New Summertime Grilling Gadgets
BOSTON (CBS) - On any given day you'll find Aaron Dynes grilling with friends.
"Anywhere from five to seven times a week depending upon, you know, depending on the weather," says Dynes.
But sometimes even grilling masters need a little high-tech help.
Dan Ackerman with CNET.com says the latest crop of grilling gadgets is sure to add flavor to your next outdoor soiree.
"Most of them are pretty simple," says Ackerman. "Just set them up once and then you're good to go," starting with Cuisinart's portable, roll-away gas grill.
"It has a built in stand that folds down, and then you can just wheel the entire thing away," Ackerman says.
When things start to sizzle, keep the cook cool with the Sharper Image barbecue grill light and fan.
"The fans take the smoke and heat and move them away from you so that you can stand there right in front of the grill and it's a lot more comfortable," Ackerman says.
Dynes also sheds some light on his spread with Man Law's twist flashlight. It's battery-free and magnetic.
"I liked that you could attach and detach it from the tripod, so it could be used not only for grilling, but for a variety of other things," Dynes says.
For something more simple, Luma tongs on Amazon.com also light the way.
And you can cook your patties to perfection with the help of Brookstone's talking meat thermometer.
"You just plunge it right into whatever you're cooking, and you have a little receiver to take with you," says Ackerman.
When the time is right, the meat thermometer actually says, "your entree is ready."
How big is the market for all these grilling gadgets? A recent survey found 82 percent of North American households own a grill.
Ready for drinks? Opena's sleek iPhone case doubles as a bottle opener. And the Cooper cooler chills beverages in a snap.
"You slip in a bottle of wine, or a bottle of beer, or a soda can, a little bit of water, a little bit of ice," says Ackerman. "Plug it in and hit start, and it will cool it down in three or four or five minutes."
For tunes, there's this solar powered boom box by Eton Rukus. Or try Eco-Terra's waterproof player.
"You can even put your iPhone or your iPod inside a waterproof case and just toss it in the pool," Ackerman says. "It will actually float."
Aaron plans on firing up his new grill gadgets all year long. "It made it just easier for me to maneuver around," he says.
