10 Tools to Upgrade Your Backyard Kitchen
You can do better than a rusty grill and red plastic cups
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Ten items to make you a grilling master.
Thodio iBox XC Speaker ($800)
Two 100-watt amps in Thodio’s bamboo iBox XC speaker pump out 106 decibels of rich sound. There’s a mini-plug jack to wire in your smartphone, but optional Bluetooth ($85) or Wi-Fi ($105) capability let you play DJ without leaving your post at the grill.
EcoChic Swell Chair ($389)
The weather-resistant Indonesian teak in EcoChic’s low-slung, curvy Swell chair is reclaimed from fishing boats in Southeast Asia, giving it that comfy, worn-in feel.
Supermechanical Ember Range Smart Thermometer ($70)
Supermechanical’s brainy Ember Range Smart thermometer takes the guesswork out of grilling. Tell it what type of meat you’re serving, stick it in, and tend to other pressing duties—like mixing drinks. The Ember will send an alert to your iPhone when the beef, chicken, or pork is done.
Food52 Ultimate BBQ Set ($185)
Food52’s Ultimate BBQ set has it all. The stainless-steel tongs, spatula, barbecue mop, marinade injector, and chicken roaster make food prep easy, while thick leather gloves ward off burns.
Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale ($10 for six)
Hot weather calls for a crisp beer. Goose Island 312 Urban Wheat Ale is just that, with citrus notes that don’t linger too long. The higher carbonation is refreshing when you’re cooking up a pile of burgers.
Hydro Flask True Pint Tumbler ($25)
The double-walled Hydro Flask True Pint tumbler is insulated to keep your drink frosty. Plus, the grippy powder-coat finish helps prevent spillage.
Food52 Rechargeable Camp Lantern ($50)
Elegant and understated, the Food52 Rechargeable Camp lantern has a steel cage to protect the bulb from errant elbows and cranks out 325 lumens for four hours on full blast.
Hardmill Canvas Rugged Apron ($235)
Duck waxed, leather reinforced, copper riveted: this handsome, tough-as-nails apron sloughs off steak juice, errant embers, and the inevitable tipped beer.
Yeti Tank 85 Ice Bucket ($250)
It looks like your average tub, but thick, seamless polyethylene construction keeps up to 96 beers chilled, even without a lid.
Fuego Element F21C Grill ($300)
Thank former Apple designer Robert Brunner for the Element’s quirky looks. But it has plenty of grilling chops: it hits 500 degrees in five minutes, and the push-button starter is dummy-proof.