When you're looking for BBQ tips, you might want to start with some advice about the accessories that will make the experience more pleasurable. The kinds of that are essential and the ones are just nice to have around will depend on the type of barbequing you plan to do. However, there are a number of tools that will be used over and over.



Sometimes it's best to start with the end in mind and the end of every BBQ is the clean-up phase. Some grills can be a nightmare to clean but with the right tools it can be quite a bit easier.

One way to ease the burden of clean up is to not get so messy in the first place. Disposable drip pans are a great way to accomplish that. They catch any grease or bits of meat and bun that fall through the grill and after cooling down you simply pull them out of the BBQ and toss them into the garbage.

If you can't get disposable BBQ pans, at least choose a removable one. The job will be made easier when you just have to remove the pan, spray it with cleaner and scrub it down. It's much easier to use oven cleaner if you're not trying to clean around numerous objects poking out everywhere. And if you don't use oven cleaner directly on the grill, you don't have to worry about rinsing it thoroughly to remove the residue. Otherwise your next meal could taste and smell pretty bad, and it might even be dangerous to your health.

A wire brush is a requirement for most BBQ clean up situations. A dual purpose style is your best choice. These feature a wire brush on one side and a metal scraper on the other. For scraping those hardened black bits off the grill, there's just no substitute.

You can find all sorts of BBQ tools that make grilling more fun. For example, skewers are handy for shish kabob meals and for cooking a big chunk of meat that requires frequent turning. A good set of barbeque tongs will also be highly useful. 'Good' means easy to grip, low slip and no chance of overheating in your hands.

BBQ oven mitts are another essential accessory. You're bound to need them in order to avoid burning yourself on the hot grill or the metal tools you're using. They're really essential because of all the heat you're coming in contact with.

If you like to barbeque fish or other less sturdy food items, you'll find that a wire barbeque basket will be a useful accessory. Choose a model that lets you cook veggies in a mesh basket with a handle so you can make your entire meal on the grill.

There are dozens of useful BBQ tools. Just be sure to always buy quality. That way they'll end up in your hands, and not in the drawer collecting dust.