The Why
Smoking boxes are great because you only have to dispose of the ashes left in the box instead of dealing with all the ashes left over from a wood or charcoal burning barbeque grill. Smoking boxes are also easier to clean; the only part that may get any food on it will be the lid. They also come in very handy for controlling the amount of smoke you wish to make.

What Woods Can I Use?
The two most popular woods for smoking are mesquite and hickory. However, there are a plethora of different woods that can be used. Some of the other popular woods used for smoking include apple, alder, cherry, maple and oak just to name a few.

All of these woods come in different sizes. You can buy the whole tree or you can get sawdust and pellets. Using the different sizes greatly depends on what size of smoking box you are using. Generally for the averaged sized backyard bbq grill, you will need a small smoking box and simple wood chips will work well.

You can always add more wood if your smoke is to thin or begins to die out.
Different kinds of wood are also used for different purposes. For instance, alder wood is best used with pork and using too much hickory can make the meat bitter. It is recommended that you use a recipe book to decide which one, and how much, you want to use.

Cheating
There is one more way of adding that “Smokey” flavor to your meats. It’s commonly called “Liquid Smoke.” Liquid smoke is best used in the preparation of meats during the marinade process or can be added to barbeque sauces. While liquid smoke is made from the wood itself, the more experienced grill aficionados consider it cheating and generally prefer to actually smoke their meats.

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A Social Event
An outdoor bbq is not simply about the food. For some families it is a time honored tradition.

A Social Event
An outdoor bbq is not simply about the food. For some families it is a time honored tradition. What better way to get all of your favorite people in one spot at the same time to celebrate a birthday, graduation or just for the heck of it. Kids always tend to get excited when they know that they are going to or going to have a barbeque. They simply cannot get their minds off of how many hot dogs they can manage to wolf down, especially if the bbq is in their honor. Not too many people are will to refuse a friend who invites them over for a few hours of good food and fun not to mention other things like a dip in the pool or an excuse to drink beer.

Just another Day at the Beach
Planning an entire day at the beach couldn’t have been any easier than planning on having a bbq for lunch. Instead on having to take a break and go get lunch or trying to keep lunch items cold all day, the family can simply just cook their lunch. Once again, it’s a good way to get friends to come and a great way to keep the kids happy.

Camping
You’re probably going to start a fire anyways, the kids will demand it. So why not bring the grill to do most of the heavy lifting at lunch and dinner. Nothing tastes better after a long day of hiking, climbing and other adventure activities than a wholesome meal of your favorite steaks and burger; save the weenies for roasting later. Lets be serious, who wouldn’t want steak and eggs for breakfast too. One of the best parts about a bbq is not having hardly any dishes to do after eating.

No matter what the occasion, family fun is an easy accomplishment when a bbq grill is involved. Chances are, if a vote is taken among family and friends whether it’s a good idea or not, most will give a yea.

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The metal can be very delicate at times. It is unwise to use abrasive cleaners or tools while cleaning; this will damage the finish. It is best to use either use regular soap and water with a normal dish rag or you can use detergents specifically made for cleaning stainless steel. If you are in doubt about which cleaner to use, it is best to ask someone at an appliance store that sells stainless steel products. Either way, you are still going to need some good old fashioned elbow grease to keep your grill looking great.

Preventative Maintenance
It doesn’t really matter how much your grill cost, you are going to have to show it some TLC. If it becomes too hot, it will start to discolor, especially the lid, so try not to leave it sitting warmed up for too long before cooking. Also, leave the lid open after your done to let it cool down. After you are done cleaning it, make sure to dry it off before storing it. Moisture and your grill are certainly not friends; it will begin to rust if it comes in constant contact with water.

Different Types of Stainless Steel
There are basically two kinds of stainless steel used on commercially sold grills today. 430SS is the most commonly used due to it more affordable price. 430 is definitely prone to discoloration and rust and therefore must be tended to with greater care. 304SS is a cold rolled metal that is likely to be polished to a mirror-like shine and will be considerable heavier and much more expensive. While it may be a bit more durable than 430, it still needs just as much love. It will stain, discolor and rust just like its less expensive cousin. Think of it this way – you had to have paid as much as ten times more for the better steel, so it will cost you ten times more to replace.

Cover It
After you have finished extensively cleaning and polishing your beautiful grill and made sure it is dry you really do need to cover it. Exposure to the elements will certainly destroy it over time. Make sure to buy a heavy, durable cover that keeps moisture out and also lets moisture out. If you buy a cover that traps moisture in, you might as well have left it uncovered.

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The Basics

Most people that are handy and know their way around a bbq have the same essential item like tongs, spatula, fire extinguisher, etc. Some others consider items such as a rotisserie and chicken roaster to be an essential part of their repertoire as “master of the grill.” Me, I like to keep it simple and just use tongs and basting brush. It’s all in who you ask… I guess.

Why Didn’t I Think of That

During my adventures of shopping around for things I didn’t know existed I came across several that left me asking myself why I hadn’t even considered trying it. Fortunately for you and me, there are plenty of DIY’ers running around to pick up the slack. One handy tool that I thought would be useful was a stainless steel spice shaker mounted on the end of a 24″ shaft. The lid easily unscrews and you can wash it out and put something else in. I guess the person that invented it decided that roasting arm hair wasn’t his idea of a good recipe.

Must Haves

Okay, I have to agree with the person who considers a rotisserie an essential and handy bbq tool. Easy to use, easy to clean (dishwasher) and the food generally comes out tasting splendid. There are other neat gadgets like grill lights that are on a flexible shaft – for those nighttime cookouts – and meat thermometers. Charcoal chimneys do indeed come in very handy as well. But my favorite must have is holder that is designed to be mounted to a kettle grill. The holder accommodates the usual grilling tools but also comes complete with a rigidly flexible area for a bowl of bbq sauce and most interestingly, a beer holder on the opposite end. It’s a very handy tool to have indeed.

Books

Most people forget how handy a tool that a good book can be. There are hundreds of books on the market that will help turn the novice griller into a pseudo expert. Anything you can possibly think about cooking is most likely covered in a book somewhere. The trick to buying a handy tool like this is being able to thumb through it a little to make sure you actually want to buy it.

The Laughable

Some of the items I found made sense in a scientific kind of way that fire or extreme heat was needed in order to make it work. Other than that, I don’t know if I would display some of them with my cooking arsenal in public. The one that comes to mind are branding irons. The kind you would use to brand cattle. They come in various design formats, including your favorite team logo, NASCAR #, even ones that can be personalized. It just made me think about saying “hey, hold my beer, watch this.” All in all though, I guess if you can think it, you might be able to make others consider it a handy grilling tool.

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The Average Set

You average run of the mill set that you might expect to find at a local retailer will generally include a fork, tongs, spatula and hopefully a basting brush and a wire brush for cleaning. Although the plain Jane version will only have first three, usually equipped with a stained-red wood handle.

The Set You Want

Now that you getting serious about finding one of the better sets, here are a few things to look for. The set should come complete with a hard plastic or metal case Рwhich is ideal for keeping the set organized and clean when not in use – and most, if not all of the following items.

• Spatula
• Tongs
• Fork
• Basting Brush
• Wire Brush
• 4 Skewers
• 4 Steak Knives
• Set of 4 Corn on the Cobb Holders

Durability

The durability of the set is also a big issue. There is nothing worse that picking up one the tools and the handle falls apart on you. Handle durability seems to be a big issue, or should I say non-issue for some manufactures. The cheaply made stained-red wood handle should be made out of hard wood like oak, cherry or walnut, not pine or another soft wood that will fall apart the first time you put it in the dishwasher. Of course if you get a stainless steel set with polymer grips, make sure the grips don’t move around on the metal at all.
The metal should not bend very easily nor should it discolor after only a couple of uses. Better quality sets won’t have any welded parts but will be one solid piece of steel. A good quality tool might even be a little heavy, that’s a good thing; if it’s feather light, then it probably won’t last too long.

High and Low

Of course there is a quality scale applied to barbecue sets as well. You will find low end, middle of the road and of course, high end. Now just because you paid a small fortune for the set doesn’t mean that it is a quality set. You need to look closely at the craftsmanship. The best way to figure this out is to look at the steak knives. They should be well tooled and polished to high shine with a very sharp blade. The blade itself should not bend under normal pressure. And I’ll say this again, it should be heavy. These are just some of the indicators to look for. Also, some sets will have a obvious high quality appearance to them and some will not.

Cost

Barbecue sets can cost anywhere from a couple a bucks at the dollar store to a hundred dollars or more. It really depends on the quality along with the quantity of items in the set.

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Portable grills can be used for those fun outings to the park, beach, camping or even on your own patio. They come in a couple of different shapes and sizes and accommodate just about any kind of food you wish to prepare. For the most part they closely resemble their bigger cousins, only much, much smaller. The two most popular styles are the kettle grill and the Hibachi style.

Size
The main benefit to having a portable grill is the size. Some are small enough to fit inside of bowling ball bag. About the largest one out there is the Hibachi style grill, which is no bigger than two loaves of bread side by side. With their diminutive size, they are easily transported in the back of your car, truck or SUV and in some cases, your backpack. Hunters like to use them for cooking after the hunt and they mount nicely to an ATV.

Weight
Weight is another big advantage to owning a portable grill. By being so small to begin with, the weight is the bonus that goes with it. They are easy to move around and not at all awkward to carry. The weight factor is especially important to hunters and campers where weight becomes an issue very quickly.

Charcoal or Gas
Like any other bbq grill they are available in either gas or charcoal. In some cases they can be both. For instance a Hibachi is normally equipped with a burner and lava rock and is used with a 1 pound propane cylinder. However, if you take out the “guts” you can use it as a charcoal or wood burning bbq. Tell me which one their larger cousins let you do that in five minutes or less.

When a Grill Is Just a Grill
Last but not least, who says that you even need to have the kettle or tub to go along with everything else? Some outdoor manufactures produce a free standing grill that can be used just about anywhere. While using gas is not an option for this style, charcoal and wood are still very much in the game. Outdoor professionals around the globe use the free standing grills in place of packing a bulky self contained bbq grill around. They, like the others, are versatile, lightweight and compact. These grills are perfect for the outdoorsman’s outdoorsman.

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When filling the cylinder it very important that you not overfill it. Federal law only allows for propane cylinders to be filled up to 80% of capacity. This allows for expansion of the gases during temperature changes. So don’t ask to have the tank topped off. Make sure to never open the valve on the tank unless it is properly connected to your gas grill.

Connections and Regulator
Visual inspect the regulator system on your gas grill before you connect and open the valve on the cylinder. Checking all the lines and connections for any sign of wear or fatigue is essential. When in doubt, swap it out! Once you have verified that everything looks fine and the burner knobs are in the “Off” position, it is now okay to open the valve on the tank.

Lighting
Lighting the grill is always the most dangerous part of the grilling process. Make sure the lid is fully open to avoid a flash off from too much gas buildup. It is always safer to only turn “On” one burner while lighting to help avoid a gas build up. Once the first burner is lit then you can turn on the other burners, starting with the one closest to the one already lit. Don’t lean over the grill while lighting to avoid injuries from any possible flash off.  If the grill fails to light, turn all valves to the “Off” – including the tank – and wait 5 minutes before attempting to relight.

After Cooking
Making sure that the grill is completely turned off is essential. First turn off the burners then close the valve on the propane cylinder itself. After the grill has completely cooled, turn the burner knobs back to the “On” position for several seconds to make sure all of the gas has been expelled from the fuel line. Once you have all of this done, place the grill in a well ventilated outdoor area that is safe from the elements or have it covered. Weather can corrode the vital parts of the grills fuel supply.

Storage
Storing you gas bbq properly is the best way of preventing any accidents in the future. Always store the grill in a well ventilated outdoor space. Never keep the tanks indoors, even if you believe them to be empty. It also recommended that you disconnect the propane cylinder from the grill itself. If you do this it is also a Federal Law to have a cap placed over the tanks valve outlet.

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What to Look For
Some of the better pre-packaged bbq tool sets will come with all the basics and also include some upgrades such as knives and corn cob holders. While regular wooden handles work just fine, some of the high end kits are solid stainless steel with polymer grips. The better sets will come in a handy hard plastic carrying case to keep your tools organized and clean when not in use. These bbq tool kits are definitely the way to go, not only for their ease of use but it will help you with your “professional bbq master” appearance.

Over the Top
For most people the basic tool sets are just fine. However, if you happen to need all the bells and whistles, don’t worry, all your needs and wants are already on the market. Everything from steamers to specialized, fancy looking chicken drumstick holders can be found. It all depends on what you are looking for. Don’t forget to throw in the bbq mitt and the always adorable “Kiss the Chef” apron.

Where to Go
Finding great tool sets are rather easy to find. Just about any place that sells bbq grills will have some available. Your local retail store probably has a few to choose from. Most of the stores in the mall will also have one or two. For the more expensive and hard to find items, going to a store dedicated to bbq grills is a great place to start, but just about any item can be found at online bbq stores.

Cost
Cost will vary depending on the quality and quantity of item in the tool set. While your basic set will only set you back a couple of bucks, a high end set can run over a hundred dollars. It really depends on what you are looking for out of a tool set. Some of the high end sets come in a handmade rattan roll-up case that must have increased the price by a few dollars.

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Even heating as well as endurance are another important factor to consider. Not all charcoal grills will have the same heating pattern two times in a row and generally you won’t be able to cook effectively for hours on end. If you’ve ever cooked for a large group of people using a gas grill, you probably didn’t even notice that you didn’t have to take a break, add more briquettes, wait for them to light properly and then begin cooking again. Cooking for that large party was just one big seamless operation.

Downside
The only real downside to using a gas grill is they require a little attention once in a while. You occasionally may need to change out the fuel lines, clean out a burner or replace the lava rocks. Once in a while you might need to also replace the thermometer or the “On/Off” knobs that always seem to magically get broken or lost.

Maintenance
The maintenance required keeping your gas grill safe and working properly really isn’t too difficult. Basically once a season you need to inspect all the fuel lines, regulators and burners to make sure they are in proper working order. Check the fuel lines and regulator for any cracks, corrosion (rust) or obvious damages. The best way to check for leaks is to turn on the gas and apply soapy water to any part of the fuel system. If there is a leak, it will create bubbles. If you happen to find leaks of any kind, replace the part before using the grill.

Cleaning the “guts” of the grill will need to be done periodically. By “guts” I mean the burner itself and the lava rocks or ceramic briquettes. Burners tend to get clogged over time, creating not only cold spots but hot spots as well. Simply soak the burners it hot soapy water and then use a wire brush to clear out all the holes. After that you can put them in the kitchen oven for a few minutes to make sure all of the water has evaporated inside.

The lava rocks or ceramic briquettes may become completely encrusted over time and will start to create smoke and unwanted flavors in your food. Simply replace them once in awhile. All in all, maintenance of your gas grill is relatively easy and for the most part painless.

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Adjusting the Heat
After lighting the grill, be patient! Wait at least 15 minutes for it to heat up. After it is all warmed up you can adjust the temperature to the desired setting depending on what and how you plan to cook. Once you have started cooking, leave the lid closed. If you are constantly opening the lid, you will slow down the cooking but more importantly, dry out the meat.

Over Population
Just because you have an almost unlimited source of heat doesn’t mean you should place as much food on the grill as possible. Leave some room for maneuvering the food around to avoid hotspots and flare ups. The rule of thumb is to leave approximately 30% of the cooking surface open for this purpose.

Hygiene
Keeping your gas grill clean will help you make sure that your favorite foods come out the way you want them too. Your grill is most likely not “self-cleaning” live your oven. Good grill hygiene will also help prevent flare ups and having the meat stick to the grill. Once the grill is completely warmed up, aggressively take a stiff wire brush too it and then coat the grill with cooking oil by placing some on a dry paper towel and wiping it down.

Storage
After you are all done with grilling and the grill has turn completely cold, the gas has been turn off at the tank and your belly is full, be nice to your grill and either cover it up or place it somewhere so the elements won’t do their best to impose their will upon it. Gas grills that are left out in the rain and snow will deteriorate quickly and parts, such as the electric ignition and thermometer, will start to fail. A nice, safely used and cared for gas grill is a happy and productive grill.

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