Kit / Organization of Equipment

[illini40]

Hello

How does everyone stay organized or get needed tools/equipment out to the smoker/grill?

I seem to be on a never ending quest to be more organized to make things easier, quicker, etc. I’ve thought about how I can reduce trips back and forth from the kitchen outside.

Thus, I’ve tried to assemble a “cook kit” that I could take out, leave by the smoker/grill during a cook, and it should have the basics that I would possibly need.

What are your thoughts? What am I not thnking of?

This is assuming that foil, pans, larger utensils, specialized items would be kept separate.

Just a basic plastic organization tote:

Two smaller containers contain gloves and probes:

The main compartment then keeps some of the essentials:

 

[SonnyE]

Weelll... I'm not quite as organized as that.
But when I remodeled our Kitchen, we put a large island in and on the end nearest the patio doors is a Sheet Pan cupboard with a smallish drawer on top. I claimed it for BBQ tools, because it is closest to the BBQ.
Other things, like my welders gloves, actually live out at my "outdoor kitchen". Which is a fancy word for my grill, smokers, and curing fridge conglomeration.
The "curing fridge" was to keep peace in the house. If you ever make bacon, and need to let it age after smoking, in a cool dry place, you'll understand. Stink up the "wife's" fridge and, well, you better have a doghouse you like. So it was a survival tactic. Bacon scented beer cans is a plus.
Other "tools" live out by the BBQ stuff, but some like tongs, live in another drawer in the kitchen. I use tongs a lot.
My seasonings outgrew the spice cabinets, so most of those now have a shelf in the pantry cabinet. That helps thwart the wife's ability to disorganize my seasonings I use for my Jerky and such. Not that the stuff is organized, but it's in a general space.
I'm a visual person. If I can't see it, I loose track of where it is. Stuff in boxes often gets lost to me. I see a box, and my mind can't relate to it having what I want in it. Which is weird, because I think of a drawer and can picture it's contents.
Anyway, my stuff is scattered in a way I know where it is. Sorta... LOL!

 

[illini40]

4 wheel wire buffet cart from Wal-Mart. I topped mine w/ diamond plate aluminum but if I had to do over again either butcher block or 3/4" birch plywood with a couple coats of polyurethane. Its nice to have another prep surface.

Aluminum is nice but when its cold out its hard to clean. Cleaners freeze on contact and grease smears around.

View attachment 384778

That would be awesome! Where do you store the cart when not in use? I just don’t think I have the space for something quiet like that.

Weelll... I'm not quite as organized as that.
But when I remodeled our Kitchen, we put a large island in and on the end nearest the patio doors is a Sheet Pan cupboard with a smallish drawer on top. I claimed it for BBQ tools, because it is closest to the BBQ.
Other things, like my welders gloves, actually live out at my "outdoor kitchen". Which is a fancy word for my grill, smokers, and curing fridge conglomeration.
The "curing fridge" was to keep peace in the house. If you ever make bacon, and need to let it age after smoking, in a cool dry place, you'll understand. Stink up the "wife's" fridge and, well, you better have a doghouse you like. So it was a survival tactic. Bacon scented beer cans is a plus.
Other "tools" live out by the BBQ stuff, but some like tongs, live in another drawer in the kitchen. I use tongs a lot.
My seasonings outgrew the spice cabinets, so most of those now have a shelf in the pantry cabinet. That helps thwart the wife's ability to disorganize my seasonings I use for my Jerky and such. Not that the stuff is organized, but it's in a general space.
I'm a visual person. If I can't see it, I loose track of where it is. Stuff in boxes often gets lost to me. I see a box, and my mind can't relate to it having what I want in it. Which is weird, because I think of a drawer and can picture it's contents.
Anyway, my stuff is scattered in a way I know where it is. Sorta... LOL!

Thanks for the info. Yes - it’s tough to keep everything straight. I have a few spots in the kitchen cabinets and pantry where I keep things, but I would love it all to be in one spot. I think my wife would too...

 

[gmc2003]

Grilling accessories like the Vortex, charcoal baskets and extra grates stay on a shelve in the garage. Tongs, spatula's and other grill/smoker only related equipment hang out on top of the fridge. Spices and other condiments all reside in our cupboards.

Chris

 

[jcam222]

I use this cart I bought at Sam’s Club. Once I assembled it with about 1 million screws I love it. I store most of my tools, foil, gloves, wood chunks etc in it. Has a nice wooden top that easily wipes off nice large wheels makes rolling easy. I park it right by smoker when I’m really cranking.

 

[illini40]

View attachment 384879 I use this cart I bought at Sam’s Club. Once I assembled it with about 1 million screws I love it. I store most of my tools, foil, gloves, wood chunks etc in it. Has a nice wooden top that easily wipes off nice large wheels makes rolling easy. I park it right by smoker when I’m really cranking.

Really nice! Do the drawers keep things fairly clean? I’m just thinking of keeping tools, etc sealed up and clean. My garage seems to get stuff dusty and dirty if left out.

 

[jcam222]

They seems to seal pretty good. The one thing I’d point out is other than the bottom drawer they are pretty shallow. I still love it but if they were all double depth it would be the greatest smoking cart ever. This year I am going to mount a cutting board top to the wood top.

 

[illini40]

They seems to seal pretty good. The one thing I’d point out is other than the bottom drawer they are pretty shallow. I still love it but if they were all double depth it would be the greatest smoking cart ever. This year I am going to mount a cutting board top to the wood top.

Thanks for the insight. Doesn’t the cart already have a hard top surface?

Can you prep meat on the current top?

 

[jcam222]

The cart comes with the wood top. It’s likely fine for any prep with the exception of direct cutting. An alternate approach would be to buy a rollling tool chest with deeper drawers and mount your own prep surface to the top.

 

[GaryHibbert]

Well, you guys are a lot more organized than I am.
When I quit drinking, the two door cupboard under the bar became available. I claimed the bottom half for my smoking equip. I told Miss Linda that anything non-smoker related that found its way into my half was going straight into the garbage!! So far that has worked, but I still keep an eye peeled for trespassers.
I also have the storage compartment in the gas BBQ that I turned into a stand for the MES. I keep all the extra racks and tinfoil plates/pans in there.
Since I just have to go out the door next to the kitchen and the MES is right there, I just carry things in and out.
Gary