When it comes to grilling and barbecuing, finding the right tool often means wading through inferior accessories until you find something that works for you. We've gone through our fair share of grilling tools and accessories over the years, and we think that the products that work for us and our friends will work for you, too.
We've put together this list of our favorite grilling accessories and tools to make the search easier when you want to upgrade or when you are looking for an awesome gift for the grill master in your life.
What are Some Essential Tools and Accessories for Grilling?
Some accessories simply make grilling easier, while others are essential for doing a good job. At the end of the day, the difference really comes down to the individual and the tools they are the most comfortable using.
What we have found is that tools like a grill brush, heavy-duty tongs, and a reliable instant-read thermometer are among the most vital tools that we always have on hand when grilling.
Other tools, like grilling gloves, basting brushes, and accessories such as pizza stones or vegetable baskets are nice to have but don't make or break the deal.
We'll show you some products today that we can count on and let you know what our experience has been with them. We'll also give you a rating of how vital we think each tool and accessory is to the art of grilling with one being the least important and five being the most important.
Priority Level 5 Grilling Tools (Our Must-Have Essentials)
Best Spatula
A spatula is probably the most common grilling tool used. If you are looking for a spatula that is tough as nails and doesn't cost a small fortune, we've got the perfect one to add to your arsenal. Our Bearded Butcher Grilling Spatula features a wide, thick, and stable slotted head with a riveted handle. The opposite side includes a bottle opener that doubles as a hanging loop.
Best Grill Brush
A grill brush is pretty important to have and it makes quick work of scrubbing off burnt bits so that your grill sparkles like new. Our top pick for the best grill brush features a sturdy handle with a foregrip so you can scrub even the most difficult stuck-on stuff clean. The replaceable head has stainless steel bristles and a scraper blade for cutting through large burned-on debris. It's the same one we use at home – and not just because it has our name on it.
Instant-Read Thermometer
The only way to grill perfectly-cooked food is to know when it is at the perfect internal temperature. There are plenty of options out there, but how many have a lifetime warranty? Ours does, and it'll also become the most indispensable tool in your gadget drawer for perfectly cooked baked potatoes, reheating chicken, or even testing the temperature of a cup of coffee. The Bearded Butcher Blend instant-read thermometer is a must-have.
Priority Level 4 Grilling Tools (The Necessities)
Best Grill Lights
Grill lights don't seem like that big of a deal until the summer afternoon gets away from you and you are trying to get that chicken done as the sun is setting. Our top pick for grill lights combines a sturdy magnet base with a mechanical clamp so it can work on any grill, barbecue, smoker, or any other place you need a handy light.
We even used it while working on a car recently and the 23-inch gooseneck was ideal for casting light right where it was needed.
If you don't already have a grill light or hate the one you do, pick up this Yukon Glory grill light and end the frustration of dim cooking areas.
Best Grilling Gloves
When we first started using grill gloves, they seemed like overkill, but we quickly realized how much safer every aspect of grilling can be when you are properly protected from burns and cuts. We used our heat-resistant gloves so much that we went ahead and had our own gloves made. Not only do our Carnivore BBQ Gloves prevent burns from extremely high temperatures, but they are also cut-resistant.
Ditch the oven mitts and pick up a pair of grill gloves that you can trust.
Digital Meat Thermometer
After years of using various meat thermometer designs, we found the Meater+ Digital Wireless Thermometer and ended our search for our favorite thermometer. The Meater is totally wireless and uses a Bluetooth connection to your smartphone to provide all the information you need at a glance. If you are tired of tangled-up temperature probes, the Meater+ might be perfect for you.
Priority Level 3 Grilling Tools (The Nice-to-Haves)
Best Chimney Starter
If anyone is grilling on charcoal grills, a charcoal chimney starter is a super-handy tool to have and one that will get your grill going perfectly in a matter of minutes. Our favorite charcoal chimney starter out there is the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter. The unique cone-shaped wire grill lets the hot coals build quickly. Pick up some of our handy Bearded Butcher Natural Fire Starter Sticks to get your new charcoal starter lit up in no time.
Grill Skillet
You can turn your grill into a griddle with a proper grill skillet like this awesome Made in the USA hand-forged carbon steel skillet from Lockhart Ironworks in Ohio. This pan is a piece of art, but it is also one of the most durable tools you'll ever see. Forged steel offers similar properties to cast iron, but is lighter weight.
Use this over direct heat on a charcoal grill to sear a steak or put it on the indirect heat side of the grill to slowly cook delicate veggies. It can withstand temperatures better than other high-heat pans and is meant to last a lifetime. It also includes a warranty that backs that up.
Grilling Floor Mat
Cleaning up after a big day of barbecue cooking can be a lot, and one of the things that often gets overlooked is the ground around the grill. A grill mat prevents grease, splatter, and oil from falling on the ground while offering a non-skid surface for the grill to set on. This one from Cuisinart is ideal because it protects the surface of your deck from damage, it's easy to clean, and it's available in three sizes to fit your grill.
Priority Level 2 Grilling Tools (The Non-Essentials)
Best Basting Brush
A basting brush is a great tool to have for brushing sauces (like our signature Bearded Butcher Blend BBQ Sauce) on meat while it's on the grill. One of our favorite silicone basting brush designs is this one from OXO Good Grips. It features an angled head and unique hollow silicone bristles that hold the sauce really well.
We wish it had a replaceable head, but after two full seasons, our brush isn't showing any signs of wear. It's also dishwasher-safe to speed up cleanup.
Stainless Steel Skewers
Not too long ago, we got frustrated with using bamboo skewers and decided there must be a better solution. We found these stainless steel skewers from Maillard Masters and fell in love with the clever design and excellent presentation.
The skewers are flat to prevent food from rolling and the handle uses a convenient tension slide mechanism for easily removing cooked food from the skewers without burning fingers. This set also includes corn-on-the-cob holders for making the most delicious Elotes Mexicanos (see our recipe here!).
The skewers and holders come in a semi-rigid case that's perfect for storage and is dishwasher safe.
Priority Level 1 Grilling Tools (That Tool You Only Use for One Specific Thing)
Best Grilling Basket
A grilling basket isn't always necessary, but having a high-quality design will open up opportunities to grill vegetables, shrimp, and other small foods that tend to fall between the grill grates. This design from Only Fire is one of our favorites because the hexagonal shape allows the vegetable basket to sit on any side to evenly cook food.
It works right on the grill grate, or you can pick up a rotisserie kit and use the basket for chicken or fish.
Make Sure You Have What You Need for Grilling Season
This list of essentials covers most of the basic grilling tools and barbecue accessories you would need for the grilling season, but that doesn't mean there aren't tons of other handy gadgets you can find.
Grill accessories can make every cookout more enjoyable, but only when you are using the best BBQ tools you can get your hands on. The products on this list have all met our high level of scrutiny and we think they are the best you can get!
The Bearded Butchers are dedicated to providing as much information as we possibly can to help you understand how to best process and prepare meats of all kinds. To help you, we maintain a blog and YouTube channel with lots of free, high-quality information. The Bearded Butchers and Beardedbutchers.com are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This means that The Bearded Butchers may receive a commission if you click on a link above and make a purchase on Amazon.com.
