If you’ve ever had the opportunity to walk through the barbecue area of your local DIY center or specialty barbecue store, you’ve probably noticed a couple of tools. Actually, maybe you noticed a couple of thousand barbecuing tools. It’s confusing; and not a bit enticing - that shiny gleaming whatchamacallit is just calling your name, isn’t it? But at $12.99, do you really need a new whatchamacallit? What exactly do you need for perfecting your barbecue?

• Oven Mitts: Unless your hands are made of asbestos, you need oven mitts or hot pads to prevent a burn. Remember, your first instinct when picking up something hot is to drop something hot.
• Instant-read Thermometer: Don’t guess whether or not your hamburger is cooked through enough, your health, and the health of your guests, is worth the few bucks a thermometer would cost.
• Long handled spatula: How else are you gonna flip those burgers? Also works great for steaks and fish filets, and is a better alternative than a fork which will ultimately dry out your meat.
• Skewers: Bamboo or metal skewers can be used to thread your little bits of food so they don’t fall through the grating, and they’re a little more attractive then the sticks you’ve been cutting from the shrubs in your backyard.
• Long handled tongs: Perfect for picking up hot potatoes or rolling your hot dogs on the grill (unless you don’t mind one side burning and one side raw). And how else are you gonna reach the kitchen towel that fell behind your fridge?
• Brush: A simple pastry or paint brush works terrific for adding oil or barbecue sauce to foods already on the grill. Brushes with natural bristles will work best, because the ones with artificial fibers melt when they come in contact with heat.