BBQ BEST KIT Get kitted out ready for BBQ season with our guide to the best tools for the job
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BQ season is upon us. The smell of smoke alongside a glass of wine or a beer is what summer is all about. However, for those of us who see BBQ as more than just burnt sausages and burgers, there is a real science to creating the perfect smoked food. So, we have put together this guide to the best kit you need to get the most from your grill…
MEAT THERMOMETER Maybe not the snazziest or most exciting piece of kit, but an internal meat thermometer is probably the most important tool for all smoking and grilling enthusiasts. You see, when you cook burgers or sausages on a BBQ over direct coals you are actually grilling not barbecuing. A real BBQ is cooked using indirect heat with lots of smoke to get that real BBQ flavour. Barbecuing is tougher than grilling, which is why it is so important to have a meat thermometer to know what is happening inside your meat and when it is safe to eat. We highly recommend this meat thermometer from Weber. £19.74 | bbqworld.co.uk
SMOKING WOODCHIPS Even if you are simply grilling, you’ll still want that smoky flavour to your food. We don’t all have access to chopped oak, applewood or hickory, which is why companies supply flavoured woodchips. These little pieces of roughly 1cm woodchip are usually soaked in beer or wine before being added directly to your charcoal or in a smoker box. When they burn they release thick flavourful smoke, which gives all your food, whether smoked or grilled, that rich BBQ flavour. We love these Whisky Barrel Oak chips that add great flavour to red meat. £5.50 | hotsmoked.co.uk
BEER CAN CHICKEN HOLDER Have you ever fancied cooking a whole chicken on a BBQ but was worried about how much time and effort it would take if you don’t have an electric spit to cook it through on all sides? Beer can chicken originated in the U.S State of Louisiana and is a great way to indirectly cook a whole chicken whilst imbuing it with plenty of taste and moisture. It’s simple, by placing a half-filled beer can inside the chicken’s cavity, when the liquid gets hot enough it steams the chicken from the inside out. Sometimes, it doesn’t seem so hygienic to put an actual beer can inside the chicken, which is why you can buy a handy beer can chicken holder that can be used again and again. We love this simple device from Landmann. £15.99 | landmann.com
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