Who doesn’t love a perfectly charred burger imbued with the smokiness of the grill? The weather is just right, and it’s calling for a juicy barbecue in your backyard or in the desert. If this is your first attempt at taming the grill fire, we've got you covered - from expert guidance to cooking equipment - so you can prepare with our list of essentials.
What goes on the cooking grates can be a lot more than the BBQ staples, steak and minced meat. Start by drawing up a menu, so that your grilling gear is more aligned with what you truly need, says Jerome Fares, a Dubai-based chef who specialises in fire cooking and offers his own private chef services under Meat The Fire.
Pick the cuts that would be easier for you to grill: beef options range from tenderloin to rib-eye steak; lamb includes chops and legs; with chicken, there's wings and drumsticks; and among fish variety, according to Fares, sea bass and sea bream are quite simple for starters. Throw in some coloured peppers, leeks, potatoes and zucchini to balance the flavours out.
Speaking of flavours, should you cook over a gas or charcoal flame? Your choice of BBQ equipment will depend on the method of grilling. "Personally, charcoal delivers better flavours, since smoke is crucial in barbecuing. A gas grill will not sear the meat with a crispy layer quite like the charcoals," advised Fares.
"It's important that you avoid chemical-based cube lighters for starting the fire. These give off a petroleum smell, which ends up affecting the way your food tastes. Go for organic firelighters, like cooking oil, paper or wood," he added.
Once the charcoal is aflame, our grill expert says to divide the grill into different heat 'levels' for more control. There can be a corner dedicated to fast searing with stronger flames, and another that receives less direct heat for resting the meat.
You might look into a set of grill tools for all the flipping and transferring, like a pair of long tongs, a spatula and a grill basket. For barbecue burgers, Fares says that you'll want a flat grilling surface for the patties. If your guests prefer their cuts cooked to a certain degree of doneness, then a meat thermometer should be high on your list.
Fares explained: "For instance, if you wanted to prepare medium-well burger patties, the ideal temperature inside the meat should be 63℃ to 71℃. When the temperature reaches 67℃, transfer the patty aside to rest for five minutes, then sear it till 71℃ for the desired doneness". A thermometer is also incredibly helpful with chicken cuts, so that the juice runs clear, and you're not left with an undercooked centre.
For the complete checklist, read on to order the best-rated barbecue gear on Amazon. Get some of these items as early as tomorrow with Amazon Prime delivery.
1. Best Charcoal Grill: Char-Broil Charcoal Grill 580, Black
Pros
- Charcoal pan can be lowered and raised for temperature control
- Has four air dampers
- Comes with a built-in thermometer on the lid
- Secondary cooking space doubles as food warmer and toaster
- Rolls on wheels
Cons
- Can be difficult to assemble
The Char-Broil Charcoal Grill is ideal for large groups, powered by briquettes or lump charcoals. This grill has a 400-square-inch primary cooking area, along with a 180-square-inch warming rack for toasting bread and keeping cooked food fresh. The grill has a lid-mounted thermometer gauge and a height-adjustable charcoal pan for heat control. Its patented pan ensures even heat distribution and a large charcoal access door allows you to add coals or stoke fire with ease. The draw-out ashtray at the bottom is easy to clean. Reviewers love how functional the grill is with multiple options for controlling the temperature - from the vents to the lidded grill - delivering an excellent burn. It can take a couple of hours to assemble, so make sure you have a helping hand.
Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh99.92 for 12 months with select banks.
2. Best Portable Charcoal Grill: Cuisinart CCG-290 Kettle Charcoal Grill, 18-Inch
Pros
- Lightweight, moves easily on wheels and takes up little space
- Compact, yet cooks for up to seven people
- Hinged grates to access coals
- Lid hangs off the grill
Cons
- Assembly instructions could be better, say reviewers
- Built-in thermometer can be unreliable
If you’d prefer to host your barbecue at a park, or have limited space, this portable kettle grill is the way to go. With a secure lid that locks for easy transport, a 150-inch cooking rack that distributes heat evenly, and a dual venting system that gives you sufficient control, take the Cuisinart grill anywhere and enjoy a well-cooked feast. Despite its compact build, the grill still has an ash catcher, and, instead of an access door, the rack comes with a hinged section for stoking the charcoal as you're cooking. There's enough space to prepare meals for a small group of five to seven. Since it rolls on wheels, reviewers find it super convenient to transport it from place to place, perfect for the patio, camping areas and backyard.
Bonus: Buy with 0% instalments and pay Dh47.02 for 12 months with select banks.
3. Best Skewers: Amestar Kabab Skewers, 12-Pack
These stainless-steel skewers are around 12 inches long and come with a wooden handle that protects your hands from heat. The roasting fork on the tip of the skewer has a needle tip design and is convenient for skewering your meat, chicken, and vegetables. Reviewers say the tips are blunt enough to skewer ingredients safely without injury, and appreciate the volume of ingredients each skewer can hold. These rust-resistant skewers are easy to carry, clean, and take outdoors for your next family BBQ party. Set a couple aside for delicious s'mores over the fire, when it's time for desserts.
4. Best Cooler Bag for Meat: Tourit Backpack Cooler
Ensure your meat stays frozen in a cooler box or an insulated bag like the Tourit backpack. Fares says to surround the containers with enough ice under and over the boxes, to lock in the temperature. This cooler bag has a volume of 32 litres, equivalent to 48 cans of soda. Its high-density insulating and waterproof materials keep the contents cool for up to 12 hours, including meat, note reviewers. Since it's built for camping and hiking adventures, the bag has a shoulder strap, besides the padded handle, for easy carrying.
5. Best Grill Tool Set: Leonyo 26-Piece Griddle Accessories Kit
Get organised, with this professional barbecue tool kit that contains a whopping 26 pieces of stainless-steel equipment. From spatulas of various widths and sizes to salt and pepper shakers with squeeze sauce bottles, the Leonyo accessories kit has thought of everything you could need in front of a grill. You get 90 burger patty papers along with a hamburger press; plus, there's an extra knife for on-the-spot slicing. The 12-inch steam cover can be used to melt cheese on cuts, concentrate heat and protect the cook from hot oil splashes. These barbecue tools also have hooks for hanging when not in use. The kit comes packed in a portable carrying bag for easy access.
6. Best Heat-Resistant Gloves: GEFU Extreme Heat Resistant Barbecue Gloves
According to our grill expert, BBQ gloves are optional, since any piece of cloth can substitute these. But, it's always a good idea to invest in a pair, especially if you're handling the grill for the first time. The GEFU gloves have long cuffs to protect your forearm and wrist when you are barbecuing. Made with high quality suede leather, they are lined with cotton to stop the hands from getting sweaty inside. The double-layered fabric and heat-resistant coating offer protection against heat tools, charcoal and even boiling water. Thanks to the textured palm, the pair can pick up greasy and wet ingredients easily. Cooks in the reviews have handled hot meat with these on, even quickly flipping food on the grill using their hands.
7. Best Grill Basket: Mr. Barbecue Stainless Steel Folding Grill Basket
To prevent small, sliced vegetables from slipping through the grates and into the charcoal, invest in a grill basket. Not only does this accessory make clean-ups a breeze, but it also helps with flipping ingredients all at once. Fares says a basket works best when grilling pieces of fish and chicken. Our pick comes in a value set, including a pair of heat-resistant gloves, a basting brush for marinades and an oil-resistant carrying bag.
8. Best Charcoal Briquettes: GreenBio BBQ Premium Charcoal Briquettes, 10kg
Use GreenBio BBQ Premium Charcoal Briquettes for barbecuing to get restaurant-style flavour at home. This 10kg box of charcoal is three times more economical than regular charcoal, as it burns for six hours straight and produces less ash, no odour, or dust. Barbecue lovers in the reviews approve of this charcoal, and add that the briquettes burn stably for hours on end, though they take a while to ignite. Once you have a handy starter to get the fire going, you'll be grilling comfortably with little to no smoke clouding your view.
9. Best Meat Thermometer: Inkbird WiFi Grill Thermometer
Pros
- Connects via Wi-Fi and Bluetooth for real-time updates
- Rechargeable battery, lasts up to 26 hours
- Monitors up to four cuts of meat with alarms
- Accurate readings, per reviews
Cons
- Expensive
The Inkbird Grill Thermometer is ideal for checking the temperature of meat and assessing if it's perfectly cooked or not. You can connect the thermometer to Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and check the temperatures via an app on your phone. This wireless thermometer reads up to 300℃ using four different probes, and monitors continuously while it's magnetically attached to your grill surface. The digital thermometer has a countdown timer, which is very convenient if you'd like to check the temperature regularly while cooking. For safety reasons, the IBBQ-4T thermometer supports high and low alarms and will trigger your phone alarm when your desired temperature is reached.
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