5 essential items you can't do without at your barbecue

Knifemakers and BBQ lovers on duty: do you know what you can't do without at a BBQ? Besides the main stars – a good cut of meat, hot coals, and a quality handmade knife – there are a few more essential items on this list that might still go unnoticed or not receive enough attention.

To help you prepare the best BBQ on all occasions, the CIMO Knives blog has separated a few more components that will surely add a lot of flavor and quality to your grilling preparations, check them out:

1 – Meat, charcoal, and grill – the classics

We couldn't start our list without mentioning the classic foods and items present in every Brazilian BBQ: meat, charcoal, and the grill. This is because, naturally, it's almost impossible to think of a BBQ without these items so appreciated by Brazilians.

Meat is the great protagonist of the BBQ moment. The diversity of types and cuts, by themselves, create an incredible variety of flavors and textures that make BBQ a major national event – and rightly so!

All of this, along with the right seasoning and ideal temperature, creates the spectacle of sounds, aromas, and traditional BBQ flavors that cannot be missed at the event.

Well, besides that, a BBQ wouldn't be a BBQ without the instrument that gives the preparation its name – the grill. Whether made of brick, cement, or metal; small, medium, or large, the grill, along with the grates or skewers, is also part of the list of essentials in the life of grill masters and BBQ lovers.

2 – BBQ knife kit

The BBQ kit, usually composed of knives, forks, and a honing steel, is another fundamental component for a successful BBQ. After all, nothing is worse than a poorly made cut or charred pieces due to a lack of appropriate instruments, right?

For this reason, having a knife kit, especially handmade ones, carefully sharpened, helps you ensure the visual spectacle of precision and agility on family weekends or special events.

Between us, a beautiful BBQ cut enhances the meat and is the first step towards achieving the perfect BBQ.

3 – Basic utensils – BBQ logistics

So far, we've mentioned some utensils that deserve prominence in the BBQ world: charcoal, the grill, and the handmade knife. These are, without a doubt, indispensable items for a succulent and delicious preparation. However, know that there are a few more utensils you should invest in to advance in your BBQ career (even if it's just family BBQs):

• Cutting board: Hunger might make you want to eat an entire steak, but it's very important to cut pieces of meat and sausage. For this to happen correctly, a good BBQ cutting board comes in handy;
• Skewers: BBQ isn't just about meat, so having metallic skewers on hand helps you prepare other types of meat with practicality, agility, and, of course, quality;
• Cooler: After all, BBQ and beer are best friends. With that in mind, a cooler ensures beer and other drinks are always cold!
• Plastic cups: Are you hosting an event or inviting a lot of people to your BBQ? Having plastic cups available ensures success with the kids while saving time during post-BBQ cleanup (yes, the one nobody likes).

4 – Appropriate seasoning for all tastes

Some prefer the classic – coarse salt and nothing else. Others prefer to add notes of smoky, spicy, citrus, and other complex flavors to the mix that transform the BBQ experience.

In all cases, one thing is certain: seasoning makes all the difference when it comes to BBQ, so whatever your preference or that of your guests, always put effort into the seasoning, as it is the signature of a good grill master (for better or worse).

Today there are various types of ready-made seasonings – just choose the one you like best, being careful not to over-salt the meat. If you want to create your own combination, our suggestion is to learn more about how to make a dry rub (a traditional American BBQ seasoning mix) in the post entirely dedicated to it here on the blog!

5 – The right side dish

Now that you know how to elevate the level of your grilling preparations, we come to the last item on our list of BBQ ingredients: side dishes. Some of them, like garlic bread, vinaigrette, and farofa, are undisputed classics, but did you know there are other foods that pair super well with different types of meats and preparations?

Salads, cold cuts, jellies, and even fruits, although less known, open up a universe of possibilities that you can explore and, who knows, end up being adopted as favorites by family, friends, or general events.

Still unsure about combinations? We have an exclusive post about the best BBQ side dishes right here on the CIMO blog – be sure to check it out!

Also, take the opportunity to stay up-to-date with all our content updates – there's always something new here. CIMO Knives specializes in handmade knives, and here on the blog, you'll find the best tips for knifemakers, grill masters, and survivalism lovers.

Until the next post!