Preparation
It’s officially grilling season, and if kebabs are part of your summer meal plan, you’ll want to invest in a solid set of skewers. There are several different types of kebab skewers on the market made for grilling (flat, round, metal, bamboo, short, long), and the type you choose will depend on your setup, budget, and personal preferences.
For Daniel Daley, food and beverage director at Letty’s Tavern in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, flat metal skewers sprayed with nonstick oil are always his preference. “When food cooks, no matter what it is, it changes shape in some way either from water loss, fat burning off, or protein strands shortening,” he says. “A round bamboo stick will go on fire—even if put in water—and a round stainless steel stick will make it so that food is either stuck to it (like shrimp) or slides around it (like mushrooms). Proteins and vegetables grill more consistently with flat metal which is what you want and need because fire is anything but consistent.”
Flat bamboo skewers are the pick of Russell Moore, owner of The Kebabery in Oakland, California. He uses them at his restaurant for grilling chicken, ground lamb, king trumpet mushrooms, and more. “For me, if a skewer is too long it’s tricky to get the whole thing over even heat,” he says. “If you have a perfect setup, long metal skewers are great, but if you are juggling lots of different things on a grill, shorter ones are a bit easier.” While flat skewers are ideal to keep your food from spinning around, if you only have round ones, Moore recommends double skewering for an extra secure kebab.
Palestinian American chef Mona Leena Michael, owner of Lulu and The Mana’eesh Lady, loves grilling kofta kebabs in the summertime, forming the meatballs directly on flat, super long metal skewers. “When in doubt, use flat metal skewers,” she says. “They work with any protein or vegetable you chose, they don’t need to be soaked in water to hold up against the fire of a grill, and the best part: zero waste!”
Read on to find out our picks for best in class, from budget-friendly to splurge-worthy.
Best Double Prong Skewer: Lucalda Long Double Prong Skewers with Push Bar Best Flat Skewer: Flafster Kitchen Long Flat BBQ Skewers Best Splurge-Worth Skewer: Williams-Sonoma Stainless Steel SkewersBest Long Skewer: Outset Rosewood SkewersBest Bamboo Skewer: BambooMN Green Natural Flat Skewers
