BBQ season is far from winding down. In fact, does it ever really end? Don’t let a little bit of snow get in your way. Not that snow is a threat at the moment (as I write this mid-August), but here’s some BBQ gear to help your next backyard party in sun or snow:
After years of practice, my hand formed burgers have developed a small degree of consistency in size and shape. Sometimes, they’re a little crumbly and fall apart the first time I try to flip them. Or maybe they last until the end, but then a chunk falls off while it’s mashed in the bun. Enter the Burger Stomper Pro. This form makes perfect 6oz burgers every time. The trick I found was to get the right amount of meat to stomp. Too little meat isn’t such a big deal as you just get a smaller burger. Too much meat and it starts to spew out the sides and you just use that meat in the next burger. After some practice, I was nailing it. The burgers look big when they’re raw, but cook down to the perfect size. Are you a fan of sliders? The kit also comes with a 2oz slider form. As advertised, I never had a burger or chunks of meat get stuck in the form. $30 | burgerstomper.com
Now that you’re out at the grill, bring along the Grill Daddy Heat Shield tool set. No matter what you’re cooking up, there’s an attachment end to suit your needs. A standard spatula for burgers, fork for steak or hot dogs, tongs to flip veggies or potatoes and a wide spatula for fish.
The brilliant thing about this kit is the heat shield that wraps around your fingers to block the heat while flipping. It’s on a swivel so it’s always between your hand and the heat. I didn’t find this very necessary for my little home grill, but I’ve cooked on big grills where this would have been a very welcome feature. $50 | buygrilldaddy.com
Days are getting shorter but it’s still nice to be outside. While bugs aren’t a huge problem here in Colorado, they are around and are pesky when they show up. ThermaCELL has a great little lantern that provides light and repels bugs. Sounds backwards, but it’s true. A little heat plate on the top of the lantern warms a replaceable repellant pad. The lantern does pretty well itself and will work at home as well as out car camping. $32 | thermacell.com
Last but not least, after stuffing yourself full of great burgers, you’re going to want a nap. Check out the DoubleNest Hammock from ENO. This is a great way to go because it’s roomy enough for two if you’re keen to share and is luxurious for one to snooze on your own. $70 | eaglesnestoutfittersinc.com
