As you ready your grill for the summer, be sure you have all the essentials by your side. These tools will make the grilling season more efficient and enjoyable.
-
ProductWeber Grill Topper Basket
A grill topper or basket (not to be confused with this style of grill basket) is super handy for grilling sliced or chopped veggies. The raised edges will help to contain the small chunks and keep them from falling between the grates. Toss the vegetables in oil and salt before adding to a heated basket or topper, and cook, stirring or flipping occasionally, until they are done to your liking. -
ProductBear Paws Meat Shredders
These handy tools are great for shredding pulled pork, brisket, or chicken, especially when meat is hot. The wide handles give you more agility than working with two forks. Made of BPA-proof nylon, they’re dishwasher-safe and heat-resistant to 475°F. -
Sponsored ProductWood Chip Smoking Kit
把你的烧烤技巧更上一层楼和discover the basics of smoking. This easy-to-use kit from Cooking Gift Set includes everything you need to infuse your favorite foods with mouth-watering smoky flavor: a stainless steel smoker box; hickory, cherry, and apple wood chips, a thermometer, and smoked sea salt, just to take that flavor right over the top. -
ProductLong-Handled Tongs
A good pair of locking tongs is just as essential for grilling as for indoor cooking. But you’ll want an extra-long pair (these are 17 inches) to keep your hands safely away from the intense heat of the grill. -
ProductYoshi Grill Mats
These thin, flexible, reusable mats made of a PTFE-coated glass fabric sheet solve many of the more annoying aspects of grilling: stick-prone foods (pizza, fish), flare-ups, and the messy grill aftermath. Simply place the mat on the grill and cook your food directly on the surface. The heat is transferred beautifully (you still get those grill marks!) and they wash up easily in the dishwasher. -
ProductThe Great Scrape Woody Nub
Wire grill brushes can eventually fall apart, dropping bits of metal inside your grill, but the Great Scrape’s Woody Pro barbecue-cleaning tool can hold up for years because it’s made of durable hardwood. To use, simply scrape the grill with the wood tip; over time, it’ll develop grooves that conform to your grill grate. (Replaceable tips are sold separately). -
ProductWüsthof Grilling Skewers
Sold in a set of four, these sturdy skewers from Wüsthof boast a couple of truly practical features. First, they’re nice and flat, which prevents food from spinning as it grills. They’ve also got wide, curved handles, which not only allow for a solid grip, but also are great for storage—you can hang them when you’re finished cooking. -
ProductSchmidt Brothers’ Flexible Grill Basket
This nonstick flexible grilling basket comfortably expands to fit the thickness of a variety of foods, then locks into place without crushing its contents. This basket assures a foolproof outcome, especially when grilling delicate items like fish. It helps prevent fish skin from sticking to the grill grate, and you can flip all of the basket’s contents in one smooth move. When not in use, store the grill basket with a piece of cardboard or foil between the mesh metal plates to prevent the flexible grips from getting tangled together. -
ProductWeber Rib Rack
Ribs need to cook over indirect heat, so the section over direct heat is out of bounds. On smaller grills, this means that fitting even two slabs can be tricky. Enter this low-tech gadget, which holds the slabs vertically, so you can cook up to four slabs in the same space as two lying flat. -
ProductLooftlighter Charcoal Igniter
Aim the Looftlighter at the charcoal in your grill, and this plug-in fire starter will blow superheated air that’s hot enough to light briquettes in seconds, no lighter fluid required. Hold it there longer, and the coals will be grilling-ready in just five minutes. -
ProductOXO Silicone Basting Brush
A good basting brush is essential during grilling season to apply glazes and marinades before, during, and after grilling. Since you’re often brushing raw or partially cooked meat, it’s important to clean them thoroughly, and with this silicone-bristle brush it couldn’t be easier: just toss in the dishwasher. The long handle lets you keep your hand away from the heat. -
ProductCharcoal Companion Pit Mitt
This knit aramid-fiber glove protects your hands and forearms from the heat of the grill (up to 475°F), but unlike bulky leather gloves, they hug your hand for dexterity and ease of movement, whether you’re moving a grill grate or turning skewers. The silicone-coated palm and fingers assist with gripping items. -
ProductShun BBQ Knife Set
Shun’s classic barbecue knife set provides all the blades you’d ever need for your grilled meats: a Japanese-style poultry knife, a boning knife, and a brisket knife for slicing and trimming. It’s a splurge-worthy gift for any barbecue lover. -
ProductThermopro TP20 Wireless Remote Probe Thermometer
When you’re smoking a whole pork shoulder or grill-roasting chicken, there’s an inevitable anxiety as it nears doneness. Is it done yet? Is it underdone? Is it overdone? As you lift the grill lid again and again to check it like a worried parent, you’re losing precious heat. Which is why a remote probe thermometer is absolutely essential if you want to grill big cuts of meat. Put the probe in the thickest part of the meat before you start cooking, put a second probe on the grill surface, and the monitor can keep tabs on both the grill temperature and the meat temperature from up to 300 feet away. -
ProductSagaform LED Spatula
Grill tool meets flashlight in Sagaform’s barbecue light set, which helps take the guesswork out of grilling in the dark. The spatula is thin enough for delicate items like fish, yet sturdy enough for heavier items. The LED light attaches magnetically, so it’s easy to remove for cleaning.
