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Introduction to Grilling Tools

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Just as cooking on the stove requires saucepans and spatulas, pots and Pyrex, cooking on the grill requires specialized tools. The man or woman who grills only occasionally needs only a few basic tools, but the more you grill, the more you will acquire a taste for using specialized tools.

Some sort of grilling tools are necessary so that you do not have to reach your hand into the fire to move grilling food. Specialized grill tools, however, allow you to grill especially safely because you do not need to use makeshift grill tools, such as kitchen forks or sticks.

Focus on safety and convenience when purchasing grilling tools. For safety’s sake, choose tools with long handles rather than tools with short handles. In addition, however, you can make cleanup easy by purchasing stainless steel grilling tools that can go in the dishwasher. If your grill has a side handle, look for grilling tools with hooks or loops so that you can hang the tools over the grill.

You can store your tools outside with the grill or inside with the rest of your cooking utensils. Storing them outside means you never have to remember to take them with you to the grill, but it also means they stay outside in all weather. Even if you do want to store your grilling tools outside, however, that option is only feasible if you have a sizable grill and/or a small number of tools.

Standard kettle charcoal grills make tool storage difficult, but there is not much difference between charcoal grill and gas grill tools. Charcoal grills utilize some tools specially designed for charcoal grills, such as a chimney for charcoal briquettes, but overall, most grilling tools will work on any grill.

Even though grilling tools make grilling much easier, you should still exercise extreme caution when grilling food. Remember that most grilling tool handles will heat up as you use them. In addition, the most sanitary practice is to use your grilling tools only with food and to wash them immediately after grilling. Fortunately, cleaning is usually simple; just wash them by hand or in the dishwasher, and hang them up ready to go.

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