By Kelly Anne Fitzpatrick on April 13, 2012 in
It's barely Spring now, but true grillmasters know barbecue season is right around the corner. Whether you're king of the charcoal or a backyard-less, city-dwelling newbie, the right tools are essential for getting the grilling job done. That's why we've picked out some of the most innovative and functional grilling accessories out there. They're perfect for the college kid, manly man or perennial hostess.
O-Grill 3000 Portable Gas Grill
At home, on the beach, or camping out, the O-Grill 3000 is tops when space is short. It folds in half for easy transportation, but still offers ample grilling space, say Shape magazine and Gizmodo. Style enthusiasts will appreciate its curvaceous design and fun colors.
$215; Available at Amazon.com.
Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewers
No longer will hamburgers and steak have to give up valuable grill-top real estate for veggies. Flexible metal Fire Wire skewers allow the cook to snake skewered food around and in-between other items on the grill. Plus, the stiff sharp end is easy to thread through even tough onions and peppers and eliminates shattered wood and splinters. (Plus no risk of burning the skewer!) They're also perfect for marinating meat or veggies in a bowl or bag, and get a thumbs-up from Good Housekeeping.
$25 for a set of four; Available online and at many national retailers.
The Original Grill Daddy
Late-night infomercial viewers will recognize the Grill Daddy, which uses steam to (allegedly) clean your grill without any scraping or mess. Surprisingly, our review found the Grilldaddy does, in fact, live up to the hype (sort of). The steam does make grill clean-up easier, though the plastic valve seems a bit cheap and looks like it might break. Still, the brush works well enough with one hand, so there's no need to even put down your beer—how can you argue with that?
$15; Available at GrillDaddy.com.
Super-Fast Thermapen
Still slicing open steaks to check the doneness or fretting about undercooked chicken? No more with the Super-Fast Thermapen meat thermometer, which gives an accurate temperature reading within 3 seconds. Chow.com editors say it's a test kitchen favorite, and the latest version is even splash-proof. Best of all, it comes in a bevy of colors, so even the most discerning stylista is sure to find a favorite. Still unconvinced? It gets a mind-boggling 4.8 out of 5 stars from more than 200 Amazon.com reviewers.
$89; Available at Amazon.com.
Weber 3-Piece Barbeque Tool Set
About.com Grilling Guide Derrick Riches offers several guidelines for finding the perfect grilling tools. This Weber 3-Piece Barbecue Tool Set meets just about all his specs, plus it gets 4.7 starts from more than 100 reviewers on Amazon.com (making it the highest-rated set).
$35; Available on Amazon.com.
Monogrammed Forged Steak Brand
Talk about making your mark. This steak brand, manufactured by an actual cattle brand maker, allows the cook to sear his or her -- who are we kidding, probably his -- initials into meat. It's a honest-to-goodness miniature of a real brand, and comes with a wall mounting rack. Never again will your guests forget who exactly cooked that delicious cut of meat.
$40; Available at Williams-Sonoma.
Moistly Grilled Cast Iron Grill Humidifiers
Throw some meat on the grill with the Moistly Grilled Cast Iron Grill Humidifiers and fill with water, juice, wine, or just about any other liquid. The liquid will turn into taste-packed steam, infusing your food with moisture and flavor. From beer-steamed chicken wings to cabernet-infused steak, this grill accessory will go over well with any crowd. Gear Patrol says it creates perfectly moist meat, but warns that you should skip any milk-based liquids.
$30 for two; Available at Sur la Table.
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Traditional chefs will love this charcoal chimney, which renders self-starters and lighter fluid pointless. The Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter holds plenty of charcoal for a 22-inch grill and has a heat-resistant handle. It gets nearly 5 stars from almost 400 Amazon.com reviewers and is recommended by This Old House.
$18; Available on Amazon.com.
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