Home > Cooking & Dining > Grilling Supplies

Grilling Supplies: What You Need to Know About Barbeque Accessories

Those who love to cook outdoors need an abundance of grilling equipment before they can begin. Besides the barbeque, a cook will also need tongs, an apron, grills and a variety of other tools to make the cooking process go smoothly. Read on to learn more about what to get before your next barbeque!

Grills
Mandatory grilling supplies include a heat source, cooking grate and a metallic box to enclose it. Of the various types of grills available, the most popular are the gas grills that use either propane or natural gas. With these grills, the burners sit under steel, cast iron. Alternatively, some grills come with ceramic briquettes that sit under the surface and are open to the flame.

While a very low budget grill can run you as low as $30, some of the higher end grills can be over $1000. The reason grills can be so expensive is that some are made of more quality, durable, rust-resistant metals. These higher end grills are generally propane-based, have multiple burners and offer you a variety of ways to cook food. 

The pellet grill uses industrial wood shavings for its fuel, and can maintain a steady temperature for several hours. You may end up paying around $300 for one of these.

Smokers
A smoker is a piece of grilling equipment that works like a grill but separates the heat source from the food. Designed to keep the heat under wraps, they cook food at temperatures around 200-250°F.

Like grillers, low-priced smokers start around $50 but aren't durable or reliable.

Charcoal
Charcoal may be another factor when you get a grill. Although you may need lighter fluid to get flames started, other charcoal lights easily without the use of lighter fluid. When arranging the coals in your grill, the strategy is to stack the patties in a pyramid shape, douse them with fluid (if necessary), then light them with a match. Let them burn for a half-hour or so, then you spread them out and begin cooking.

Of course, sometimes they do not hold in heat well. In many cases, especially in smaller grills, meat juices can spill onto the charcoals. If they are red hot, the grease can cause the hot coals to produce large flames or, conversely, extinguish them. In places where open fires are banned by law, such as some parks or beaches, you'll need to refrain from using a charcoal grill.

A large bag of charcoal can be good for up to ten barbeques, usually selling for under ten dollars.

Grilling Equipment Maintenance
Whatever the price of your barbeque, get into the habit of storing your grill either indoors in your garage or outdoors under cover. A Grill cover, or plastic tarp could be a small investment that will save you the price of a new grill in the long run. It will protect your grill from the rust-causing elements, such as rain or snow.

Grilling Equipment Safety
Although a few propane accidents occur every year, several of these are not attributed to user error. A propane leak is usually obvious due to the smell. Keep open flames away from your grill if you suspect even a small leak.

Charcoal fires are also caused by misuse of lighter fluid. Often, grillers see their fire dying and throw more fluid on it, causing a fire to rage out of control.

Another safety issue is health. A grill that is un-cleaned and left out in the open for insects to feed off can turn into a nest for germs. Cleaning out your cooking grate is a must after each time you cooking.