Father's Day is Sunday, June 15th.



Maverick ET-733 Wireless Barbecue Thermometer - $69.99

The Maverick ET-733 Wireless Barbecue Thermometer is an update on the classic ET-732. The ET-733 allows you to monitor both meat and barbecue pit temperatures, and also allows you to monitor two meats or two barbecue pits at one time!



Maverick PT-100 Instant Read Thermometer - $89.99

The Maverick PT-100 Pro-Temp Instant Read Professional Thermometer is a must-have tool for any outdoor cooking enthusiast. This instant read thermometer uses a professional grade thermocouple to give you highly-accurate and nearly instant internal temperatures of anything you are cooking.



Lodge Logic 12" Cast Iron Skillet - $36.95


The Lodge 12" Cast Iron Skillet is a go to for many of the best chefs in the country. Cast iron cookware is naturally non-stick, and unlike other cookware it will get better with age. This 12” skillet has a 2” depth making it perfect for sautéing, searing, frying, baking and stir frying.



UTC Hardwoods Cutting Board - Starting at $29.95

UTC Hardwood Cutting Boards are hand built one at a time, and are manufactured to give you a lifetime of use. These high quality cutting boards are made from various hardwoods including walnut, oak and maple.



The Pit Mitt - $17.99

The Pit Mitt is made of aramid fibers that form a heat barrier for ultimate protection. A soft cotton inner layer provides comfort while the long length protects your lower arm. The Pit Mitt can withstand temperatures up to 475 degrees while the silicone on the mitt surface gives you superior grip.



The Prophets of Smoked Meat - $29.99

The comprehensive, must-have guide to Texas barbecue, including pitmasters' recipes, tales of the road—from country meat markets to roadside stands—and a panoramic look at the Lone Star State, where smoked meat is sacred.



Steven Raichlen Sauce Mop - $9.99

This sauce mop features an all cotton detachable head and an 18-inch handle. The Steven Raichlen Sauce Mop is ideal for applying basting mixtures, mops or barbecue sauces. Replacement heads are also available.



Reversible Rib and Roast Rack - $14.99

This is the ultimate rib rack. One side of this rack holds large cuts of meat or poultry while the reverse side cooks ribs upright, allowing you to smoke up to six racks in the space of two! The non-stick coating making clean up a breeze.



BBQr's Delight Pellets 3 Pack - Starting at $59.99

The choice of competitors everywhere, BBQr's Delight Pellets are consistently rated among the highest quality pellets available. These pellets are a blend of 2/3 oak and 1/3 flavor wood giving you a high BTU, low ash burn that is perfect for smoking, baking and grilling.

There are many ways to prepare and cook a turkey for the holidays from roasting whole to cutting into quarters and cooking separate. In the end, most methods work well enough. But "well enough" is not good enough for us. In our journey to find the best way to prepare a turkey we have tried it all. We always come back to the method that produces great results every time - spatchcock the turkey and smoke it.


Spatchcocking is a simple technique that includes cutting out the backbone of the turkey, removing the ribs, and laying the bird out flat so that the dark and white meat all cook in the same period of time. No more overcooked breast just to have dark meat that is finished to perfection. This method will allow you to finish all of the bird at the same time.



Step 1: Pull the giblets and the turkey neck from the inside of the bird. Rinse the turkey under cold water and pat it dry (both on top of and under the skin) with paper towels. This will make the turkey easier to grip and keep it from sliding as you cut out the backbone.



Step 2: Using good poultry shears, start at the back of the turkey and work your way up one side of the backbone. Cut until you reach the neck. Take the time now to try and remove all of the rib bones from the turkey. This will ensure easier carving and make serving much easier once the bird is cooked. Repeat this for the left side, again making sure you remove rib bones and other loose bones as you go.



Step 3: Turn the turkey over and press down on the breast. This may take some muscle, but it is an extremely important step as this will allow the bird to lay flat, giving you a more even area to prepare and cook.

Make sure you get a large enough bird to feed everyone. If you are hosting a bigger group, getting a bird in the 20 pound range seems like a good idea. In reality these birds are so large that they do not cook evenly and are much harder to work with. Instead, buy two smaller birds in the 14 pound range. If you are hosting a smaller gathering, a smaller bird will work just fine. You always want to make sure you have enough meat (plus who doesn't like leftovers?) so plan on 2 pounds per guest. Using this ratio a 12 pound bird will easily feed a group of six.



Clean your prep area before you begin and clean it often as you prepare your turkey as well. Most turkeys carry harmful bacteria but when your preparation area is safe and clean you run little risk of making yourself or someone else sick. Having a good bleach spray or wipes and paper towels is recommended as bleach is guaranteed to disinfect any area that raw turkey may have touched. Don't forget to also wipe down the sink where you rinsed the bird to make sure any contamination from this step is taken care of.

If you follow these tips, you will be ready to safely prepare a delicious turkey. In our our next blog post on the perfect holiday turkey we will look at the pros and cons of brining vs. injecting, whether or not to stuff your turkey, what rubs are best for a smoked turkey and how to prepare and smoke  your bird on whatever grill you have.

 



Smokenator - The Smokenator is one of the most affordable and useful accessories ever invented for the Weber Kettle. The classic 22.5" Smokenator costs less than $60, yet turns your Kettle into a versatile smoker. Much like the Smoke E•Z, this accessory is all about low and slow. The simple design makes it easy to use, and the price makes it a no-brainer!

You cannot cook directly over the unit as the heat would burn any food there, leaving about 80% of the Kettle for food. This makes the Smokenator great for smoking smaller pieces and quantities of meat such as chicken wings, pork chops, ribs, etc. If you're looking to do a large cut of meat like pork shoulder or a full turkey, you’ll want to make sure you have the room, or jump up to a Smoke E•Z which gives you the full cooking space plus a second rack.

- The Smokenator is available for your 18.5", 22.5" or 26.75" Kettle.

Weber Gourmet BBQ System - This system from Weber is one of the most flexible and useful accessories for the Kettle that we've seen. With this system you can drop a Sear Grate, Griddle, Wok, or a Pizza Stone into the center of your Kettle. The versatility of this accessory is amazing, and the fact that you only need to buy the pieces you want or need may just be the best part!

 

 



Weber Kettle GrillGrate Set - These GrillGrate panels are 5.25" wide x 20" long and cut to fit a 22.5" Weber Kettle. Constructed of aircraft grade anodized aluminum, these grates are harder than stainless steel and will never rust. These grates allow you to get infrared style heat directly at the grate allowing you to soar past 800 degrees, and sear in the flavor and juice of your meat. The design also minimizes flare ups and makes cleaning a breeze.

 

 

 



Weber Kettle Rotisserie for 22.5 inch  - The rottisserie for the 22.5 inch kettle gives you another option. Use it for whole chicken, shwarma or gyros and add a new trick to your kettle.

 

 

 



Weber Style Stainless Steel Vegetable Basket  - Simply chop or slice your favorite veggies, toss them in the pan, and place it on the grill along side the main entree. All the grilled flavor with none of the hassle of turning small vegetable pieces. Also, try using it as a wok with diced chicken, pork, or beef. Made of 430-grade stainless steel.

Steven Raichlen Insulated Hot Food Gloves

Perfect for moving hot food around on a smoker, these insulated rubber gloves are our hottest Steven Raichlen item. They’re light and flexible but still protect your hands from heat so you can get in and out of your smoker without losing a lot of heat. Note: these gloves are not meant for handling hot coals or grates – they’re for moving food only!





Steven Raichlen Stainless Chili Pepper Grilling Set with Corer

For those that have ever struggled to cook jalapeno poppers on a grill without creating a mess, this accessory will make perfect sense to you! Core your peppers with the included corer, stuff, and set them into the pre-cut holes to create jalapeno popper magic. This set makes the perfect gift or addition to your personal grilling arsenal.



Steven Raichlen 18” Sauce Mop with Removable Head

If you’re going for that sweet, saucy, Kansas City style barbecue a sauce mop is a MUST have tool. Slather ribs, pork butts, or chicken in your favorite sauce with this cotton sauce mop. The cotton head is removable for easy clean up. (Related item: Steven Raichlen Sauce Mop Replacement Heads)



Steven Raichlen Stainless Beer Can Chicken Roaster

Beer can chicken is one of the best ways to make juicy, flavorful whole chickens on a barbecue grill. However,  getting a chicken to stand up on a beer can is not an easy task! That’s where this beer can chicken roaster comes in. Fill the provided stainless cup with the liquid of your choice, place it in the rack, and then put your chicken on top. The stable base holds your chicken upright while the liquid permeates the meat with flavor and moisture.



Steven Raichlen Non-Stick Ultimate Rib Rack

Pressed for space on your cooker? This heavy duty rib rack holds 4 racks of ribs upright to give you more room. The coated nonstick surface makes for easy clean up so you spend less time cleaning and more time enjoying your hard work.

Also, don't forget Steven Raichlen's wonderful book, The Barbecue Bible! It is full of recipes and advice for your next cook, whether you are a beginner or a pro!



Steven Raichlen's The Barbecue Bible!

Redesigned inside and out for its 10th anniversary, The Barbecue! Bible now includes full-color photographs illustrating food preparation, grilling techniques, ingredients, and of course those irresistible finished dishes. A new section has been added with answers to the most frequently asked grilling questions, plus Steven's proven tips, quick solutions to common mistakes, and more.

They may look a bit weird, and have a funny name; but for those of who have never had the chance to cook on a Big Green Egg, here is a short introduction of why we love them. The Big Green Egg is a modern ceramic version of ancient clay fired kamado grills. The kamado, which is Japanese for stove, has a vast history, and clay cooking pots unearthed in China by Archaeologists date back as much as 3,000 years. Americans were first introduced to kamado cookers in the years after WWII, and they started to show up in the states in the years following.



After George Stephan Sr. almost single-handedly kicked off the backyard barbecue culture of post-war suburban America, many companies began popping up with variations on the classic Weber Kettle. In 1974 Ed Fisher began importing kamado cookers into his pachinko shop in Atlanta, GA. After a few marketing tricks, which included wafting smoke from grilled chicken to attract customers, Mr. Fisher started to see sales of his imported cookers take off. After giving them a catchy name to go along with the green dimpled exterior, the Big Green Egg was born.

The Big Green Egg has a following unlike any other outdoor cooker, which is exhibited yearly at EggFests around the country and at the giant Eggtoberfest at the Atlanta Motor Speedway held each fall. Egg diehards swap recipes, tips, tricks, and techniques to both seasoned pros and newcomers alike. The Egg culture is welcoming, and a lot of fun!

The Big Green Egg also comes in a variety of sizes, from the Mini EGG (78.5 sq in of cooking surface) to the XLarge EGG (452 sq in of cooking surface), and they manufacture a variety of add-ons and accessories that lend to the versatility of this awesome charcoal grill. Here are our favorite accessories that we believe every Egg enthusiast should own!



Big Green Egg Plate Setter

The Big Green Egg Plate Setter is the must have grilling accessory that turns your EGG into an indirect cooking machine! It provides a barrier between the food and the fire, allowing heat to radiate within the dome while preventing the flames and direct heat of the fire from reaching the food. No single Big Green Egg grilling accessory will contribute greater versatility to your outdoor cooking than adding a Plate Setter to your accessories collection.



Big Green Egg Pizza/Baking Stone

The Big Green Egg Baking and Pizza Stone is an awesome grilling accessory that will give you the versatility to bake a variety of recipes from pizzas to breads to desserts. The Big Green Egg baking stone distributes heat for even baking and browning and the ceramics pull moisture from the outer surface of the dough for brick oven crustiness. The stone also retains heat, so your foods stay hot longer.



Big Green Egg Cast Iron Grid

The Big Green Egg Cast Iron Grid is the perfect grilling accessory for searing meats and seafood. By utilizing the superior heat conductivity of the Cast Iron Cook­ing Grid as an alternative to the primary Stainless Cooking Grid, you can greatly increase the versatility of your Big Green Egg grill by making a 30 second change. Flip the grid over for a flat searing surface for fish or seafood.



Big Green Egg Folding Grill Extender

The Big Green Egg Folding Grill Extender gives you a second tier, giving you even the room to cook an entire meal at once, and is made of the same high-quality chrome plated steel as the standard grill grate. This is the perfect grilling accessory if you ever find yourself running out of room on your Big Green Egg!



Big Green Egg Wooden EGG Mates

The Big Green Egg Wooden EGG Mates are used with an EGG in an EGG Nest. This grill accessory provides convenient and ample working or serving space for your EGG.

To sum it up, the Big Green Egg is one of our favorite grills, and these five Big Green Egg grill accessories will give even more versatility whether you already own and love an EGG, or are getting ready to purchase your first!

We’ve had our hands on nearly every grilling accessory and gadget imaginable. When it comes down to it, these are the ten grilling accessories we believe deliver on not only value, but usefulness!





Maverick ET-732 Wireless Barbecue Thermometer - $59.99

The Maverick ET-732 thermometer is hands down one of the coolest grilling accessories around! It gives you the ability to monitor internal meat temperatures from up to 300 feet away, and the LCD will flash and beep when the temperature goes above your programmed temp. The Maverick ET-732 also monitors your grill temperature and will notify you if it falls above or below your programmed range. This is a killer tool for the barbecue pro or weekend warrior, and at $59.99 it’s nearly impossible to beat!



Victorinox 6" Semi-Stiff Curved Boning Knife - $27.99

If we only had one good knife, this Swiss made Victorinox 6″ boning knife would be it! The curved edge provides a better working angle when cutting close to and around the bone, while the high carbon stainless-steel blade provides maximum sharpness and edge retention. This knife also features a patented textured Fibrox handle which is slip resistant and ergonomically designed for balance and comfort. This knife should be in the grilling accessories toolkit of anyone who cooks on a regular basis.



Bear Paws Pork Pullers - $11.95

Bear Paws are like an extension of your own hands. Formed from hard, durable plastic, they are the perfect tool for shredding meat. When you have a large amount of meat to shred, a regular fork just doesn’t cut it, but the Bear Paws make quick and painless work out of pounds of pork! This is also the perfect grilling accessory for lifting hot food items from the pan to the platter, or securely holding food in place while carving. The Bear Paws Pork Pullers are a must have in the All Things Barbecue Test Kitchen, and once you’ve used them, they’ll be a must have in your kitchen as well!



GrillPro Marinade Injector - $9.99

When you need to add extra kick and flavor to your meat, look no further than the GrillPro Marinade Injector! This must have grilling accessory allows you to easily enhance the flavor of your meat by injecting your favorite marinade throughout the meat. The GrillPro Marinade Injector was designed with a graduated injection chamber and a stainless steel injector tip, making this one of the best built injectors we’ve seen!



Grill Friends Rub Shaker - $10.99

The Grill Friends Rub Shaker is the perfect grilling accessory for any cook that makes their own rub, or simply has a favorite that they use for everything. This rub shaker will hold up to one cup of rub, and features a removable rotating lid that has three different hole sizes to provide you with the perfect amount of rub every time.



Thermoworks RT301WA Super-Fast Pocket Thermometer - $29.95

The professional barbecuer doesn’t leave anything to chance, and neither should you! The Thermoworks RT301WA features a Super-Fast probe tip that will deliver a final temperature in only 5 to 6 seconds! The RT301WA also features a large, easy to read, digital display, rubberized switch panel with robust sealed LCD window to protect your thermometer from wet fingers and splashes, and will automatically turn off after 10 minutes to preserve battery life.  And remember, if you have only one great grilling accessory, an instant thermometer has got to be it!



GrillPro Stainless Steel Pepper Roasting Rack - $19.99

The GrillPro Stainless Steel Pepper Roasting Rack provides you with the perfect tool to cook up to 24 peppers on your grill with ease. This is the grill accessory for those that like the spicy side of grilling, and will have every cook raving about how easy their jalapeño poppers are to cook now! The set also includes a heavy-duty stainless steel pepper corer to make preparations quick and easy.



Frogmats Non-Stick Grilling and Smoking Mats - Starting at $8.95

Frogmats Non-Stick Grilling and Smoking Mats are the perfect grilling accessory for cooking up delicate foods and easily moving items around on the grill. Grill or smoke pieces of fruit, burnt ends, fish, or fatties with ease. Frogmats are also FDA compliant for direct food contact, and will not absorb odors, are dishwasher and food safe, and will last for years. These mats are are designed for use in indirect and < 500-degree cooking environments, giving you flexible cooking options.



Stufz Burger Press - $19.95

With the StufZ Ultimate Stuffed Burger Maker you can create the perfect stuffed hamburger. Start with your favorite ground meat whether beef, turkey, chicken or pork and then add your favorite ingredients to make the perfect stuffed burger. A Stufz made burger keeps all of the tasty goodness sealed inside, while the even thickness ensures that your stuffed burger is cooked to perfection! With this super fun grilling accessory you will be the envy of your neighbors and fellow tailgaters!



A-Maze-N Tube Smoker - Starting at $29.99

The A-Maze-N Tube Smoker was designed to deliver additional smoke infused flavor in a gas grill, pellet grill and propane fired smokers. You will achieve 4+ hours of burn time at smoking temps and of course you can adjust the pellet volume for just the right amount of smoke flavor to your grilled foods on your propane grill. The A-Maze-N Tube Smoker even performs well at altitudes of 5,000+’ above sea level, making this a must have grilling accessory for those that want to increase the versatility of their current grill or smoker!