When working around a grill, things can get hot and need heat protection.  This can be in anything from a simple hand towel to a kitchen hot pad or heat-resistant gloves. After using a large mitten for many years, I like having a pair of heat-resistant gloves. They provide protection and allow me to continue cooking without having to take off my mitt or use two hands to pick up a tool.

There are two primary methods for starting your briquettes: 1) Lighter fluid and 2) using a Charcoal Chimney. You can always use a blow torch as well. I am not kidding! There are torches specifically for grilling you can use. Most experienced grillers recommend using a Charcoal Chimney over using lighter fluid. Lighter fluid can add a chemical smell to your food, which is the opposite of what we are working toward.

When you are ready for your first cook check out our post “Your First Cook on Your New Weber Kettle” and we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about your Charcoal Chimney.

There are different sizes of chimneys – large and small. Which one to use on any given cook depends on what you are grilling and your desired grill temperature. If your plan is to keep your temperature low, go with the small chimney. If you are cooking at a high temperature, go with the large chimney. Starting out, if you can only get one, go with the larger size. When using a smaller number of briquettes, you can count out the number of briquettes you need for each cook.

No matter what you cook, you are going to need some grilling tools to help turn your food once it is on the grill. The primary tools are a pair of tongs and a grill spatula. Think about the right tool for the job. I find it difficult to flip a piece of Mahi Mahi with a pair of tongs, it’s just too delicate. In the same manner, it’s hard to spin a steak to get nice grill lines with a spatula. My go-to tongs are the Grill Hog 16-inch tongs. I like the wood handles and the scalloped edge clamps.

Once you pour the briquettes into your kettle you will want to arrange the charcoal to match the method of cooking you are using. You can learn more in our post “Cooking Methods For Your Weber Kettle”. If you need to rearrange your briquettes, you will need a utensil or tool that will allow you to move and rearrange your hot briquettes. There are specialty charcoal tongs that will do the job nicely. That said, I simply replaced my cooking tongs this past spring and my old pair is now exclusively used for arranging briquettes.

Unless you can gauge doneness by “look and feel”, an instant-read thermometer will be your best friend. My learning is to always get a waterproof thermometer or at least water resistant. This is for the time it falls into the sink, or you leave it outside in the rain.

Having used thermometers where the probe folds versus a straight unit, definitely go with the folding probe. It gives you more control over how and where you measure the temperature.

Pinky’s Pointers – Your thermometer might be a place where you choose to splurge and spend a few extra dollars for a Bluetooth version. It is extremely easy to forget about your grill when you are entertaining a group. The last 15 degrees can go by quickly and then the scramble is on. I like having a Bluetooth/WiFi-connected thermometer. I can set an alarm on my meat and grate temperatures and enjoy my guests or just sit and relax! Check out the blog “The Things You Really Want”.

My most frustrating experiences grilling have been planning the timing of a cook. Making sure the main course and the side dishes are finished at about the same time. It sucks when your perfectly grilled steak is ready, but the baked potatoes still have 30 minutes to cook. The only way to learn is to keep track of what has and has not worked in the past. Your logbook is the answer and it will become your best friend.

Now I can just look in my logbook, find something comparable to what’s grilling tonight and get a sense of timing.

Some things I like to capture in my log include:

• What I’m cooking (type, size, or weight)
• Weather conditions (windy, temperature)
• Number and brand of briquettes
• How long it took for the briquettes to light
• Color of the briquettes when I poured them into the grill
• Time on/off the grill

We’ll talk more about your logbook and planning cooks in a later blog post.

As you get more experienced and ready to try new things, you be in a better position to explore all the gadgets that are available for your grill. Enjoy!

These are what we at Pinky’s Grill consider the essential tools you need to start grilling. There are all kinds of gadgets out there to experiment with as you become more proficient, and your confidence grows. Take your time, understand your grill, keep your logbook.