The Grilling Accessories Our Food Experts Can't Live Without (2024)

If there's one tool you need for grilling, it's tongs; but finding a good, reliable pair can be hard. Our team has yet to look back since we tested these from Grillhogs a couple of years ago for our Kitchen Gear Awards.

Each pair in this set has oversized grips on the handles that allow you to get a good grasp, and you can confidently unlock them with one hand by pushing the strong locking mechanism down on a surface. The heads are long with serrated edges that grab all types of food from thin asparagus to thick steaks without puncturing them. They're a bit bulky for everyday kitchen use, but they're light and comfortable to use. They hold up in the dishwasher — and even outside if you happen to forget them hanging on your grill.

You can buy each size in this set separately, but the three-pack is a good value, and we like having all three on hand for different tasks. The 16-inch is the most common for BBQ-ing since it's good at keeping your hands far from the grill, while the 12-inch can be used for grilling and serving and the 9-inch is best for serving or using with a pan.

Chimney starters are a game changer for anyone who has ever used lighter fluid to light the coals in their charcoal grill. Their design allows charcoal to light quickly and evenly without the use of extra chemicals, and they're great for beginners and pros alike.

This one from Weber is lightweight and has a thick plastic handle that keeps your hand at a safe distance from the hot coals. It holds enough charcoal to get you through a family-sized meal on an average-sized grill. The material discolors over time but that doesn't affect its performance. We've been using ours for five years and haven't had to replace it.

Pro tip: We like getting a second chimney-worth of coalas ready to go after we've added the first to our grill so we can replenish the coals whenever we need to.

Thermometers are key to grilling juicy meat that's not overcooked. We're big fans of the Thermapen, but the added features on this thermometer from Javelin (that costs half the price!) make it our best overall grill thermometer. It turns on quickly by releasing the probe and it has a large display that reads temperatures to the tenth of a degree. In our tests, where we took the temperature of boiling water, ice water and meat, it delivered quick results accurately.

It has a thin tip that makes it easy to check all types of meat from pork butt to thin pork chops, and, the best part is, it's magnetic so you can store it on your grill's side shelf (or your fridge). It also has a large hanging hole.

We think that even the least technical grillers will appreciate this wireless, smart thermometer from Meater. It's easy to connect and has an intuitive app. Not only does it track the internal temperature of your food, the target temperature and the ambient temperature (a.k.a. the temperature of your grill or oven) but it then uses that info to predict your cooking time and alerts you when your food is done.

You can get a version with two probes, or you can try the Meater Block, which comes with four probes and can be used with or without your phone.

Meater scored well in our accuracy tests and earned a spot on our best meat thermometers list as the best wireless meat thermometer.

A good grill brush is key for a smooth grilling experience. Removing the burnt-on bits right after cooking (or before) helps prevent sticking, keeps flare-ups to a minimum and keeps your grill looking clean. While some people are wary of metal-bristled brushes, we found they cleaned our grills the best out of the styles we tested, including nylon, coiled and wooden paddle styles.

We've been using this particular grill brush for about three seasons now. It has three rows of bristles that get between grates well and a scraper for stubborn bits. The handle is thick and comfortable with a hanging loop so you can easily store it on your grill's hooks.

It's hard to find a grilling set that includes quality products that you'll use often. Many come with extra pieces you likely don't need, which is why this set from Oxo stands out. It includes a 16-inch version of the popular 12-inch tongs as well as a long spatula that gets under food well. The tongs have a built-in bottle opener and a large keyhole so you can store it on the side of your grill. The spatula is sturdy and slotted.

Both pieces are relatively lightweight but strong and responsive. The silicone grips on the handles are comfortable to hold, and they can both be put in the dishwasher.

We've tested a lot of grill baskets, and this is the one we tend to pull out most often. It's 17 inches long and offers plenty of cooking space, but it still takes up minimal room on our gas grill. It's made of stainless steel so it gets nice and hot quickly without the heft of cast iron or carbon steel. The four short edges are flared and help keep food contained, while the thin slits prevent food from falling through.

In our tests, veggies and shrimp achieved nice char marks, and we didn't have to worry about losing any pieces between the grates. It can be used for fish as well. We've found that it can be tough to clean — oil and high heat make for some tricky stains — but Brillo or Barkeeper's Friend made it easier.

Want some extra protection while grilling? Our analyst used these gloves while testing grill baskets and handling hot pizza stones. They provided a nonslip grip and a high level of heat protection for your hands, wrists and forearms.

Our pro found them comfortable even if they don’t slip on as easily as traditional oven mitts. One caveat: She did start to feel the heat when holding hot objects for more than two minutes. The company claims the gloves are cut-proof, which adds an extra layer of safety but you should still always be careful.

Baking sheets are good for more than sheet pan dinners. They double as large, sturdy trays for carrying tools and ingredients to the grill, and they can withstand high temperatures, which makes them a perfect landing spot for cooked foods. The rimmed edges prevent juices from running everywhere.

We particularly like this set of two that nest neatly inside each other. The set comes with a lid that's perfect for keeping bugs at bay, keeping food warm for serving and even storing and stacking in the fridge.

Silicone basting brushes are one of the best ways to season your food and ensure every part is evenly coated without using your hands. They're also great for adding finishing touches, like BBQ sauce or honey, to grilled foods. The bristles are flexible and you don't have to worry about any of them ending up in your food.

This one from GIR is 14 inches long so you can use it while your food is on the grill; plus, it's heat resistant up to 550ºF. It's made of one piece, which makes it even easier to clean than others with a removable head. It's dishwasher-safe.

The fewer trips back and forth from the kitchen to the grill, the better. Or at least that's what we've learned over the years. This modular set from Oxo offers three different containers to marinade or store food in; plus, a good cutting board that doubles as a lid. All of the pieces stack when in use so you can carry all your food out at once. And once you're done, everything nests together for storage.

We've used this set for both meats and veggies and found it useful when cooking for large groups. The containers seal well and are lightweight which makes them easier to carry.

This is one of those grilling gadgets you didn't know you needed and you'll wonder how you went so long without one. It weighs your propane tank so you don't have to guess how much gas is left. We've relied on it numerous times, particularly before parties and even sought it out when we didn't remember where we put it.

It doubles as a luggage scale so you can use it year-round and it can even be used when fishing.

When it comes to grilling, forget thick, heavy cutting boards that can be a pain to lug and clean and hard to maintain. Epicurean makes great cutting boards that are thin and lightweight and will last for years. They're made of paper-composite and can be washed in the dishwasher — a great mix of the properties we love in wooden and plastic cutting boards. They've been on our list of best-tested cutting boards for as long as we can remember.

This BBQ Board is new for the season and has a large juice groove. It also comes in bigger sizes based on your needs.

Fresh ground pepper is ideal for barbequed meats. It contributes to flavor and stands up to the heat. The Finamill grinds pepper and other spices coarsely with one hand at the press of a button. The button is oversized compared to other models we tested, which makes it easier to use and clean.

This set comes with two cartridges that you can fill with different spices and interchange as needed. It's perfect when your hands are full or you're in a hurry. This one's battery-operated.