Grilling enthusiasts, feast your eyes on these 28 must-haves for a sizzling summer of barbecue bliss!
JESSICA HALL | BUZZFEED CONTRIBUTOR
As the weather warms up, outdoor cooking becomes increasingly popular. Whether hosting a backyard BBQ, or simply preparing a delicious family dinner, the proper tools can make all the difference. This list includes the top grilling accessories to ensure you have the best-tasting and easiest grilling experience possible.
Modern, Futuristic Grill
The Features You've Been Dreaming Of
For those who have yet to venture into grilling, the Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro 10-in-1 is the perfect solution. This grill does more than just cook steak and chicken, it aims to take the hard work out of grilling, leaving you free to enjoy the experience.
With two built-in thermometers, this grill alerts you when your meat has reached your desired temperature, reducing the stress of commonly undercooked or overcooked meals. Moreover, the connection to your phone via an app provides real-time notifications and updates, making it a true futuristic grill.
By far, my favorite part about it is the dual thermometers that you can leave in your meat, and [it] will alert you when it reaches your preferred temperature. The food not only tastes amazing but also comes out perfectly cooked every time.
Promising Reviews
" A grill we've actually used! Thanks to its ease of use and low-maintenance cleaning, we've used this more than any other grill in any other summer. Plus, while I had enjoyed some smoked entrees from restaurants in the past, we had never had a smoker capability of our own. Using the woodsmoke feature is also incredibly easy. We've produced mouth-watering pork butt, smoked pork picnic hams, and beef brisket to die for. All of these have come out not only several levels up from anything we've gotten at even the best of the restaurants, but it's not just the taste: the tenderness is unsurpassed. Fantastic investment." -skayell
Available from Ninja or Amazon for $399.
Safe, Effective Grill Cleaner
Say Goodbye to Dangerous Metal Scrubbers
For those who have spent countless hours scrubbing away at their grill, only to end up with a plate full of burnt bits, the Scrubbin' Stone Grill Cleaner is the solution. This small stone scrubber is a safer, more effective alternative to traditional metal scrubbers, which can pose a risk of leaving small metal shavings in your food.
The Scrubbin' Stone Grill Cleaner can be used up to two times for deep cleanings or up to six to eight times for maintenance cleanings.
Previously, I used to clean my grill grates with a box of Brillo pads, but this product did the job so efficiently. Will definitely be keeping on hand for as-needed cleaning. Would recommend cleaning in a deep sink so you can rinse stone residue off as you go, as it does get smaller as you go. Worth the price! -hbinoc
Available from Amazon for $5.99.
Onion Grate Cleaner
Elevate Your Grilling Game
For a convenient way to clean grates and season your grill, the Sanchez Fabricators Onion Holder is a must-have. With its spike center, the onion stays stable while you clean your grill grates, leaving you with a perfectly seasoned and ready-to-BBQ grill.
Sanchez Fabricators, a small business based in Rio Grande Valley, specializes in a handful of metal grilling and smoking tools.
Great, heavy-duty quality. It's better than I expected and a great tool. I bought two! -Lupe
Available from Sanchez Fabricators on Etsy for $49.99 (available in two sizes).
Heat-Resistant Gloves
Dive into the Flames
For those who have shied away from grilling due to fear of the flames, heat-resistant gloves are essential. Allowing you to handle even the hottest pans and grates with ease, they ensure your meals are cooked to perfection without the worry of burns.
These gloves are exactly what I needed. I cook on a BBQ outdoors a lot, and I cook with cast iron in my kitchen. These gloves allow me to handle hot pans and grates more easily than with potholders. These will become an integral part of my cooking routine from here on out. -Amazon Customer
Available from Amazon for $16.99 (available in three sizes and two heat resistance levels).
Flexible Grill Lights
Shine a Light on Your Culinary Masterpiece
With the sun setting before you've finished cooking, flexible grill lights ensure precision and perfection for your burgers, chicken, and hot dogs. These handy lights are heat-resistant and come in black or silver.
Absolutely LOVED this product. I purchased them as a gift for my brother when we were all using cell phones to see the grill one night. They are sturdy, provide sufficient lighting, and are high-temperature resistant. -MVega
Available from Amazon for $12.99 (available in two-packs).
Set of Color-Coordinated Prep Tray
Enhance Your BBQ with Color-Coded Prep Trays
To ensure you're always serving clean, cross-contamination-free meals, invest in a set of color-coordinated prep trays. The red tray is ideal for raw meat, while the black tray is perfect for cooked meat.
I honestly LOVE these two trays. I use the red for the 'raw' meat when I'm taking it to the grill and the black one for the cooked meat to put on it. It's only my husband and me, however, when we cook we cook enough to have leftovers for a few meals apiece, so we cook a good amount of food at a time, and when going to the grill, these are a great size to take out the meat on and bring it back after cooking. Absolutely love them and would be willing to pick up again if we decide to get more!! -B. White
Available from Amazon for $16.48 (available in three sizes).
Stainless Steel Wire Headband Thermometer
A Time-Saving, Accurate Solution for Our Ovens
Never again undercook or overcook your food with the help of this accurate and timesaving stainless-steel wire headband thermometer. Simply place it on your arm while cooking to monitor the internal temperature of your meats, eliminating the need for constant checks and guesswork.
I got the thermometer and I really like it so far. I use it as a first-check machine before going to my meat thermometer. It's easy to read and even easy to carry around. I recommend it. -Josh
Available from Amazon for $11.95.
Heat-Resistant Grill Mat
Keep Your Grill Clean – and Your Food on it
Whether you're grilling veggies, fish, or a variety of proteins, a heat-resistant grill mat is a helpful tool to prevent food from falling through the grates. With the added bonus of easy cleanup, simply toss the mat in the dishwasher rather than spending hours scrubbing away at your grill.
These fit perfectly and keep the grill's side table clean. They also protect the sides from getting banged and scratched up. And they are easy to clean. I give 5 stars. -mjack
Available from Walmart for $6.58 (available in three colors and in pairs).
Organizing Tools
Make Your Grilling Adventures Easy and Efficient
From baskets to tongs, organization tools help minimize clutter and make your grilling experience more enjoyable. Invest in a variety of tools to not only create a visually appealing setup but also ensure you have everything you need at your fingertips.
I wouldn't grill any other way if I could! This flattens burgers out nicely and saves cooking time because they aren't so thick anymore. -Gloria
Available from Home Depot for $21.99.
Available from Walmart for $9.99.
Spread the Love (or Sauce)
A Versatile Basting Brush to Take Your Grilling to the Next Level
From marinating meats to basting when grilling, a basting brush is your go-to tool to create mouthwatering flavors in your BBQ recipes. This brush features a locking head for easy storage and a silicone bristle brush that can be easily cleaned in the dishwasher.
This thing really upped my game cooking all kinds of meat from fish to red meat to poultry. So helpful not to have to keep googling it every 10 minutes because you forgot the answer. Really a must-have if you cook meat on a regular basis. -Anthony Trucco
Available from Amazon for $11.99.
A more affordable alternative, the Norpro Silicone Basting Brush is reusable and dishwasher-safe, with an ergonomic, easy-grip handle. Available from Walmart for $7.97.*
Master the Art of Grilling with These Accessories
Enhance Your Barbeque Experience
From the essential tools to specialized accessories, experiment with these items to perfect your outdoor cooking skills. The right equipment can make all the difference, whether you're a beginner or a seasoned griller. So gather your family and friends, fire up the grill, and enjoy the delicious flavors that await!
[1] Amazon Best-Seller: Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro 10-in-1
[2] Amazon Best-Seller: Scrubbin' Stone Grill Cleaner
[3] Amazon Best-Seller: Sanchez Fabricators Onion Holder
[4] Amazon Best-Seller: Metal Skewers (Pack of 12)
- The Ninja Foodi Smart XL Pro 10-in-1 grill is a versatile tool for those new to grilling, with two built-in thermometers and an app connection for real-time updates.
- The Scrubbin' Stone Grill Cleaner is a safer and more effective alternative to traditional metal scrubbers, making grill cleaning a breeze.
- The Sanchez Fabricators Onion Holder is a must-have for efficiently cleaning grill grates and seasoning your grill.
- Heat-resistant gloves from Amazon make grilling easier and less intimidating by allowing users to handle hot pans and grates with ease.
- Flexible grill lights from Amazon ensure precision and perfection for cooking at night or in low light.
- Color-coordinated prep trays prevent cross-contamination and keep meals clean and organized during cooking.
- A stainless-steel wire headband thermometer from Amazon allows you to monitor the internal temperature of meats without constant checks and guesswork.
- A heat-resistant grill mat from Walmart prevents food from falling through the grates and makes cleanup easier.
- Organizing tools such as baskets and tongs help minimize clutter and enhance the grilling setup.
- A basting brush with a locking head and silicone bristles is essential for creating mouthwatering flavors in BBQ recipes.
