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Best New Gear for Your Backyard Barbecue

The backyard barbecue has gone both fancy and high-tech. According to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association, a national trade group, there are a few trends expected to dominate the market this year. Among them: smartphone-integrated products to monitor grill temperature or check fuel levels and specialized accessories such as pizza stones, broiling baskets, cedar planks and grill woks. And according to grill guru Steven Raichlen’s blog, “Smoking is the new grilling.” So what does all this mean for your grill space? If you’re looking to spruce things up before the summer season begins, you might want to add a few of these items to your shopping list.


Backyard BarbecueHigh-tech Thermometers

This smartphone alerting thermometer uses a water-resistant transmitter to send alerts to a smartphone or tablet from 160 feet away when the grill has reached a pre-selected temperature, or when the grill has reached the best cooking temperature for a certain type of food. It can be used on two different types of meat at the same time.
Or for a different kind of tech, this laser surface thermometer measures the food’s temperature without contact. Simply aim the thermometer at your target and press the trigger to determine the surface temperature. Repeat: You get to shoot a laser at your food. It’s designed to work from up to five feet away.
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Backyard BarbecuePizza on the Grill

Can’t get enough pizza? This thermal pizza grilling stone contains two cordierite layers that join together to form a hollow core, diffusing the heat to ensure the dough is evenly cooked and crispy.
And if you really love making your own wood-fired pizza, maybe you’ll want to spring for your own outdoor pizza oven. The Pizzeria Pronto is portable, propane-fueled and bakes pizza in five minutes, just in case anyone wants seconds (or thirds).


Backyard BarbecueFlavor Enhancers

Classic kabobs get an upgrade with these salt block skewers, featuring hand-cut cubes of Himalayan sea salt; they’re meant to raise the kabobs above the grill to cook more evenly, and to conduct heat to speed up grilling time. They can be reused for as long as the salt lasts.
A garlic roaster and squeezer set lets you roast bulbs in the cast-iron container, then separate out the peeled cloves with the silicone squeezer. It works on the grill or in the oven.
You could stick to cedar (for grilling salmon) or with this plank sampler pack, you could also try hickory (beef or lamb), maple (pork or pizza) or cherry (chicken or turkey). The planks can also be paired with vegetables and some fruits. All woods are natural and chemical-free.


Backyard BarbecueGrill Tools

Even hard-core carnivores need to eat a green thing or two. This steel, non-stick grill wok is designed for vegetables and stir-frys, with handles for easy transport from grill to table. Note: You’ll need grill gloves–touching the surface with bare hands is not a good idea.
TV host, journalist and “The Barbecue Bible” author Steven Raichlen says this is the year for backyard smokers, and he’s written the cookbook to prove it, “Project Smoke.” Looking to get started? The 14-inch Smokey Mountain Cooker smoker is designed for ease of use, with porcelain-enameled surfaces, steel cooking grates and built-in lid thermometer. And it’s small enough to travel with you, so you can create a whole new menu for your camping trips and tailgates.
If you love grilling but hate the clean-up, fear no more. Apparently there are now robots to clean your grill for you. The Grillbot, featuring motor-controlled brass wire brushes, has a CPU chip to regulate its speed and direction, and it alerts you when the grill is clean. Think of it as a friend for your Roomba.


Hero (Top) Feature Image: © aruba2000 / Adobe Stock
Additional Images (in order) Courtesy:
Bed Bath & Beyond
Sur La Table
BBQ Guys
Weber

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