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Thick Enameled and Stainless Steel Bars Don’t Let Through Enough Radiant Heat
As with cast iron, thick enameled stainless steel grill grates retain and transmit a lot of heat, making big bold grill marks: but that's not what we want. They're too thick to let through maximum radiant heat from the fire. That radiant heat is really what we're after when trying to create great grill flavor.
Grill Grates: Teflon and Non-stick Coatings
Their best feature is that they clean up easily, with soap and water, and can even go through the dishwasher.
Tempered Expanded Steel: Best for Cages and Fences, Not Grills
Here are the main strengths of tempered expanded steel grill grates: they are inexpensive and lightweight. Yes, they also make diamond shaped grill marks without having to rotate the meat, but grill marks are not the holy grail of great tasting meat. The truth is, there are better grill grates available.
Cast Iron Grill Grates: Don’t Bother
Cast iron fry pans and griddles can become non-stick with use, so many people are under the misimpression that cast iron grill grates are also non-stick. They are not. Cast iron grill grates are more trouble than they are worth.
Chrome or Nickel Plated Wire Grates Work Well And Are Cheap to Replace
Yes, nickel plated steel grill grates warp under extremely high heats and eventually, the plating chips off, they rust, and you've got to pitch them. But they're so cheap that replacing them is a cinch. If you have a Weber Kettle, I recommend upgrading to the hinged grates so you can easily add more coals and wood.
Thin Porcelain Enamel Coated Grates Work Reasonably Well
A sturdy porcelain enamel coating is applied to a variety of metals of different weights. With proper care, these grill grates will work well and last for years.
GrillGrates: The Perfect Temperature Control Tool For Grills
GrillGrates are an amazing invention featuring reversible interlocking panels that increase the grill surface temperature, reduce flare-ups, and deliver perfect sears. GrillGrates also come in a variety of shapes and sizes so that you can customize them according to the size of your gas, charcoal, or pellet grill.
Thin Stainless Steel Is Durable and Does a Great Job
Stainless steel grill grates can be made from thin or thick rods, but I prefer the thin ones that allow more radiant heat through, especially for charcoal grills. The problem with thick rods is that they block radiant heat and make large dark grill marks.
Kyocera Pepper Mill Makes It Easy to Adjust the Grind
The Kyocera Everything Mill Adjustable Grinder allow you to dial in the size of your grind from coarse to fine and it grinds all kinds of spices from pepper and salt to coriander and cumin. Fresh ground pepper has much more flavor than the pre-ground. And the size of the grind matters making this a perfect choice.
Garlic Press: A Kitchen Gadget You’ll Actually Use
A good garlic press is an important kitchen tool and the Trudeau Garlic Press is the perfect choice. The Trudeau press is sturdily built, and is easy to grip. It's also quite easy to clean, and has a large hopper to hold big cloves.
Sturdy Kitchen Shears Will Quickly Cut Chicken Bones and Butcher String
My OXO Good Grips professional poultry shears are one of those kitchen tools I simply cannot live without. These heavy duty scissors are a must for cutting up a whole chicken (especially for removing the backbone for spatchcock chicken), trimming chicken wings, and so many other tasks.
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Expands Your Outdoor Cooking Arsenal
Forget the fancy high end pricey Le Creuset French Oven when selecting a cast iron Dutch Oven. This is the one you want for cowboy cooking and camping. It's perfect for whole chickens or slow braising in the oven or in the grill. Add coals to the lid and it's great for baking. It also comes in handy around the house..
Grill Pads Could Save Your Patio, Deck…Maybe Even Your House!
This lightweight flexible fiber cement pad protects your deck from runaway coals, spills, and grease dropping from the grease pan on my grill. The Grill Pad is made of heat- and weather-resistant material, flexible and durable, and at 8 pounds it is heavy enough to stay anchored to the ground.
Double Pie Iron Makes Perfect Toasted Sandwiches On The Grill
Use the old fashioned Old Mountain cast iron double pie iron, originally designed for filled pies, for making two perfectly toasted panini style grilled sandwiches at once. Just butter your sandwich on the outside, open up the hinged mold, insert the sandwiches and put it over the coals, campfire, or gas grill.Up Your BBQ IQ By Joining The Pitmaster Club
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