What tools do you need for the perfect BBQ this BBQ season?
What Makes The Perfect BBQ?
Hosting the perfect BBQ takes a lot of planning and coordination. Whether it’s for a family of 4 or a gathering upwards of 20 people, a BBQ is a big undertaking. Having the right tools, accessories, and gadgets can make your life infinitely easier. It might be something as small as a timer, but it can make all the difference to your BBQ prep.
Not all BBQ tools are created equal though. That’s why we’ll be going over top picks for tools you need this BBQ season.
A great BBQ is an event that defines a weekend. It brings people of all walks of life together to bond over authentic, delicious food. The sun’s shining and everyone’s chatting and just generally happy to be there. However, the quality of the food at a BBQ is a major factor in its success. It’s secretly what everyone’s looking forward to
The beauty of hosting a BBQ is that you can be creative. Most people won’t use an outdoor grill regularly throughout the year, so a BBQ offers an opportunity to try out new dishes and cooking methods. Whatever you choose to serve at your ideal BBQ, there are a few good rules of thumb to keep in mind if you want things to go smoothly.
Quality & Organisation
As mentioned, food is the centrepiece of any great BBQ and rightly so. One of the main challenges with executing the perfect BBQ is cooking a range of different meats, each of which has different recommendations. For example, grilling burgers and sausages at the same time requires different temperatures and flipping at different intervals. Experienced outdoor cooks will have a BBQ seasoning to complement each meat they’re going to use.
Most of the cooking at a BBQ happens after guests have arrived. As a result, you need to make preparations beforehand to ensure all the elements are ready to be assembled. A big part of this is getting the grill to right temperature. It’s usually best to wait until the flames have died down and you’re left with white coals. This signifies the heat is at its hottest and more even distribution.
It can also be useful to have a cooler area of the grill for cooked meat to be moved to. Feel free to use a slightly preheated oven instead. This can be great for warming plates if that’s something you want to do.
Don’t Skimp On Sides
While the meat is the main event, BBQ vegetables and other sides are just as tasty. Plus, a great BBQ should cater to everyone. Grilling allows vegetables to keep their crunch and take on flavour profiles they wouldn’t normally have through boiling or frying.
Tried and true sides are dishes that some guests look forward to just as much as any rib or burger. The following can produce great results with the application of direct flame:
- Broccoli
- Asparagus
- Jacket potatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Halloumi
- Sweet potatoes
- Courgette slices
Essential BBQ Tools
Barbecuing is completely different to other cooking techniques. As such, even experienced home cooks might struggle when cooking outdoors. Using unpredictable methods like charcoal grills can also bring another level of skill. BBQ tools are useful for inexperienced cooks and BBQ pros alike to help meat come out perfect every time.
BBQ accessories can aid in presentation as well as cooking. After all, we think a great BBQ should come with a bit of theatre. It also helps celebrate the quality of the food on offer and makes it clear what’s in each dish. Nowadays there’s equipment to help at practically every stage of the BBQ process. They will help improve the organisation, preparation, and quality of your next BBQ.
Grilling Tools
Take command of the grill this BBQ season with these tools. Shop around to find high quality tools that can make your life easier and produce better results year-on-year.
- Heatproof gloves
- Grill brush or scraper
- Grill press
- Tongs
- Basting brush
- Spatula
- Grill mat
Smoking Tools
There are many ways to go about smoking meat for the perfect BBQ. Some of the tools for grilling can be used for smoking too, like heat resistant gloves, basting brushes, tongs, and grill mats. However, these specialist smoking tools can help anyone get the best results.
- Smoker box
- Butcher paper
- Meat claws
- Butcher block for large cuts
- Chimney fire starter
BBQ Hosting & Hampers
These tools are for quality of life when you’re trying to manage multiple jobs in cooking and hosting. You’ll more likely to notice when these tools aren’t there than when they are. Nevertheless, they help things run smoothly.
- Timers
- Meat thermometer
- Long lighter
- Bottle openers
- Sharp knives for trimming and carving
- Apron
- Multiple serving spoons and bowls
Meat Hampers For BBQ
The first challenge when planning the perfect BBQ this season, is picking a meat selection to please all comers. Fortunately, The Village Butchers has taken the time to make a range of meat hampers designed to fit your BBQ needs. Among these are our BBQ smoker box, ribs & wings, and BBQ essentials hampers.
We’re committed to sourcing the best quality cuts of meat for you, our customers around the UK. The Village Butcher provides a nationwide delivery service that arrives in 2/3 working days. Although we can do next day delivery if you’ve forgotten anything for your BBQ. Shop today.