There aren’t many things that are as enjoyable as spending time in your backyard barbecuing with family or friends. No matter whether you’re using a gas or charcoal grill, or even a smoker, you can have your barbecuing experience greatly enhanced by a couple of accessories for BBQs. From chimney starters and wood chunks to utensils like forks or vine shoots, barbecue accessories can go a long way in helping you start up the grill, cook the meat, and clean and maintain the grill so that you can keep it in good working condition. That being said, here are some of the accessories everyone with a barbecue should consider getting, as they won’t break your bank but will significantly augment your experience.
Barbecue Covers
Barbecue covers are what you would consider an optional necessity. They cover your grill, keeping it safe from the elements. They are usually made from heavy-duty PVC or vinyl. There are fitted covers designed to rest snugly on top of your barbecue, so you’ll get the best protection possible. No matter whether you have a freestanding barbecue, a built-in model, or a compact, portable barbecue, you should get a cover to protect it from the rigours of the Australian weather. The main thing to look for when shopping these accessories for BBQs is the fit – you want the cover to fully protect your unit.
Barbecue Utensils
Using the right tools when barbecuing for long periods of time can go a long way in helping you do a better job. There’s a wide range of cooking utensils you can choose from, and all of them are made of durable materials in order to withstand the higher temperatures of LPG and charcoal barbecues. Barbecue tongs, for instance, are usually longer than conventional tongs, allowing you to handle food from further away, and enabling you to reach into the interior of the barbecue to move around the coal. Other utensils that can come in handy are spatulas, sauce mops, carving forks and basting brushes.
Rotisseries
Rotisseries can come in very handy if you want to roast meat. They allow you to evenly slow-roast food while freeing up space within the barbecue. Generally reserved for larger barbecues, rotisseries let you achieve mouthwatering roasts with a classic barbecue flavour. But there are also smaller, specialised kits for rotisserie grilling for smaller grills. If you plan on doing quite a bit of rotisserie cooking, however, you can even consider getting a barbecue designed for that specific type of cooking.
Barbecue Stands, Carts and Trolleys
These barbecue accessories are available for most barbecues, and they allow you to lift your barbecue to a position where it will be easy to reach for more comfortable smoking or grilling. Most trolleys, stands and carts come with side shelves on the cooking surface for utensil storage, food preparation. Further, some come with extra storage on the bottom. Depending on the style and size of the cart, stand or trolley, the amount of extra storage will differ. Some models can accommodate full LPG gas cylinder and bottles. Due to the extra storage they provide, these accessories are useful for tidying up your backyard barbecue area, and they can be also beneficial for having outings and picnics where you may not have a place to put the physical barbecue unit.
Probes and Thermometers
These accessories are especially useful if you’re just starting out and don’t want to keep track of the cooking temperature and cooking time of the interior of your meat. There’s a great range of probes and thermometers that allow you to perform quick checks, or are designed to monitor the food over the entire cooking process, letting you grill your meat to the optimal temperatures, effortlessly.
Wood Chunks, Chips, Pellets and Charcoal
One of the main reasons for using a smoker is the unique flavour it can provide for your food as it cooks. This comes down to the type of fuel you decide to use for the grill, whether it’s wood chunks, chips, or charcoal. Each of these provides a different type of flavour. Wood chips are ideal for quick cooking, as they’re small in size, burn quickly and provide plenty of smoke. Wood chunks are slightly larger, designed for slightly longer cooking times and larger cuts of meat like roasts or ribs. After all, you want to give the smoke more time to infuse into the meat. Wood pellets burn hotter and slower than wood chips and chunks, making them ideal for long low and slow cooks. But you don’t have to use any of these if you have a charcoal grill. Charcoal cooking provides an unmistakable smokey flavour that can only be accomplished on a great smoker. Some popular types of wood used for chunks and chips are alder, apple, cherry, hickory, maple, mesquite, oak and pecan.
