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In any craft or art form, you need the right tools in order to create a masterpiece. Barbecuing is no different. You need the tools of the trade to get the job done right. This article list the top five most useful and essential tools that any barbecuer worthy of that name ought to have.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal live. John 3:16 (NIV)

1. LONG-HANDLED GRILLING TOOLS

Anyone who has tried to flip burgers with a table fork knows the sting of first-degree burns and the smell of singed hair. To avoid this amateur mistake, find barbecue tools with the longest handles you can. Make sure the grip is made of wood, plastic, ceramic, or some other heat-resistant material. Also make sure the grip material completely surrounds the handle, not just sandwiches the metal between two grip pieces. Heat from the grill quickly travels up the metal handles of the tools, and can burn your hand if you're not careful.

The basic barbecue tool set includes a spatula, tongs, and turning fork. Make sure the tongs are spring loaded so you can operate them with one hand. Another long-handled tools you'll want is a long-handled basting brush. This is often overlooked, but during grilling and barbecuing you often have to baste the meat at least once or more while it's cooking. If you try to baste it with the short little basting brush from your kitchen, you'll have a hot, nasty surprise waiting for you. Look for the silicon-bristled basting brushes, as natural hair and nylon bristles tend to melt or burn.

2. OVEN GLOVES

Using the corner of your apron to lift a hot grill is neither smart nor safe. If you plan to do a lot of barbecuing, invest in a good pair of oven gloves. The cheap padded mittens used for baking are better than your apron, but are also clumsy and can catch fire if you're not careful. Specialized, fire-resistant oven gloves are the best option, but are more expensive. If you can't find these, then look for silicon oven mitts. They are heat resistant, thinner, and offer a much better grip than traditional fabric oven mitts.

3. MEAT THERMOMETER

One of the most difficult and challenging aspects of barbecuing is the knowing when the meat is done. Overcooked, the meat will be to dry and tough. Undercooked, and the meat is potentially unhealthy (and having a guest cut into a steak only to find it still bleeding is rather embarrassing). You can avoid this with a simple, cheap meat thermometer. Just poke it into the center of the thickest part of the meat, and you can get an accurate temperature reading within seconds. When using a metal thermometer, be careful they can heat up quickly.

4. GRILL BRUSH AND CLEANER

Maintain your grill. Maintain your grill. Maintain your grill. Got it?

Simply putting the lid back on your grill and assuming the coals will bake off any char and food particles off the grate is not good enough, as you will quickly discover the next time you go to use your grill and find mold-covered fat dripping from the grate. Although steel wool is fine for anyone willing to do a little work, a metal-bristled grill brush can quickly knock char and food particles off your grate. Many come with a scraper blade built into the handle, which can come in handy for particularly stubborn char that refuses to leave its new home.

If you want your grate to maintain its stainless-steel shine, use oven cleaner or better yet, a cleaning solvent specifically designed for cleaning grills.

5. CHARCOAL CHIMNEY

Using lighter fluid to light your charcoal leaves behind chemical fumes that have an unpleasant way of finding their way into your food and tainting the taste. Avoid this by starting your coals in a Charcoal Chimney. Cheap and easy to find, the chimney is essentially a metal bucket with a wooden handle on the side an holes in the bottom. Shove crumpled-up newspaper in the chamber at the bottom, dump the coals on top, light the paper... and wait. Your coals will soon be gray and glowing without any lurking chemical fumes.

About the author: Gert van As has publish recipes for the past 8 years and offers simple yet delicious recipes for creating the perfect meal. Subscribe and get your FREE recipes at http://www.MyBBQonline.com. You have full permission to reprint this article provided this box is kept unchanged.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com

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