BBQ Essential Items
It's time to fire up the grill and get the tailgate party started. Here at Rollors, we love to tailgate and want to share some of the items that we always have on hand (like the our game Rollors, which is quite possibly the greatest game ever invented!) when we BBQ:
- Extra fuel – No matter what you are using as a heat source, have more, even if you leave for the tailgate topped off. An extra propane tank or that extra bag of charcoal is a game saver when you run out or a friend needs some for their grill. Besides, what if you wanted to run your back up grill to cook more? You do have a back up grill don't you?
- If you are using charcoal, consider getting a Charcoal Starter, this will get those little pucks of heat nice and hot and ready to go faster than just spreading them down on the bottom of the grill and lighting them.
- Utensils – Spatulas, Turning Forks, Large Spoons. Get at least two of each, in case they break or you are working with multiple foods and/or grills that need their own utensil. Around the holidays you can find BBQ gift sets that will fill this need and rather cheaply too. Really cheap? Wait until after the holidays and get them on clearance.
- Cooking Thermometer – If you are doing steaks, then you will definitely need one of these. They are inexpensive now and the battery in them can last for years. Want one for cheap, see number 3 above.
- Apron – Keep a few of these on hand, in case that friend/brother-in-law/new guy wants to help out. Plain, team logo, your name, just make it yours. My wife got me a tactical BBQ apron, given my background in the Army. It's cute.
- Sturdy Paper Plates & plastic forks, knives and spoons– What brand, that is up to you and your budget. There are reusable forks, knives and spoons designed to be dishwasher safe and will last you years. Paper plates are great for serving food on and make a nice flexible funnel in a pinch.
- Serving Trays – You cooked all that good looking food, make sure you have something to put it on! Large plastic or metal trays are excellent for this. If you have a few old cookie sheets at home that are not good for baking on, re-purpose them them and give them a new life at a tailgate.
- Plastic zip top bags and plastic containers – Both can be used for food storage before the game and for left overs after the game. Shame to see left overs go in the parking lot bins, when you can reheat and eat them during the week, or to be more direct, for Monday and Thursday night games!
- A Chair – If you bring only one chair to the tailgate, it is for the master of the BBQ. He/She is the one cooking for everyone, so they get the comfy camp style chair. Everone else can use a cooler (you did bring a cooler right?) or the bumper of their car if they forgot to bring a chair for themselves.
- Food Covers – for the warmer months, these covers are great for keeping the bugs out of cooked food and food ready to hit the grill top. Get a bunch, they usually fold up flat or close like an umbrella and do not take up much space.
So that's what we recommend as your top ten BBQ essentials. And pick up your own Rollors game so your guests have something to do while you cook!
by Ed Morris (for Rollors LLC)