Gadgets: Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewers
[Photographs: Nikki Goldstein]
I always think that grilling is a great group activity. That is, until twenty hungry stomachs show up and you realize that the grill can only hold six burgers and a few hot dogs.
It may not be the end-all solution to the problem, but Fire Wire makes flexible skewers that are fantastic space-savers in this kind of situation. They're made from stainless steel cable–style wire, which means they're sturdy enough to be used and reused but bendy enough to be wrapped around whatever configuration of meatiness is already cooking away.
I had my first encounter with Fire Wire skewers several weeks ago when I saw them at a local kitchen goods store. I looked at the price tag--$10 for a pack--but when I noticed that a pack only included two skewers, I passed, thinking I'd never be full off of two kebabs. But the thought of them kept lingering in my mind and eventually, I knew what had to be done--if they were that intriguing, it was time to put them to the test.
My reluctance that a single pair would be sufficient was quickly rendered moot. As it turns out, these babies are more than twice as long as your average skewer, so they hold quite a bit of food after all. Their tips aren't sharp, which is both good and bad: It's a little frustrating to thread so many veggies, but it's safe enough for the kids to take over. Their flexible nature means they can be coiled up and set into a bowlful of marinade--a nice perk.
Once I set them on the grill, I was pleased to find that they did make more efficient use of the space. A particularly nice feature is that the length is just right so you can configure your food as necessary but still leave the ends to hang over, keeping them cool to the touch for easy flipping.
When you ultimately take these flexible skewers off the grill, there's a lot more food to go around than there would be with regular skewers. The result? Fewer hungry bellies complaining.
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6 Comments:
how do you "flip" with them? In my mind, it sounds like it could be awkward.
engmcmuffin at 10:45AM on 09/03/09
The tips stay cool, so you just pick 'em up and rotate. Pretty easy, actually!
Nikki Goldstein at 11:15AM on 09/03/09
These look pretty awesome... would be a good stocking stuffer.
madfishgrill at 2:33PM on 09/03/09
So the veggies don't rotate independently when you try to flip? Or do you end up needing to correct some with tongs or something afterward?
Sounds like these could be improved with some kind of "needle" that you can use to skewer the food...but then detach when cooking.
wunami at 3:16PM on 09/03/09
i just realized you could use a sterilized coat hanger with the same effect.
redhead at 10:18PM on 09/04/09
redhead, it's an interesting idea, but there could be risks--hangers might be coated with acrylic, which you certainly don't want to consume!
Nikki Goldstein at 11:15PM on 09/04/09