Best accessories to start?


 
M

Morgan C

New member
I'm about to purchase a WSM 22.5 as a gift, and I want to make sure the lucky new smoker owner can cook something right away. I have never even grilled before so I am out of my element! What are the essential accessories or products that I should include in my gift?
 
Two bags of charcoal! A chimney starter, maybe a pair of gloves. And the link to this site!
Maybe a nice big pork butt and some good sausages,
 
I like the full-sized Weber chimney...there are times you want a full chimney of hot coals for 300-325*F smoking of turkey, chicken, etc. And for 30 briquets for Minion, just flip the full-sized chimney upside down, place briquets in the small end, and light as usual.

Full-sized Weber chimney: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000WEOQV8/tvwb-20
Compact Weber chimney: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B009IH0ICG/tvwb-20
Expandable smoking rack: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00FDOOOVO/tvwb-20
Top-rated Weber spatula: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B005LR1K5Q/tvwb-20
Best-selling leather gloves: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000MRQAJG/tvwb-20
Maverick ET-733: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00FOCR4UI/tvwb-20
ThermoWorks thermometers & timers: http://www.thermoworks.com/?tw=VWB

Lots of good accessories and supplies discussed here: http://virtualweberbullet.com/accessories.html

And I'll collected many popular items on Amazon on this page: http://virtualweberbullet.com/shopping.html
 
MAVERICK!! I bought the 733 and it's given me a fighting chance to make some great food!
 
I think Timothy hit it spot on! I can not speak for the expandable rack Dwain mentioned, as I have never used one. I love my maverick, don't get me wrong, but I think to get started and to really get the feel of how the WSM works you need to start out with the Weber thermometer. A chimney is a must have, and a WSM is basically a huge paper weight if you're out of charcoal! Good luck, I know whoever receives the gift is going to love it!
Tim
 
I'd also suggest a large, heavy duty spatula that's big enough and stiff enough to let you get underneath a cooked butt (which frequently want to stick to the grate) and lift it. Cooked butts sometimes want to fall apart when you're trying to get them off the grate, and I find my big spatula is indispensable.
 
Tons of things you can buy, but you don't have to go overboard. Maybe one thing you might think about are "bear claws" or "bear Paws". Link attached as an example.

I find these to be helpful. I use them for shredding pulled pork etc. but also especially for picking up thinks like hot cooked chickens etc.

Amazon has tons of different brands etc. below is just one example

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B003IWI66W/tvwb-20
 
Go to the dollar store and get some cookie sheets to be used exclusively for BBQ.
You'll be glad to save your good pans from the rough handling of Q prep and beer drinking cooks.;)
 
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Pretty much all you "need" (besides charcoal and some way to light it!) is a couple of thermometers. One leave in type thermo, preferably with an "ambient" probe and a "meat" probe, and one GOOD instant read thermometer. The first one is to monitor the fire and the meat as it is cooking, and the instant read keeps you from serving under cooked food as a back-up to the leave in type.
Some guys like the Maverick leave in thermometers, and other like the Igrill. both allow "remote" monitoring.
Everybody likes Thermoworks for instant read.
 
I would get a chimney and maverick 733. Have him do a few cooks and let him invest in accessories as he sees fit. Most of the things mentioned I have but a few I just personally have not felt the need to invest in. You never until you start cooking!
 
Andrew F said:
Pretty much all you "need" (besides charcoal and some way to light it!) is a couple of thermometers. One leave in type thermo, preferably with an "ambient" probe and a "meat" probe, and one GOOD instant read thermometer. The first one is to monitor the fire and the meat as it is cooking, and the instant read keeps you from serving under cooked food as a back-up to the leave in type.
Some guys like the Maverick leave in thermometers, and other like the Igrill. both allow "remote" monitoring.
Everybody likes Thermoworks for instant read.
Click to expand...

Personally, I couldn't bring myself to pay almost $100 for a thermometer (although I'm sure they're worth that for professional cooks), so I dropped $25 on the Lavatools Javelin. Works just as well for 1/4 the price.
 
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