If you have a Weber charcoal grill, there are a few additional items you need to make the most of it. Here are the best, most useful, Weber charcoal grill accessories.
Weber Charcoal Grill Care and Maintenance Accessories
Taking care of your grill is the most important factor in guaranteeing years of enjoyment. Here are the must-have care and maintenance accessories.
A Grill Cover
While Weber grills are designed to be durable, and guaranteed not to rust through for 10 years, a grill cover is a must-have. Keeping the grill covered not only protects it from the elements and prolongs its lifespan, but it also keeps it cleaner and looking sharp.
Weber sells standard and premium grill covers for each of their models, and these grill covers fit well, protect from the elements, and fasten in place to keep them from blowing away. Premium grill covers offer additional durability and water-resistance, and are recommended for harsh climates.
Please note that grills that come with an attached cart like the Weber Performer will require a different size cover than a grill without a cart like the Weber Master Touch.
Cleaning Kit
While you can always clean your grill with standard brushes, sponges, scrapers, and the appropriate cleaning agents, it may be faster and simpler for a new grill owner to simply use a Weber cleaning and maintenance kit.
Weber has maintenance kits for their porcelain-enamel, stainless steel, and Q model grills. These kits include cleaning agents that are appropriate for every surface on your grill, along with scrubbing pads, scrubbing brushes, and scrapers, so you can keep your grill looking like new.
Weber Charcoal Grill Cooking Essentials
No matter what you are grilling, there are a few things you need to make it faster, easier, and more delicious. Here are some charcoal cooking essentials.
Rapidfire Chimney Starter
A chimney starter is essential for fast, flavorful charcoal grilling. The Rapidfire chimney starter lights quickly and evenly, with no need for lighter fluid. The dual-handled design and heat shield allow you to use it comfortably, and it has the quality and durability you expect from Weber. The Rapidfire chimney starter comes in standard and compact sizes.
Meat Thermometer
There is simply no grilling without a meat thermometer. For beginners, a thermometer lets you know when meat is cooked properly. For advanced pit masters, it lets you know when food is consistently cooked to perfection, allows accurate resting times, and lets you plan complex meals ahead of time. No cook, professional or amateur, is without an excellent meat thermometer.
Weber sells a standard instant read meat thermometer, and the new Snapcheck thermometer that provides accurate temperatures in three seconds or less, with a display that rotates to be read at any angle.
Tools
In order to grill properly, everyone needs at least a spatula and a pair of tongs. It’s also a good idea to have bamboo skewers, a basting brush, and some great kitchen knives. Of course, Weber makes all your essential grilling tools, with excellent quality and convenience.
Clothes
You absolutely need heat resistant gloves or something to protect your hands. Experts recommend that nobody grill without an apron; it protects your body, keeps your clothes clean, and has pockets for your essentials. There is a huge range of barbecue aprons for every style and need.
Weber Charcoal Grill Cooking Accessories
Cooking accessories make your Weber charcoal grill even more versatile, expanding the types of food you can cook to perfection. Here are some of our favorites.
Grilling Rack
A grilling rack is simply an additional grate accessory that sits above your existing grill grate. These racks are incredibly useful. They can maximize grill space, allowing you to cook or smoke more foods at once.
They can be used to toast buns, roast potatoes, grill vegetables, or keep foods warm. Adding additional space to your grill is a no-brainer, and Weber sells grilling rack accessories that are sized for all of their grills, so you can always find the perfect fit.
Rotisserie
Weber makes a rotisserie accessory specifically designed for their 22” charcoal grills. The rotisserie allows you to slow-roast meats, with a rotation that cooks and crisps them evenly on all sides while they baste themselves as they cook. A rotisserie is a fantastic way to cook roasts, ribs, and chicken.
There are third party manufacturers that also make rotisseries for Weber kettles. These rotisseries are just as good as Weber’s and typically cost much less.
Deluxe Poultry Roaster
Speaking of chicken, Weber’s Deluxe Poultry Roaster allows you to infuse roasted chicken with the steam and moisture from your favorite beer, juice, or wine. Add your favorite liquid, cap it to lock in the steam and capture the juices, and roast moist yet crispy chicken to perfection. This roaster has a non-stick ceramic surface that makes cleaning fast and easy.
Grilling Basket
A grilling basket makes it much more convenient to grill perfect, vibrant, delicious vegetables on the grill. They can also cook any smaller items you want to grill, including pieces of meat, garlic, lemons, and more. Weber makes a wide range of high quality grilling baskets designed to fit any of their charcoal grill models.
Rib Rack
Ribs are the quintessential food for a charcoal grill, and a rib rack is incredibly useful if you are feeding a crowd. Standing the ribs upright allows you to maximize space on the grill, allowing you to prepare multiple racks of ribs at the same time, while allowing smoke to circulate around the ribs and impart flavor. Weber has a wide range of rib racks, designed for any size grill. Many rib racks are multipurpose, with a shape that can also cradle a roast.
Grilling Stone
A grilling stone is an amazing way to transform a charcoal grill into a brick oven, allowing you to cook pizza, desserts, and even breads on a charcoal grill. The stone and grill impart a delicious, smoky flavor, with a crisp crust and delicate crumb, to all kinds of baked goods, making them much better than when cooked in the oven.
Everyone loves pizza, and a grilling stone allows everyone to personalize their own toppings and have their perfect pizza in just a couple of minutes, making grilled pizza faster than delivery, and faster even than frozen. Weber sells a glazed stoneware grilling stone with integrated handles, making the stone easy to lift and use.
Grilling Pan
Okay, so you probably don’t need to sauté on the grill, but it’s definitely worth a try. Having a grill pan allows you to pan-sear delicate fish and seafood, vegetables, and other dishes on the grill, imparting an amazing smoky flavor and allowing you to build sauces and side dishes while you grill.
The Weber Deluxe Grilling Pan Set is a versatile design that can double as a lidded pot, or separately as a sauté pan and grilling basket. It’s also non-stick and dishwasher safe for easy cleanup.
Rimmed Baking Sheet
Weber doesn’t sell rimmed baking sheets, but they should, because they are a grilling essential. Sturdy, high-quality rimmed baking sheets are simply the best way to get food from the kitchen to the grill, and back again if necessary.
Rimmed baking sheets give you room to rub, baste, turn, coat, and mix food for grilling, and they are convenient, affordable, and dishwasher safe. There’s a reason that professional pit masters keep dozens of these handy accessories on hand.
Charcoal Grilling Accessories You Can Skip
Believe it or not, there are some grilling accessories that simply aren’t worth it. Here are some accessories you don’t need.
Potato Nails
A few years ago, Cooks Illustrated Magazine did some testing, and found that, while aluminum potato nails did make potatoes cook faster, it was only a few minutes difference, and the nailed potatoes weren’t any better. They aren’t worth the investment.
Specialized Grilling Racks and Baskets
There is no need to get specialized grilling racks specifically for corn, or s’mores, or meatballs, or hot dogs, or any of the other foods. They don’t prepare foods any better than standard racks and baskets, and one-purpose devices take up unnecessary space and are seldom used.
Burger Presses
Some chefs insist you must, some chefs insist that you must not. Try one out and form your own opinion.
Himalayan Salt Planks
Although they are extremely trendy, and some people feel that they impart incredible flavor and texture to grilled foods, they are also high-maintenance and may not be worth it.
Conclusion
The right accessories keep you safe, keep your grill clean and in working order, allow you to handle all your food, and let you prepare almost any food you care to on your grill.
Over time, good accessories pay for themselves in ease of use, time saved, and durability. Weber sells almost all the grilling essentials you need, designed specifically to fit your Weber charcoal grill, and backed by Weber’s legendary design and engineering. They are well worth the investment.
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