5 Can't Miss Grill Accessories

May 30, 2011, By Steve McFarlane 1 comment

A good grill and a few cooking skills are only part of the formula for creating great food on the old smoker. To work more efficiently and creatively, it helps to have a few extras in your bag of tricks. Here are some of our favorite grilling accessories.

Bull Electric Charcoal Starter

Sure, you can keep throwing gas onto your barbecue to get it going, but using an electric charcoal starter is much safer and more civilized. Save your eyebrows by purchasing a Bull Electric Charcoal Starter to get your charcoal barbecue started. The device plugs into an electrical outlet from which it draws current to heat and ignite charcoal and other combustible material. The Bull Electric Charcoal Starter and similar igniters cost around $25.

Weber 6449 Stainless Steel Kabob Set

Not only will a good skewer set help you to piece together fancy and tasty kabobs, it adds to the presentation as well. Consider the Weber 6449 Stainless Steel Kabob Set that has a convenient rack with notches that make it easier to keep the kabobs evenly spaced and raised off the grill surface so that they don’t stick or get grill burn. The skewers are also double-pronged to prevent the food from turning on the skewer while cooking. The Weber 6449 Stainless Steel Kabob Set retails for around $30.

Char-Griller Warming Grill Rack

Sometimes you just want to warm up a few items instead of putting them to the flames—for this you will need a warming rack. Warming racks such as the one from Char-Griller suspend the food over the grilling surface, where it stays warm until it's ready to be served or eaten. These racks are also great for storing and keeping warm a batch of food that is done cooking but is not ready to be served, while freeing up the grill to create more delights. At just under $30, the Char-Griller Warming Grill Rack is a bargain.

NCAA Licensed Collegiate Grill Pad - UCLA

Great food and friends is what makes grilling parties fun events, except for the after-party clean up. Minimize how much you have to clean up by using a slip-, water- and heat-resistant grill pad to catch food and grease that would otherwise fall to the ground around the grill. One such product is the NCAA Licensed Collegiate Grill Pad. If you are an alumnus of UCLA, you will be proud to show off the logo. If you UCLA is a hated rival, consider the pad something to tread under foot. The UCLA Collegiate Grill Pad sells for as low as $45, with some retailers asking as much as $80. You'll find unbranded grill pads on Amazon here.

Bull BBQ Mitt

Unless some Hollywood fantasy has you daydreaming of hardening your hands to fight all challengers, you will need a good barbecue mitt to handle your grill equipment that reaches more than 450 degrees. A good mitt like the Bull BBQ Mitt keeps your hands cool while you are touching hot surfaces, and is long enough so the hairs on your gripping arm won’t be singed. You should be able to find one for less than $20.

Cuisinart Simply Grilling Nonstick Grilling Basket

Fish and other delicate foods are also great when grilled, but unfortunately they tend to break apart and fall through the grill grates. Using a grilling basket is a great way to grill fish. Consider getting a grilling basket with a long handle that makes turning the food easier, and one with a nonstick coating that makes removing the food and cleaning up a breeze. A good option is the Cuisinart Simply Grilling Nonstick Grilling Basket, which costs less than $20.

There are a lot of other handy items to add to your wish list, such as BBQ aprons with extra pockets, food platters, corn baskets, digital thermometers, pizza grilling pans and food-handling grilling tools. You don't need every grilling accessory out there, but a few of the right ones makes all the difference.