Outdoor Cooking Gear for the Grilling Foodie
For the grilling foodie, outdoor cooking is more than just burgers and hot dogs. Just like food is life, outdoor cooking is a way of life. The backyard barbecue not only becomes a place for the grilling foodie to cook, but it becomes a place to make memories around the fire.
There is a subtle nonchalance that surrounds someone who excels at outdoor cooking. Although often interrupted, the grilling foodie doesn't get distracted by begging dogs, buzzing bees, or kids cannonballing into the pool. The grilling foodie adapts, keeping his eye on the prize, using his outdoor cooking to create new memories with friends and family.
These are eight of my favorite finds that every grilling foodie should have for outdoor cooking.
The only award-winning electric knife sharpener with a built-in vacuum
Work Sharp E5 Kitchen Knife Sharpener with Ceramic Honing Rod
If ease of operation is what you're after, the Work Sharp E5 is like a spa day for your cutlery.
Knifemakers use flexible sharpening belts for a factory-sharp edge, and the E5 takes advantage of the same technology allowing you to achieve razor-sharp results quickly and efficiently.
How quickly, you may ask?
The E5 is actually programmed to allow you to sharpen your knife in about 90 seconds, using three different variable speed settings.
Adjust the pre-programmed settings to shape, sharpen, or hone the blade, based on what condition your knife is in.
No detail has been overlooked with the Work Sharp E5.
They've even included an onboard vacuum that collects any debris or metal shavings you may accumulate which keeps them off your countertop.
The ceramic rod is a hone run
An included ceramic honing rod is a total bonus.
This ceramic rod assists with sharpening even the hardest of blades for straight, curved, and serrated knives.
It comes with two different textures for honing, based on your needs at the moment.
The smooth side of this honing rod is perfect for maintaining your edge between sharpenings.
Or use the more scalloped side if your knife develops a nick from hitting a chicken bone or whatever mayhem happens inside the dishwasher when you're not looking.
This honing rod also takes advantage of Work Sharp's signature precision sharpening guides built into the handle of the ceramic rod. It allows you to touch up the blade between sharpenings at the perfect angle every time.
Hand sharpening kitchen knives can be so rewarding
Work Sharp Whetstone Knife Sharpener
If you prefer getting more in touch with the zen-like aspect of manually maintaining your knives, the Work Sharp Whetstone Knife Sharpener is worth looking at.
There's something satisfying about sharpening your knives by hand and, for the price, this whetstone knife sharpener is hard to beat.
Whetstones have done a wonderful job sharpening knives for ages, but they have a few drawbacks.
Work Sharp has addressed some of the most common challenges by including a sharpening guide that can assist in sharpening at 15° or 17°.
Its guides can also be removed to sharpen freehand.
The Premium 1000 / 6000 Corundum Water Stone fits securely and sits in a water control base that won't leave a mess on your work surface.
Work Sharp's control base is well padded, won't slide around when you're using it, and doubles as a storage vessel for the stones.
Get yourself the SUV of kitchen knives
Anvil & Hammer 8" Damascus Chef Knife
Of the dozens of knives in my kitchen, the one I go to time and again is the 8" Chef's Knife from Anvil & Hammer.
One thing restaurant chefs will tell you about a good knife is that it has to have a balance which allows you to use the tool over time without being fatigued.
Anvil & Hammer achieves this balance by combining the 67-layer Damascus steel blade with a genuine African Rosewood handle.
What you get is a chef's knife that performs like a workhorse of a pickup truck.
This is evident when you're spatchcocking a chicken or trimming a brisket before smoking. But this knife has the performance of a luxury roadster when you're making mounds of a mirepoix or chiffonading herbs.
You should definitely consider treating yourself to this knife, but if you plan on gifting it to a foodie friend, it arrives in an upscale white gift box with a protective sheath for safe storage.
Have kit, will travel
Camp Chef Deluxe 4 Piece Carving Knife Set
When it comes to cooking essentials, I typically prefer to make purchases a la carte so I don't get stuck with something I may never use.
But the Camp Chef 4 Piece Carving Set strips it down to just the essentials in case you're stranded on a desert island and need to break down a smoked turkey for seven other castaways.
The kit comes with all stainless steel tools, including a 10-inch chef knife, a santoku knife, a pair of grill tongs, and a carving fork.
But what's really cool is the canvas roll knife case which is included. The case not only protects you and the knives from each other while in transit, but it also keeps everything organized and will look super cool when you're slicing up something delicious at camp or in your own backyard.
A cutting board that's bigger than most small airplanes
Well, Camp Chef's Bamboo Cutting Board isn't exactly bigger than most small airplanes, but you'll feel like you're flying first class with all the room this thing offers.
With 468 square inches of surface area, this cutting board offers plenty of room to cut and present your food for dining.
A real behemoth.The board's designed with a deep groove around the outside for catching juices and keeping the liquids all in one place in case you want to make a delicious board sauce.
Not only is the bamboo safe for cutting on, but it also integrates with the Camp Chef Patio Cart (sold separately) for an awesome prep surface or serving station.
This Mid Century grill cooks better than most modern offerings
There's something about the taste of food cooked over real charcoal that is absolutely delicious. The Original PK grill is an absolute charcoal cooking machine and has been putting out delicious meals since the 1950s.
The Original PK grill is made in the USA. Its cast-aluminum body allows it to be versatile. It works as well as a smoker it does a grill.
Although the Original PK is built like a tank, it's portable enough that you can take it with you wherever your culinary adventures lead you.
The simplicity of this cooker is part of its magic.
The temperature is controlled via two vents at the top of the cooker and two at the bottom.
Keep 'em wide open to blast sear a steak or some burgers, or feather them toward closed and you can cook slow and low for hours without any need to add fuel. A perfect addition to the arsenal of any grilling foodie.
Up the ante on flavor, start cooking with GrillGrates
One of the most common accessories for the PK Grill is also one of my favorite outdoor cooking accessories. GrillGrates.
GrillGrates are panels that go over the grates on your existing grill.
Made from hard-anodized aluminum, GrillGrates actually amplify the temperature of your grill resulting in a wonderful and delicious set of sear marks you'll be dreaming about for hours after dinner.
But GrillGrates aren't just pretty grill marks and amplified heat.
GrillGrates actually assist in making grilled food taste more delicious.
When food cooks on GrillGrates, the juices vaporize within the wells. Those vapors coat the food essentially seasoning it with its own juices.
Flip over GrillGrates and they do just as good of a job on the flat side. Perfect for grilling veggies like asparagus and potato slices as they won't be prone to falling into the flame.
Get good charcoal that cooks hot as hell and makes your food taste like heaven
If you're planning a special meal on the grill or smoker, do yourself a favor and get some quality charcoal.
If you're new to charcoal cooking or just recently got a Kamado grill like the Kamado Joe or Big Green Egg, you should take a look at Jealous Devil Charcoal.
Jealous Devil's all-natural hardwood lump charcoal brings the heat with a blend of hardwoods that provide delicious flavor to your food.
Not only does Jealous Devil Charcoal ignite quickly, but it produces very little ash and relatively no sparking.
If you're more of a charcoal briquette enthusiast, Jealous Devil Maxxx XL briquettes are something you won't regret trying.
Since bigger is better, Maxxx brings larger briquettes. Twice the size of normal briquettes, Maxx brings twice the heat and twice the flavor!
Maxxx is 100% natural, and chemical-free. There's zero of the acrid chemical taste you find in convenience store charcoal.
A clean-burning fuel for making delicious foods.
If you want to get 5% off any Jealous Devil product, consider checking out the Jealous Devil website and order from them directly.
Enter the promo code GRILLINMONTANA at checkout and save yourself a few bucks.
OK, I want that cutting board!
The cutting board is a behemoth!
That knife is a beauty!
Sharp thinking Charfoolery!