse...
Why bother to clean the grates while grilling? You're just rubbing off your seasoning.
Post-grilling, just put it in a plastic back and spray it with oven-cleaner.
Post-grilling, just put it in a plastic back and spray it with oven-cleaner.
I heart my 17" Rosle tongs for grill work - enough that I take them to other folks houses when I'm likely to get drafted to man the grill. The locking mechanism is an attraction but the selling point is the strength and reliability of the tongs. They can lift most anything and won't drop product like the clickey clack tongs at lower prices.
https://www.amazon.com/Rosle-Stainl...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
My favorite spat looks a lot like the one @Michi hates. Not the first time he's been wrong.
Gloves and rubs from Texas BBQ.
http://texasbbqrub.com/bbqgloves.htm
Thermometers from Thermoworks. The Thermopen One is a great instant read thermo. The "Smoke" package is great for remote monitoring of a longer cook.
https://www.thermoworks.com/
And most importantly you'll need a good suji.
https://www.amazon.com/Rosle-Stainl...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
My favorite spat looks a lot like the one @Michi hates. Not the first time he's been wrong.
Gloves and rubs from Texas BBQ.
http://texasbbqrub.com/bbqgloves.htm
Thermometers from Thermoworks. The Thermopen One is a great instant read thermo. The "Smoke" package is great for remote monitoring of a longer cook.
https://www.thermoworks.com/
And most importantly you'll need a good suji.
Don't know if these links will work, but I've been using these all for the last ~5 years no problem. The grill brush is no longer sold, but a good wire grill brush should work. I've never had any issues with bristles coming off of it, and you can oil the grates with an oiled paper towel & tongs after cleaning to be safer.
-Winco tongs, cheap, long, durable, but I wish they could lock closed and have a hanger: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDTYX8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Cuisinart triple wire grill brush (no longer sold): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075N1WMPS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Charcoal rake, great for moving charcoal, but also for lifting grates by levering it between the grates: https://www.weber.com/US/en/accesso...oal-grill-accessories/charcoal-rake/7649.html
-OXO fish spatula, just watch that you don't put the handle on anything hot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YDO2MK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Heavy duty turner for smash burgers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RUPHE2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-I like the Steven Raichlen long suede BBQ gloves, but I think they may be discontinued and expensive too. There are plenty of knockoffs though.
-Chimney starter is a must have IMO: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7429-R...80966722&sprefix=weber+chimney,aps,107&sr=8-1
-Winco tongs, cheap, long, durable, but I wish they could lock closed and have a hanger: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDTYX8/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Cuisinart triple wire grill brush (no longer sold): https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B075N1WMPS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Charcoal rake, great for moving charcoal, but also for lifting grates by levering it between the grates: https://www.weber.com/US/en/accesso...oal-grill-accessories/charcoal-rake/7649.html
-OXO fish spatula, just watch that you don't put the handle on anything hot: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000YDO2MK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1
-Heavy duty turner for smash burgers: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000RUPHE2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
-I like the Steven Raichlen long suede BBQ gloves, but I think they may be discontinued and expensive too. There are plenty of knockoffs though.
-Chimney starter is a must have IMO: https://www.amazon.com/Weber-7429-R...80966722&sprefix=weber+chimney,aps,107&sr=8-1
I don't care for the jumbo oversized bbq tools at the big box stores that that look like props from Pee Wee's Playhouse. Even when I was running steakhouses and barbecue restaurants I liked just normal commercial grade kitchen stuff. I second WinCo tongs. All I buy for home or work. I've tried more expensive ones but prefer my WinCo's. For spatulas I like stuff from Dexter Russell and Mundial.
I also like normal kitchen stuff for grilling. I do like some long heavy tongs for the briquettes.
My favorite metal fish spatula is from Victorinox. Use it inside and outside.
My favorite metal fish spatula is from Victorinox. Use it inside and outside.
DrD23
Well-Known Member
DrD23
Well-Known Member
Thanks! Unfortunately being a townhouse in a city I went with just a gas grill (for now), but I’ll deffinitely check out the non charlcoal related products here.
riba
Senior Member
https://www.japanesenaturalstones.com/munetoshi-kurouchi-170mm-wa-butcher/
Grill grates
Welding gloves
Thermopen
Grill grates
Welding gloves
Thermopen
That hells handle stuff is nice and tough
I've used a Bayou Classic 1040-CS Grill Scraper since I bought my Kamado Joe four years back. Looks like they're a bit difficult to source currently.
Chose it over a brush - no wire shedding risk, easily cleaned after use, multiuse scrapes/moves hot grates up and down/moves hot charcoal around. Downsides, slower than using a brush and won't get your grates quite as clean, if that's what you're after.
Chose it over a brush - no wire shedding risk, easily cleaned after use, multiuse scrapes/moves hot grates up and down/moves hot charcoal around. Downsides, slower than using a brush and won't get your grates quite as clean, if that's what you're after.
These things work good
3 sets of the Winco tongs, my old spatula from the restaurant and a cheap stainless dish scrubby with a handle.
3 sets of the Winco tongs, my old spatula from the restaurant and a cheap stainless dish scrubby with a handle.
When I give someone a Hell's Handle in a professional context it is almost a punishment. It means that they have failed to take care of the grown up tools and they get the training wheels.
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If I ever start a band, this is what I will name it.
Hell's Handle can be the opening act.
These seem like an extravagance, but I picked up a set on a whim, and I find I’m using them in all kinds of situations (e.g. they’re quite handy for weighing down ziplocs in an immersion circulator bath).
Even for cooking simple things like sausages, the added pressure on the product makes a surprisingly big difference not just to the evenness of the sear, but the quality (deeper/crustier).
The 13 oz is more useful than the 8 oz.
As a bonus, my toddler enjoys using them as cymbals.
Last edited:
BillHanna
Gotta get ready for ARM
"bonus"
