Tools & Products

The fine arts of curing and smoking meat have shown up in nearly every culinary tradition. From the refined charcuterie of France to the simple beef jerky of early Americans to low and slow barbecue smoked pork butts, your options for curing meat are close to limitless. Learning how to make cured meat products on your own can be tricky, though -- unless you have access to some … [Read more...] about 10+ Best Books on Curing & Smoking Meat

With their origins in the pellet stoves popularized during the 1973 oil crisis, pellet grills have come a long way towards their inclusion as a barbecuing staple. Also known as a pellet smoker, their continual design evolution has led to significant technological advancements that make professional-quality smoking and grilling available in the comfort of your own backyard. … [Read more...] about A Complete Guide to the Pellet Grill: Types, Considerations, and Best Options

Everybody loves the feel of being around a campfire on a weekend evening -- but if you're tired of washing the smell of smoke out of your clothes and hair, you should look into a smokeless fire pit. A relatively recent invention, the smokeless fire pit is a compact and convenient alternative to building a full fire, and a great way to get your time around a fire without any of … [Read more...] about Best Smokeless Fire Pits: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Buying meat in bulk is the best way to save money while eating well -- but if you don't have a meat storage container solution, chances are those savings will go to waste. … [Read more...] about Meat Storage Containers Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Meat tenderizers might just be the most important tool for a thrifty chef to get the most out of their grocery money. While expensive cuts of meat are renowned for their natural tenderness and ability to sear into succulent perfection, humbler cuts are often just as flavorful -- but less prized because of their tougher texture. The solution? Meat tenderizers, of course. … [Read more...] about Meat Tenderizers Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

The popularization of cheap, simple, and effective vacuum sealers for home use has been a huge boon for preserving, storing, and preparing food in the comfort of your kitchen. But as with any kitchen gadget, there are plenty of imitators on the market that can't deliver the results you're looking for. How can you know that you're getting the best vacuum sealer for meat? … [Read more...] about Vacuum Sealers for Meat Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

If you've been salivating over the possibilities of fresh bison burgers, elk sausage, or perfectly processed bavette steak, an electric meat grinder should be on your to-buy list. For anyone intending to get serious about only consuming the highest-quality, ethically sourced meats, an electric meat grinder will open up a world of culinary possibilities. … [Read more...] about Electric Meat Grinders Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

An adaptation of a commercial kitchen appliance, air fryers are the hottest new item for home cooks. And with good reason: They're an exceptionally versatile tool that can give a crisp almost as good as deep frying, but without the added calories and waste of frying in oil. … [Read more...] about Air Fryers for Meat Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Anyone who has worked in a kitchen likely knows that meat is a fickle thing. Different types of meat can require vastly different cooking methods to coax out their best flavors and textures -- and some meats are just downright tough, no matter how you cook them. So what is an at-home cook to do when faced with a cut of meat that's closer to shoe leather than dinner? You'll … [Read more...] about Meat Mallets Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy