As Father's Day approaches, outdoor chefs might want to add a few new grilling accessories to the wish list. Or perhaps even a portable gas grill for tailgating parties, just a few months off.
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No cook can do without decent turners or tongs for the grill, and sets of the long-handled tools are everywhere this season, from home centers and department stores to gourmet culinary stores, gift shops and discount stores.
Good grilling tools can make outdoor cooking a simple task, so browse around to find the perfect sets or individual pieces now. Stores are well-stocked with these tools and other accessories right now, but that won't be the case by the Fourth of July holiday. Try them out to see how they fit in the hand, check if they're easy to care for and if they'll be heavy duty enough for your specific needs.
The HotSpot 7-inch BBQ silicone hotpads are heat resistant up to 675 degrees, which makes them great for handling hot kabob skewers just off the grill or to use as a safe resting place for hot tongs or turners. Look for them in black, yellow or red. Larger sizes of the hotpads without the BBQ logo and in a variety of colors, are about $15.
Weber's new Style professional-grade stainless steel barbecue tools are not only sleek looking but they're heavy duty and handle easily. A three-piece set with locking tongs, fork and slotted turner with a thin edge costs about $35; a wide fish turner great for whole fish or fillets is sold separately for about $20. Also available is a large turner, best for big pieces of meat, also about $20.
Ginger Wolfe, owner of Thyme Square in Edmond, stocks $11.50 meat hooks with rosewood handles and copper hooks; it's used to flip steaks without piercing the meat.
"Men really like that," Wolfe said. She also stocks $29 hot dog griller sets that go right onto the grill.
Barbecue guru Steven Raichlen has a line of barbecue products that includes just about everything but the grill. Limited selections of Raichlen's locking tongs, turners, sauce mop and bucket set, rubs, grilling baskets and other items are at Bed, Bath and Beyond, while SueChef carries a few of the items. The entire line, including illuminated tongs, 20-inch tongs, iced tea or java rubs, stainless steel and double prong bamboo skewers can be found online at bestof barbecue.com.
Steak plates, grill cleaners, steak knives, wood chips, grill covers, marinades, rubs, sauces and a long list of other grill-related items are perfect gifts for dads as the grilling season heats up. Plank cooking is popular now, and all types of planks can be purchased, from home stores to seafood shops like Avalon Seafood. Hickory smoked seasonings such as McCormick's hickory smoked salt are popular this summer, according to the Kansas City-based BBQ Queens, authors of several grilling and barbecue cookbooks.
The Original Grill Pad slips under a grill, smoker or turkey fryer to protect wood decks and prevent stains on cement or tile patios. In three sizes, the prices are about $25 to $35. Look for them at American Propane Gas Co., Home Depot and some Lowe's stores. Collegiate edition pads are available with logos from major universities, including Oklahoma State University and University of Oklahoma; order online at grill lovers.com.
A line of Weekend Warrior food thermometers and timers designed for outdoor chefs is available from Taylor Precision Products and available at discount stores, home stores, home centers, hardware stores and gourmet food shops. Prices range from $10 to about $25 for the products with distinct red and orange flame graphics. The thermometers help cooks ensure meats won't be undercooked or overcooked.
CleanBBQ disposable aluminum grill liners are available at Home Depot, Wal-Mart or online at cleanbbq.com. The liner fits over the grill to eliminate all that messy clean up after cooking. Cost of a package of 20 liners is about $18.
More portable grills, especially portable gas grills, are turning up this summer. Check out any store where grills are being carried and you'll likely see one or more of these grills. Weber has five portable gas grills, including the new Weber Q300 with stationary cart, the Q200 (formerly called the Q) and the Q100 (formerly called Baby Q). Accessories such as a grill stand, adapter kits to use the large propane tanks with them and even grill racks for roasts and ribs make these models attractive to some outdoor chefs.
"The Weber Q has become a favorite with consumers who love the power of this grill and appreciate its additional portability and ease of use," said George Rasas, Weber marketing manager. "We gave these grills a totally new, stylish look that has caught a great deal of attention."
Sales revealed Weber customers of the popular Q grills were buying the optional cart and adapter hose to use a 20-pound LP tank to make the grill permanent for the backyard, so a grill with stationary cart was added to the 2006 lineup.
Coleman added its RoadTrip LXE portable gas grill, priced at about $190, to its lineup in 2005. The fire-engine red and black model has folding legs.
"The smaller grills have been very popular for years," said Peter Barnes, salesman for American Propane Gas Co. The compactness makes them perfect for tailgating or to use at lake homes, Barnes said. Parents are even buying them for college students living in apartments. They might also fit a need for baby boomers who are downsizing and don't need a completely outfitted patio kitchen just to grill a couple of burgers or two small filet steaks.
There are two grilling trends going on simultaneously, according to Carol Kaplan, communications manager for the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association. One trend is to bigger and fancier grills that are used for more than just hot dogs and burgers, while the second trend is manufacturers are starting to recognize some buyers are downsizing and don't have big backyards for huge grills as they move to condominiums. So those needs are being addressed with new grills at both ends of the spectrum, Kaplan said.
So whatever your favorite outdoor chef's needs are to hone his grilling skills this summer, there are plenty of gift options at stores and online to keep the grill ready for cooking all summer long.
Sharon Dowell: 475-3304, sdowell@oklahoman.com
