Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet News and Press

Epicurious
May, 2008

Grilling Gear: The Ultimate List at Epicurious.com

Grilling Gear: The Ultimate List

Essential equipment and tools, including grills, tongs, and thermometers, plus fun extras like pizza peels, rib racks, and chicken roasters

By Elizabeth Karmel

Like indoor cooking, outdoor cooking requires the right equipment. When you're just learning to grill, you only need a few key pieces. But as your repertoire expands beyond burgers and steaks, you may want to add additional accessories for cooking fish, pizza, vegetables, and ribs. Lucky for you, there's a tool to help you cook just about any food on the grill from a cumbersome whole chicken (use a vertical chicken roaster) to delicate halibut steaks (use a silicone mat).

Not all tools are created equal and for that reason, we've included information on what to look for when shopping and listed our favorite product in each category.

We start with the most important piece of equipment, the grill, and offer tips for determining what kind of grill suits you best from a basic model for $159.70 to a $7,495 luxury version with an extra side burner and an infrared rotisserie system. Then we move on to the absolute must-have accessories, followed by a list of extra, but not essential, pieces. Unless you consider a pizza peel essential, that is.

Tips for Buying a Grill

The first step in purchasing a grill is to determine if you want to use gas or charcoal. Both produce great-tasting food and nowadays there isn't much of a price difference between the two, so deciding which is right for you comes down to how you want to grill. Below, we've outlined some key tips for purchasing a grill, and on the following pages, we've provided our picks for basic and luxury versions.

A Lid Is Essential

Always look for a sturdy grill that can stand up to strong winds and has a lid. A lid is required for indirect grilling (this means heat is on either side of the food rather than directly below it) and smoking with wood chips. Plus, closing the lid helps air circulate, providing for more even cooking.

Bigger Is Better

Consider buying a larger grill than you think you need or want. The more you grill, the more you'll want to grill—you may even find you'd like cook large racks of ribs and whole turkeys on your grill—so it's a good idea to invest in the equipment to accommodate your ambitions.

Don't Overaccessorize

When it comes to accessories such as side burners and rotisseries, think about what you'll really use before paying extra for them. Be aware that extra shelves may not be removable and could prevent you from grilling larger pieces of meat.

Luxury grill recommendation:

Kalamazoo 450GS Gas Free-Standing Grill with Side Burner

This deluxe gas grill features an infrared rotisserie system, an integrated smoking box for easy smoking (no need to use an aluminum drip pan), and heavy-duty cooking grates that provide instant searing and excellent grill marks. The cooking grates can be configured to suit your personal cooking style and customized with your initials.

The Kalamazoo K450GS is a powerful gas grill featuring a wok-ready side burner and infrared rotisserie system. It is available with an offset smoker box for traditional American barbecue and with custom laser-cut cooking surfaces.	The Kalamazoo K450HS is the hybrid brother to the K450GS, adding the ability to cook with any combination of charcoal, wood and gas.

Essential tools :

Tongs

You can do 90 percent of your grilling work with tongs alone. Look for ones made of heavy-duty stainless steel (aluminum versions aren't as sturdy) with a scalloped or oval tip, which makes it easier to grip and hold food. Medium-length tongs (about 12 inches) provide maximum control while keeping your hands far enough away from the fire to not get singed. Tongs should have a soft, comfortable grip. Those with a locking mechanism are the easiest to store.

Spatula

Look for a durable spatula with a beveled edge and a deep offset handle that allows you to get under food and lift it away from the surface without tearing it. Silicone spatulas clean up easily and can be used on grills as well as sauté pans. Try to find a spatula with a solid metal core so that it will be strong enough to support heavier food. For most grilling, you can use a spatula that is shaped like a duck's foot (wider at the front than at the base), but for fish you'll need a rectangular-shaped spatula that can slide under and hold whole fish or long filets.

Brushes

Brushes are used for basting, saucing, and mopping food. Look for a brush with an angled, long handle (about 13 to 15 inches long), which will keep your hand away from the fire and help you get into all the nooks and crannies of your food. Silicone bristles are the best option; they're heat-resistant and dishwasher safe, plus they won't shed like versions made with natural or synthetic bristles. If you plan to barbecue, you may want to purchase a dedicated mop which features significantly more bristles and is more efficient at spreading the thin mop sauces used in barbecue. Use the same criteria as for brushes.

Instant-Read Thermometer

To test the internal temperature of meat and poultry, you need an instant-read thermometer. Analog ones will read the internal temperature of food in less than a minute and tend to be more accurate than digital versions. Look for one that can be easily recalibrated with a hex nut and that has a large and easy-to-read face. For convenience, many come with a temperature guideline to tell you when your meat should be done.

Mitts/Gloves

Long mitts or gloves are an absolute must when cooking with fire because they protect your hands, wrist, and lower arms from burns. If you buy cloth or suede mitts, look for thick, heat-resistant material that is washable. Silicone versions are dishwasher safe and won't catch on fire. Well-fitting gloves or mitts are easier to use and the newer three-finger versions offer added dexterity.

Brass Bristle Cleaning Brush

Grill-cleaning brushes are designed to remove the residue left on the grates after grilling and should be used each time you grill. Brass bristles are preferable to steel because they are softer and won't damage cooking grates. A flat scraper at the top of the brush is helpful for getting rid of cooked-on residue that is a little harder to remove; a long handle makes for easier use. Look for a brush that comes with a replaceable brush head.

Grilling expert and cooking teacher Elizabeth Karmel is the author of Taming the Flame: Secrets for Hot-and-Quick Grilling and Low-and-Slow BBQ and Pizza on the Grill: 100 Fun & Fabulous Fire-Roasted Recipes. In 2001, she founded girlsatthegrill.com. Grill Friends, her line of grilling tools and accessories, is available online and at retail locations throughout the country.