Barbecue equipment

Home:

Tools

There is typically a standard set of barbecuing tools.

Tongs - As highlighted above, in the middle. Perhaps the most useful of all barbecuing tools, used for turning over meat, avoid tongs with a sharp edge, which can pierce the meat and lose the flavour.

Spatula - As highlighted above, on the right. Useful for turning over large, thin, and soft meats and food which may break up if turned with a set of tongs. If meat has stuck to the grills, a spatula can also be used to unstick the meat.

Fork - Of limited usefulness, such as pricking sausages. But, there are better options for turning meat, as shown above, which will not involves losing essential juices in the meat.

Thermometer - Only required if your cooking especially thick meat or a meat joint. The thermometer will indicates if the meat is well done, medium or rare.

Rack - Comes with a handle and a hinged basket for holding soft meats and fish. Essential for cooking anything which would fall through the large gaps in the grill.

Skewer Set - Needed for cooking kebabs. Will keep small pieces of meat and vegetables secure, and easy to turn.

Basting Brush - Keeps meat moist, enabling you to brush oil, marinades or sauces into the meat whilst cooking it on the barbecue.

Oven gloves - If the heat is especially high, then it can become difficult to turn over meat even with a long handled spatula, therefore oven gloves are useful for protection.

Furniture

Chairs - Hard wearing metals and plastics, if you plan on leaving your furniture outside for long periods of time. Those made of wood are more 'homely', expensive, and tend to require more care.

Tables - Required for placing your food upon, for both serving purposes and to eat from. See above for materials available.

Parasols - Provides protection from the elements, will cover a table of food, or the barbecue from direct sunlight, or a sudden downpour of rain.

Patio heater - Can use gas as a fuel source, provides peace of mind if the weather takes a turn for the worse, or your barbecue lasts into the wee hours of the morning.

Outdoor lighting - Quite a few options, kemper to keep the insects at bay, solar for the eco-conscious, and touches to provide an all natural feel to proceedings.