The great thing about BBQ and grilling is that you don’t need too many BBQ tools to be successful. If you have a BBQ grill and a fuel source you pretty much have all you need to take a few ingredients and turn them into a delicious meal.  Here’s Part I of a collection of some of our favorite posts on the essential tools of BBQ – think of it as a list of the Top BBQ Tools!

Charcoal Chimney –  Besides your BBQ grill, the single most important BBQ tool you need to be a successful pit-master is a charcoal chimney!  What’s a charcoal chimney you ask?  A charcoal chimney lets you quickly light your charcoal without having to use any lighter fluid.  Ensuring from the start that your BBQ food won’t taste like lighter fluid is a good thing!  Read more.

Meat Thermometer – Many of the best BBQ Pit Masters can tell when the meat on their smoker is done just by sight and touch.  For those of us that don’t have BBQ ESP we have to rely on a meat thermometer.  When cooking a pork shoulder, brisket or chicken a meat thermometer is an essential tool for the BBQ backyard griller.  Read more.

Hardwood Lump Charcoal – Lump charcoal is the end product of the process of burning chunks of hardwood in the absence of oxygen. It is almost like your sticking a piece of oak or hickory in the grill so it is the most natural and pure form of charcoal you can buy. We think lump charcoal gives BBQ a much better flavor than BBQ briquettes and it lights easy, burns hotter, and produces far less ash than briquettes.  Read more.