shopping advice? gloves, mops... etc

cwalk4021 · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 12

So i just bought my first pit a month ago, and after a few cooks with the beast i've realized I'm missing out on some things of need...

First Need: Neoprene cooking gloves... do any of u guys use these? i successfully cooked my hands to an internal temp of 160 the other day and was hoping to find some gloves i could use for taking butts and ribs off the smoker and if possible - pulling pork with them as well... any suggestions??

Second Need: Mop.... dont really know if i need one of these or not... i favor dry smoking with no drip pan so i like to baste as i cook... putting thick sauce on the outside of the meat just seems like it would not allow the smoke to penetrate or give the meat the full smokey flavor.. again i'm learning so bare with me... should i use a cotton mop or one of those fancy rubber/dishwasher safe get ups?? garden sprayer??

Last Need: an apron... preferably something funny maybe... i ruined some nice clothes with my first cooking attempt Mad

thanks for any advice

gordo · Posted: Feb 16 2009 Post subject:

Hi cwalk..Welcome to the forum...

Most all things listed can be found at a restaurant supply place, if you have one in you area...

Congrats on that new pit..! Lots of fun ahead for you, along with some good eats..!! Laughing

_________________
Smokers Inc.
Bates Custom Pit

BufordCityDawg · BBQ Super Fan Joined: 23 Jan 2008 Posts: 400

I use just a simple rubber tipped mop and it does fine for what I use it for. Mostly it is used to slather with mustard to start and slather with sauce to finish. It does the job well and is an easy clean up. The issue with the cotton mops, as I understand it, is they are hard to clean.

I've been thinking about buying a pair of those gloves that you see they advertise to peal potatoes to use for pulling. I've got an ove glove to use for the smoker. It protects well, but picks up and holds onto any drippings, so get used to it being ugly fast.

Other things I've found useful include bear claws to pick up meat. Huge spatula for moving stuff around, large tongs, same purpose. small, cheap spatula to move around my coals and wood. Picked it up at the dollar store. You'll eventually want some type of food saver device. I got one of the hand held type that fit the glad bags and it works fine for my volume of cooking. Most of the folks here probably have the more expensive types. Not sure what type of rig you have but I've found that a air pump helps me get temps back up to speed when I screw up and let the coals get too low. Trial and error will give you the tools that you need.

gpalasz · Posted: Feb 16 2009 Post subject:

Gloves are good, Id buy a thermapen, perhaps a remote pit sensor-especially if your new to Q-ing or new to a pit...helps you understand what temps are happening in the pit. Forget the mop...a spray bottle will suffice. Most will tell you it really does not affect the end product much to notice a difference. Id buy a big roll of HEAVY DUTY aluminium foil at SAMS, stock pile fuel...and by far the most important item-BEER
_________________
Team Diamondback Q
Stumps SW223

CowboyCookers · Newbie Joined: 21 Jul 2007 Posts: 97 Location: Jenks, OK

These gloves have been recommended on here several times: http://www.texasbbqrub.com/tools.htm

I have 2 pairs of them and they work great! No problems handling meat in the pit and no more cooking your hands!
_________________
Jeremy
Cowboy Cookers

SierraScott · Posted: Feb 16 2009 Post subject:

Here's what I have...

A long fire poker
Galvanized 5 gallon bucket with lid for charcoal
couple pairs of heavy leather work gloves
Long, big and sturdy pair of tongs
Squirt bottle
A light weight metal cart on wheels I put next to the cooker
An ash bucket with lid
Ash shovel from fire place kit
A nice mop and pitcher for mopping
A silicone sauce brush
A mini fridge in the Sun Room with Guinness and Erdinger stocked up in it

I have an apron with dancing pigs BBQing on it!
_________________
Scott

Custom Built Upright Smoker
Weber One Touch Silver 22.5"
CharBroil Silver Smoker

tinovr · Posted: Feb 16 2009 Post subject:

I think some of it depends on the type of pit.. I have a WSM..

Chimney - anyone using charcoal should have one
old cheap tongs for placing wood/coals in the WSM
PVC gloves for lifting meat that can't be picked up with tongs
Welding gloves for holding hot metal
Thermometers (one to measure pit temp, one for food internal temp)
Oil drip pan (place under smoker to protect patio/deck from coals/grease)
spray bottle. (i usually mist with JD/apple juice mix)

I also have a Cabela's camp kitchen ($70) .. good to set up next to the smoker to hold things like trays, foil, paper towels, etc..
_________________
WSMx2, Genesis Silver B, & BabyQ

BurninBoar · Joined: 24 Dec 2008 Posts: 22 Location: Jackson NE

Welcome cwalk, I have a pair of rubber gloves I picked up at the local farm supply store for about $5. They work great for handling meat and clean up really easily. For hot metal and fire tending I have a pair of cheap welding gloves I got from Harbor Freight, just don't use these for meat handling because they are a pain to clean. I did buy a cotton mop because I saw one on TV but I don't use it, a spray bottle from the dollar store is much handier. I mist with straight apple juice, can't bring myself to spray something on the meat that should be over ice, in my drink, in my hand!
_________________
ECB
SnP
Home Built Trailer under construction

"Why choke chicken if you can pull pork?"

cwalk4021 · Joined: 27 Jan 2009 Posts: 12

thanks for all the replies.. i think i'm gonna get some black knight gloves and just stick with using my hand pump garden sprayer for a mop!

NCBBQFAN · Posted: Feb 17 2009 Post subject:

You can find mops at your local Walmart during the spring until fall in the garden/grill area. Also the spray bottle may be something for you to look at as well.
I have used these in the past but have gone with the olive oil and seasoning without basting. And I get this.

NCBBQFAN · Posted: Feb 17 2009 Post subject:

You can find mops at your local Walmart during the spring until fall in the garden/grill area. Also the spray bottle may be something for you to look at as well.
I have used these in the past but have gone with the olive oil and seasoning without basting. And I get this.

Brian Briggs · Posted: Feb 17 2009 Post subject:

I have "bear claws", they work great.

http://cgi.ebay.com/BEAR-PAWS-MEAT-HANDLERS-FOR-YOUR-BBQ-SMOKER-PIT-GRILL_W0QQitemZ160313008751QQihZ006QQcategoryZ20725QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262

For flipping chicken and small items, I take a new pair of cotton gardening gloves and a bucket of ice water. Dip my hands in, flip till they warm up. Dip again and repeat.

I bought my mop from here

http://www.barbecue-store.com/12inchbastingmop.htm

My brush from here

http://www.barbecue-store.com/siliconeheadbastingbottle.htm

My BBQ hook from here

http://www.barbecue-store.com/barbecuesteakhook-17in.htm

My tongs from here

http://www.barbecue-store.com/superscissortongs-20incheslong.htm

Thermometer from here

http://cgi.ebay.com/MAVERICK-ET-73-2-PROBE-BBQ-GRILL-SMOKER-PIT-THERMOMETER_W0QQitemZ160315520520QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item160315520520&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318%7C301%3A1%7C293%3A1%7C294%3A50

Beverages from here

http://www.makersmark.com/Lpa.aspx

JamesB · Posted: Feb 17 2009 Post subject:

Heavy gloves are the single most handy (hehe) tool I have for working around the pit. I use the same type of gloves sold at the bbq rub site listed earlier. I bought 12 pairs of them for like $30 a few years back and still have several pair... With these you won't need to invest in spatulas etc. for moving meat around the pit. They also work great for pulling pork butts and they clean up very easily.

As mentioned you can usually find similar at restaurant supplies, but I like the lining on these.

Here is one link to get them http://www.labsafety.com/store/Safety_Supplies/Gloves/PVC_Gloves/12577/

I normally don't mop, but I really don't like those cotton type mops. They are a bear to clean. If your a mopper consider getting one of those silicon brushes and use that to sling your mop on... or just use a spoon.

A Thermapen is a must have...
_________________

Brian Briggs · Posted: Feb 17 2009 Post subject:

Oh, I forgot the most used item. A box of disposable gloves for the rub