How much summer do we have left? Enough to have a few more BBQs, at least!
Here’s a list in English and Chinese to help you find all the supplies you need for an “authentic” Western-culture-style BBQ… whether that be searching for them on Taobao or browsing your local import store.
烤架 Grill
kǎo jià [ɡrɪl]
The absolute essential for BBQing! If you have no grill, you have no place to put the delicious meat and/or veggies for cookin’… They come in various shapes and sizes, but unless you have a villa with a backyard, you might want to get a portable one that folds up and fits easily in public transportation or on your e-bike.
炭 Charcoal
tàn [ˈtʃɑrˌkoʊl]
The second “essential” for portable grilling is the small pieces of carbonized wood that provides the heat and starts the fire. Of course, you could always use a gas-powered grill, but where’s the pyro fun in that?
助燃剂 Lighter fluid
zhù rán jì [ˈlaɪtər ˈfluɪd]
A non-essential when it comes to your summer BBQ, but it wouldn’t hurt. Simply put, lighter fluid helps you get the fire started; it’s a quick-starting liquid to pour on the coals. Attention: Very flammable!
点火枪 Lighter
diǎn huǒ qiāng [ˈlaɪtər]
You could try lighting your coals with matches, but you might waste a good number of them. Long lighters, or “fire guns” as some like to say, give you a much better chance of getting the coals lit the first time.
锡箔纸 Aluminum Foil
xī bó zhǐ [əˈlumɪnəm fɔɪl]
Also not an essential, but this wonderful foil will help prevent any goodies from falling into the fire, and some say it helps with a more even cook. Chopped veggies, shishkebabs, or baked potatoes anyone?
烧烤夹 BBQ Tongs
shāo kǎo jiā [ˈbɑrbəˌkju tɔŋz]
When grilling, safety second. With that in mind, be sure to have a couple pairs of tongs handy so you don’t sear your fingers on the deliciousness. We recommend splurging for the extra long ones.
烧烤刷 BBQ Brush
shāo kǎo shuā [ˈbɑrbəˌkju brʌʃ]
Either for marinating your food or for actually cleaning your grill, BBQ brushes are a fairly essential tool for your barbecue. We recommend using two different brushes for these two very different tasks.
烧烤叉 BBQ Fork
shāo kǎo chā [ˈbɑrbəˌkju fɔrk]
You gotta be able to test your food out to see if it’s cooked to perfection or not. A good long fork prong will help accomplish just that. You can also use these hand in hand with the tongs to flip your food.
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锡纸盘 Foil Pan
xī zhǐ pán [fɔɪl pæn]
Fully known as “disposable alumimum foil pans” – these are good for storing your uncooked and cooked food before consumption. Can also be used for cooking food directly, making sorting the meat and veggies a breeze.
保温箱 Cooler
bǎo wēn xiāng [ˈkuːlə(r)]
What better way to keep your meat from over-thawing and your beverages nice and cold? Note that these can also be a hassle to lug around, so try to find a flexible one that fits nicely in a backpack. Or find a big one with wheels.
垃圾袋 Trash Bags
lā jī dài [træʃ bæɡz]
Leave no trace. When you do your BBQ outside at a park or mountainside, DO NOT leave your trash lying around. We don’t care if you’re 99% certain that “someone else will clean it up”… it’s the right thing to do. Bring a big bag and just put all your trash in it. The environment thanks you.
Any other tools we missed? What food do you like to BBQ the most? Stay tuned for our favorites…
And happy grillin’!