These 5 Unexpected Tools Help One Chef Achieve Barbecue Transcendence

What do we talk about when we talk about barbecuing? Usually, conversations revolve around what kinds of grills and smokers we love, or what the best barbecue sauces are. But once you’ve got your rig all figured out and you’ve hit the grocery store for all the protein, veggies, sauces, and beers you need, there are still plenty of factors to consider — ones that many of us tend to overlook until it’s too late.

Ever gone to fire up the grill and realized it was still caked with barbecue sauce and grease from last time? Or taken some of your “famous” ribs off the fire, only to let them get a bit too cold while waiting for everyone to get to the table? And, yeah, obviously most of us do use a humongous industrial mop to slather our food with barbecue sauce… but in case you aren’t going that hard, do you have the ideal tool to increase your sauce coverage? You might have a barbecue tool set, which is a great start. Good barbecue is good barbecue, to be sure, but it’s not as simple as throwing some stuff on the grill for the right amount of time. 

For tips on how to fully actualize our barbecuing rituals and become a bit more consistent in preparing and handling our food properly (as well as keeping our grills clean in the process), we talked to James Beard Award-winning chef and 2008 F&W Best New Chef Gerard Craft, who is about to open a new barbecue spot, Expat BBQ, in St. Louis this summer. Below, Craft outlines the five pieces of grilling gear that people might not necessarily think about, but that they should absolutely have on hand.

5 Underrated Grilling Tools

• Cuisinart Heat Resistant Silicone Gloves, $10 (originally $15)
• Hethyo Plastic Spray Bottles, $10
• Kärcher Electric Pressure Washer, $118 (originally $200)
• OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush, $22
• Igloo Premium Trailmate Wheeled Cooler, $200 (originally $300)

Cuisinart Heat Resistant Silicone Gloves

“In a kitchen, I use a lot of kitchen towels to hold hot pans, but barbecue is messy, and you will go through a lot of towels fast without a pair of these,” Craft says. These gloves are heat resistant up to 425ºF and are dishwasher-safe, meaning they’ll protect your hands without getting too dirty in the long run. Plus, they feature a textured grip, so you’ll be able to handle your precious brisket without dropping it.

Hethyo Plastic Spray Bottles

We recently explored how spray bottles are essential for grilling, and we’ll never go back. Introducing a little water to the food on your grill may sound counterintuitive, but it’ll help prevent veggies from burning while giving them some time to cook more thoroughly within (or, you know, just fill it with barbecue sauce). “Spray bottles are a great way to add some extra flavor and moisture to your barbecue with a little juice or even just a spritz of water. I always have a few of these around,” Craft says.

Kärcher Electric Pressure Washer

“Barbecuing is a messy business, with grease dripping everywhere and a lot of buildup on the cooker's grates,” Craft points out. “A pressure washer can make cleanup a lot easier!” Sweating over your hot grill after the party’s over, racing against time to get dried sauce and fat off the grates before you can go inside can be a bummer. This high-pressure washer gets up to 2,125 PSI (pounds per square inch) and has a foot switch for ease of use. With this, you might actually enjoy cleaning up the patio — and it’s over 40% off right now.

OXO Good Grips Silicone Basting & Pastry Brush

Saucing your barbecue directly from the bottle, or using a brush with low-quality bristles? Welcome to amateur hour. This silicone brush is designed not to clump (a common problem with regular brushes) and is ergonomically set up to hold as much sauce or liquid as possible. “I love having a brush for basting anything from butter and herbs to that finishing glaze of barbecue, but I do not love cleaning regular brushes,” Craft says. “The silicone brush does everything you need from a brush, and it cleans quickly.” 

Igloo Premium Trailmate Wheeled Cooler

Owning at least one great cooler is extremely important for many reasons. According to Craft, it can be essential in making sure all your food stays at the right temperature until the moment you need it. “While coolers are great at keeping drinks cold, they are also amazing at keeping barbecue warm. Use this cooler for resting your pork butts and briskets before their final stage, or for keeping them warm while you wait for your guests to show up,” he says. “Buy a size that correlates to the amount of barbecue you will be cooking. You want everything to fit pretty snuggly for optimal effect.”