Get the Most out of Your Grill with Our Favorite Must-Have BBQ Tools

OXO Good Grips Grilling Turner

$17 at Amazon $17 at Macy's $17 at Kohls.com

Just like your favorite kitchen turner, this has a sturdy platform that can get under food and lift it. This is perfect for burgers, steaks, chicken, and more. The handle is longer than a typical kitchen turner, keeping your hands further from the heat of the grill, but it’s not so long that it’s silly. It’s comfortable to hold, no matter how many burgers need a flip. Sure, it’s made for the grill, but it’s also great when reaching into the oven to turn vegetables roasting on a sheet pan, or even for flipping burgers in a skillet. Cleaning is easy by hand, and this is even dishwasher safe.

Length: 16 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Kona Clean Grill Brush

$20 at Amazon $20 at Walmart $21 at Wayfair

Clean grill grates are important to keep food from sticking, as well as to ensure it tastes charred and not like the burnt remnants of your last grill session. After extensive testing of grill brushes, the Kona 360 came out on top for us. Scrubbing down the grill can be a pain, but the Kona's three separate bristle arms are its labor-saving secret. They clean the tops of three grates at once, and slip between them easily to get the sides as well. The arms flex a little bit so they can fit into different-sized grill grates, but we didn't notice them permanently bending at all, making this a long-lasting tool.

The 18-inch-long handle keeps your hands away from the heat (and lets you dip the brush in water, which can help remove really tough gunk from a hot grill). It's also made of weather-resistant plastic that won't break down with exposure to sun and rain like wood can.

Dimensions: 18 x 4 x 10 inches | Materials: Stainless steel, plastic | Dishwasher Safe: No

Charcoal Companion LED Grill Light

$15 at Amazon View on Bespokepost.com

Even if you don’t plan on grilling after dark, sometimes night falls before the ribs are fully tender. Trying to flip food, read a thermometer, or put cheese on the burgers in dim light can be a challenge, and holding a flashlight while doing those things is tricky. A good grill light solves the problem since it attaches to a grill handle and can be positioned to shine light on the food. 

The silicone band on this product has quite a bit of stretch, and there are two tabs where it can attach to the body of the light for a tighter or looser fit. However, it may not fit on all grill handles, if they’re too large. It was way too snug for one of our grills, but fit the others well.

The silicone cover keeps the light safe from heat and water. It can be easily wiped clean if it gets splashed with food. When it’s not attached to a grill, it can also be used as a hand-held flashlight. Batteries are included.

Dimensions: 3.5 x 3.5 x 1.5 inches | Materials: Silicone cover | Power: AA batteries

Meater Plus with Bluetooth Repeater

$100 at Amazon $100 at Target $100 at Home Depot

The Meater Plus is pricey, but it absolutely blew away the competition when we tested wireless thermometers. All you have to do is pop it out of the storage/charging case, stick it in the food, and the connected smart app does the rest. You can tell the Meater what you're cooking and it'll measure internal and ambient temperatures, automatically figure out the correct temperature needed for doneness, and even calculate how long it should take the food to cook. The wireless range is up to 165 feet, so you can enjoy the party inside while your meal stays monitored from across the yard.

The Meater probe works at up to 527 degrees Fahrenheit, which means you can use it in most oven and stove situations in addition to the grill, and the brand even says it's fully dishwasher-safe. (We prefer to hand-wash it anyway, just because the probe is small enough to fall out of the dishwasher rack and get lost.) The charging case (which can fully charge the probe 100 times with a single AAA battery) is magnetic and will stick to the side of your grill or oven as well, a small but well-thought-out feature.

Maximum Internal Temperature: 212 degrees Fahrenheit | Maximum Ambient Temperature: 527 degrees | Bluetooth Range: 165 feet | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

OXO Good Grips Grilling Tongs

$17 at Amazon $17 at Home Depot $17 at Oxo

Tongs are a go-to tool in our kitchens, and they’re just as handy on the grill. Sure, you won’t be using them for burgers, but they’re great for chicken, vegetables, steaks, sausages, and even for kebabs. They can also come in handy for grabbing the crust of a pizza to help it slide onto a peel. These are long enough to keep hands away from the heat of the grill, and they have an easy locking mechanism so they can be locked closed to hang on a hook by the grill. A bottle opener on the side makes it easy to open a bottle of soda to stay hydrated while grilling.

While these are designed for the grill, they’re also handy when reaching into a hot oven, or when dealing with fried foods on the stovetop that tend to spatter, keeping hands further from the danger zone.

Length: 17 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Charcoal Companion Kabob Grilling Baskets

View on Amazon $33 at Walmart View on Bespokepost.com

Kids who like to help in the kitchen will be able to safely create their own kebabs, without worrying about the sharp point on the skewer. Great for adults, too, since it’s easy to load up with all kinds of foods, and then it’s simple to turn the food over on the grill, since the basket contains everything. When the food is done, just open the lid, flip the basket over, and drop the food onto a plate or into a serving bowl.

The coating means that food is less likely to stick, and washing by hand is easy. The “hinge” on these isn’t actually a hinge; it’s a single piece of bent metal that holds the pieces together. It makes the lid a bit wobbly and can fall off if the kebab basket is dropped.

Length: 19.25 inches | Material: Coated metal/wood handle | Dishwasher Safe: No

OXO Stainless Steel Grilling Skewers

$22 at Amazon $15 at Oxo View on Webstaurantstore.com

When it comes to grilling skewers, sometimes the simplest designs are the best. These Oxo skewers take simplicity to its best level. The handles are the same metal as the rest, so there’s no worry about the handle burning, melting, or warping in the heat of the grill or oven, and they’re easy to grasp by hand or with tongs. The point is seriously pointy, making it easy to pierce meat or vegetables, from beef cubes to mushrooms. Plus, the skewer itself is flat, so food is less likely to spin when turning the food on the grill.

These skewers are long enough to handle a nice amount of food, without being so long that they won’t fit well on the grill or on a plate. They even fit well in a countertop oven when the weather interrupts an outdoor cook. When it was time to remove the food from the skewers, it slid off easily. Cleaning was easy, too, either by hand or in the dishwasher. When cleaning is done, these are easy to store, since they’re slim from tip to handle, and the handles even nest to save space in a drawer.

Length: 15.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Weber Style Grill Pan

Orig. $33 $31 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $31 at Wayfair

When you're grilling vegetables or other small items like shrimp or scallops, you're liable to lose ingredients between the grates. This pan solves that problem, while still allowing for the high-temperature charring and smoky flavors you can only get from a grill. It sits right on top of the grill grate, with 1/8-inch slits to let juices and fat flow out while keeping the food in place. Besides small items, this pan is also good for delicate things like fish fillets that are liable to get stuck on wider-set grates.

Even when the pan is full, the wide handles help ensure a secure grip so you can transfer the cooked food to your serving platter without it slipping from your hands. Keep in mind that it's fairly wide, designed to fit 22-inch or larger grills.

Dimensions: 17.4 x 11.8 x 1.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter

Orig. $28 $26 at Amazon $40 at Walmart $26 at Target

There are lots of reasons to love grilling over charcoal, but getting the charcoal lit is not one of them. This simple device makes starting a charcoal grill much less of a chore. You simply load up the upper section with charcoal, stuff the bottom with crumpled newspaper (or use lighter cubes), and set afire. In less than 15 minutes, you'll have red-hot coals ready for cooking—no lighter fluid necessary.

Weber also sells a compact chimney starter that's just 8 inches tall, useable with smaller and portable grills (like the brand's Smokey Joe) or full-size ones.

Material: Aluminized steel | Dimensions: 8.1 x 12.5 x 12.7 inches | Weight: 3.5 pounds

OXO Good Grips Precision Turner

$17 at Amazon $17 at Oxo $17 at Macy's

Even if you never cook fish on a grill, a fish spatula is very handy both on the grill and in the house. It’s the one we reach for when we want to move something that won’t fit well on the regular spatula, like a long piece of skirt steak, or when we want to move several cookies in one swoop.

This fish spatula is a bit flexible and has a curved front edge, so it can bend slightly to get under delicate fish without breaking it. Some fish spatulas are very bendy, which makes them less useful for handling food that’s a bit heavier. This one is sturdy enough that we were able to move several loaded skewers with it.

Length: 14.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes

Meater Board

View on Meater.com

The Meater Board is great for anyone who barbecues. Not only is it a great carving board for chickens, roasts, ribs, and more, but it’s also perfect for serving. This has a flat side that’s quite roomy for serving grilled vegetables and sliced meats, while the grooved side will hold juicy meats without leaking onto the picnic table.

Not just for cooked foods, the Meater Board can also be used for meal prep, whether you’re cutting zucchini for skewers, or cutting potatoes for salad. Then give it a quick wash and it’s ready to collect the food from the grill.

Size: 19.6 x 14.9 x 1.2 inches | Material: Bamboo | Dishwasher Safe: No

Charcoal Companion S'mores Grilling Basket

View on Bespokepost.com View on Athome.com View on Focuscamera.com

Part of the charm of s’mores is that they tend to be gooey and messy, but this basket makes it easy to cook up to four of them at a time, ready to be flipped out onto a plate, for less mess overall. Then just load it up for another batch.

If s’mores aren’t on the menu regularly, this can also be used for other similar-sized foods. I found that it was perfect for English muffins, toasting them for breakfast.

This basket is supposed to be hand washed, but I threw it in the dishwasher with no immediate ill effects, but continued dishwashing may eventually cause damage to the finish or the handle.

Dimensions: 22 x 9 x 1.2 inches | Materials: Chrome-plate steel with polypropylene handle | Dishwasher Safe: No, but we did

Bear Paws Meat Shredder Claws

Orig. $15 $12 at Amazon $15 at Walmart View on Acmetools.com

Meat claws are a great way to turn a whole pork butt smoked on the grill into pulled pork. The six sharp points on the Bear Paws claws are much more efficient than a pair of forks at pulling apart tender meats from the grill, oven, or slow cooker. The nylon claws are heatproof up to 475 degrees Fahrenheit and completely dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Besides shredding meat, these claws are also great for grabbing and lifting large cuts off the grill, or holding things like roasts or a whole turkey in place while carving. You could also use them to stabilize a large watermelon for slicing, or even toss a salad.

Material: Nylon | Dishwasher-Safe: Yes

Cuisinart 3-Piece Grilling Tool Set with Grill Glove

View on Amazon $32 at Walmart $23 at Home Depot

From knives to food processors to toaster ovens, Cuisinart is a name you'll find on kitchen equipment of basically every kind. Its products are reliable and high-quality, and typically priced a bit lower than average. Its set of grill tools includes all the basics you need to get started. It's ideal for anyone who's just moved into their first place with room for a grill, or anyone who wants to replace an old, unmatched assortment of implements all at once.

Each of the set's tools has elongated 12-inch stainless steel handles coated with ergonomic, heat-resistant, rubberized grips. The spatula is a true multi-use tool: Besides the ability to flip burgers, it also has an integrated bottle opener, a wide-toothed edge on one side, and a steak knife–style serrated edge on the other. The extra-large tongs have teeth on the end for a better grip, and the meat fork is long enough to grab steaks from the very back of the grill. All three tools have hooks on the ends to hang up in a grill cart or from a wall. Plus, you also get a bonus heat-resistant glove!

Includes: Spatula, tongs, meat fork, heat-resistant glove | Dishwasher Safe: No

RAPICCA BBQ Oven Gloves

Orig. $20 $17 at Amazon View on Rapicca.com

Heatproof gloves aren't hard to find, but many are mitten-style, offering little dexterity if you're trying to grasp a greasy pork butt or move hot dogs or chicken pieces around to make room on the grill. Rapicca's BBQ Oven gloves are the complete opposite, with five individual fingers and a grippy-textured, waterproof, food-safe neoprene material. These are serious professional equipment, designed for pitmasters reaching into their mammoth smokers. They're also over-the-top when it comes to heat protection, with a 14-inch length that reaches to the elbows, and the durability to withstand temperatures over 900 degrees, well above even the hottest of grills. They'd also be an excellent choice if you plan to deep-fry a turkey at Thanksgiving.

Length: 14 inches | Material: Neoprene | Maximum Temperature: 932 degrees

OXO Outdoor Carbon Steel Frypan

Orig. $60 $27 at Amazon $50 at Walmart $60 at Target

This unique pan is essentially a stovetop skillet, perforated with holes so the grill's smoke and flames can still reach the ingredients inside. It lets you cook almost anything you'd cook in a frying pan on the grill, from stir-fries to French fries to tofu. Made of hefty carbon steel that conducts heat quickly, the skillet comes pre-seasoned and ready for nonstick use. The seasoning is durable enough to hold up to metal utensils, and the pan is heat-safe up to a searing 660 degrees Fahrenheit. It also comes with a removable heatproof silicone handle cover to help with taking the hot pan off the grill.

Dimensions: 21 x 11.8 x 3.8 inches | Materials: Carbon steel, silicone | Dishwasher Safe: No

Weber Deluxe Stainless Steel Grill Basket

Orig. $33 $31 at Amazon $30 at Walmart $31 at Wayfair

You don't necessarily need both a grill pan and basket, but the options from Weber make it hard to choose just one. Like the Style Grill Pan above, this basket has 1/8-inch slits to allow drainage but hold onto even small pieces of ingredients. The basket has deep sides that make it perfect for piling up vegetables or for quick-stirring diced meat, like you would in a wok.

This basket is taller but a little smaller than the grill pan; it'll fit on an 18-inch or larger grill. That's still big enough to fit long items like asparagus, however. In all, you can fit four or five generous servings of veggies inside. You can also use this basket in the oven, but if you go that route, you’ll need to put a drip pan underneath to catch any oil or drippings that leak through the slits.

Dimensions: 13.8 x 11.8 x 2.5 inches | Material: Stainless steel | Dishwasher Safe: Yes