Every summer, I look forward to firing up the grill for the first cookout of the season. It’s no secret that I love grilled foods, whether it’s my Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Grilled Corn on the Cobb, or a classic summertime meal like hamburgers and hot dogs. Grilled recipes make for quick weeknight dinners and keep your house cool when the weather is hot (a win-win!), and with the best grill tools by your side, you’ll be able to expand your grilling repertoire to include all sorts of delicious foods.
I recently got a Kamado Joe Classic Joe II, which uses charcoal to give food rich, smoky flavors, but you can get equally tasty results with a propane grill like the Weber Spirit II E-310, which is the perfect size for families. No matter what grill you use, you’ll also need the best grill tools to make barbecuing a breeze.
To help you get suited up for summer, I’ve put together a list of 14 of my must-have grilling supplies, including the best grill set, meat thermometer, grill brush, and more.
My Top Picks:
- Best Meat Thermometer: ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer – $16.99 at Amazon
- Best Grill Set: Weber Precision 3-Piece Grilling Set – $46.99 at Amazon
- Best Meat Tenderizer: OXO Good Grips Easy-Clean Bladed Meat Tenderizer – $22.95 at Amazon
- Best Pizza Stone: Emile Henry Glazed Pizza Stone – $69.95 at Amazon
- Best Griddle: Blackstone 1813 Portable Flat Griddle – $219.98 at Amazon
- Best Burger Press: Cuisinart Smashed Burger Press – $19.99 at Amazon
Reviews of Best Grill Tools
1. Best Meat Thermometer: ThermoPro Digital Meat Thermometer
A great meat thermometer can mean the difference between perfectly grilled protein and tough, chewy, overcooked meat. I personally use (and highly recommend) this digital thermometer from ThermoPro, which provides accurate measurements in just three or four seconds — because who wants to hold their hand over a hot grill for longer than necessary?
It has a large, backlit display that’s easy to read, and the screen even automatically rotates to match the way you’re holding it. It’s super handy and easy to clean, too.
2. Best Grill Set: Weber Precision 3-Piece Grilling Set
No matter what you’re grilling, there are a few key tools that you’ll need. All are included in this grilling set from Weber, one of the most trusted brands in the grilling world. I’ve never been let down by their products!
The three-piece set includes a spatula, grill tongs, and a basting brush, which have long handles to keep your hands away from the heat. I love that the spatula has beveled edges on all three sides, making it easy to get underneath food, and all the pieces are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.
3. Best Meat Tenderizer: OXO Good Grips Easy-Clean Bladed Meat Tenderizer
The key to getting grilled chicken super tender? This easy to use tenderizer from OXO that has become a complete game changer when making my favorite Grilled Chicken Sandwich. The spring press system makes it less messy to use and safer for fingers, and it also helps meat absorb marinade so much better. Seriously, you don’t want to skip this step before you grill!
4. Best Pizza Stone: Emile Henry Glazed Pizza Stone
I don’t know about you, but I don’t generally want to crank up my oven to 500 degrees to cook pizza during the summer. That’s when this pizza stone comes in handy! It can be used on any type of grill and is safe up to 900 degrees, making it easy to cook homemade pies in your backyard — no pizza oven needed. Try it out with my favorite Margherita Pizza, which has an easy yeast-free dough and is extra tasty with the smoky flavors from the grill.
5. Best Griddle: Blackstone 1813 Portable Flat Griddle
Smash Tacos and burgers are all the rage right now, and they’re super quick and easy to make with the help of a flat griddle. This propane-powered model from Blackstone is the perfect compact option if you don’t want another full-size appliance on your deck, and it still provides plenty of room to cook for your whole family. My husband has been eyeing it for a while now too!
The portable griddle has two burners, and the lid comes in handy if you want to speed up the cooking process. (It also helps keep the griddle clean when you’re not using it!) In addition to smash burgers, it’s ideal for cooking delicate patties — like my Salmon Quinoa Burgers, which can fall apart on the regular grill — as well as side dishes like Smashed Potatoes.
6. Best Burger Press: Cuisinart Smashed Burger Press
Speaking of smash burgers, the easiest way to make perfectly flat, slightly crispy patties is with the help of a burger press like this one. Made by Cuisinart (another one of my favorite brands), the press is made from cast iron that gives it a hefty weight, making it easy to flatten out burgers, potatoes, and more. Here’s a pro tip for using it: Put a piece of parchment paper between the press to ensure there’s no sticking!
7. Best Grill Brush: Grill Rescue BBQ Replaceable Scraper
I recommend cleaning your grill every time you use it for the best flavor and minimal sticking. Rather than using one that has bristles that can fall off and end up in your food, my husband loves using this safer option for Grill Rescue. It uses steam to gently remove any leftover residue — all you have to do is preheat your grill, dunk the brush in water, and watch grease and gunk wash away. Plus, there’s even a handy scraper on the front edge for any extra-tough grime.
8. Best Grill Basket: Crate & Barrel Square Grill Basket
When it comes to grilling vegetables, shrimp, and other smaller items, a grill basket will be your best friend. I particularly love the design of this stainless steel one from Crate and Barrel — it’s big enough to hold several servings, and inexpensive enough to purchase a few to cook different foods. The perforated holes are also small enough to prevent food from falling through while still giving them a nice char.
9. Best Spatula: OXO Good Grips Grill Turner
If you’re in the market for a new grill spatula, you can’t go wrong with this one from OXO Good Grips. This turner is specially designed for the grill, featuring a longer handle and double-bend shape for better leverage. Its beveled edges make it easy to scoop up burgers, and it gets bonus points in my books for being dishwasher-friendly!
10. Best Tongs: OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs
Sturdy grill tongs are a must-have for flipping steaks or foods like Grilled Pineapple, and these OXO Good Grips tongs are long enough to keep your hands out of the heat as you work. They have drainage holes that help prevent flare ups when you’re cooking juicy foods, and they’re strong enough to easily flip big cuts of meat. Plus, they lock closed, which makes them easy to store in a kitchen drawer, no matter how cluttered it may be.
11. Best Basting Brush: OXO Good Grips Grill Basting Brush
You might have a regular pastry brush for baking, but a grill basting brush is designed a bit differently. This popular one from OXO has a much longer handle, allowing you to reach meat at the back of the grill, and it’s packed with high-heat resistant silicone bristles that brush on sauces and marinades in a few quick strokes. It even has an angled head so the bristles are elevated if you put the brush down on the counter — how smart is that?
12. Best Smart Thermometer: Meater Plus
Grilling is practically a hands-off affair with the Meater Plus. This smart meat thermometer syncs up to your phone, and you can leave it directly in your meat when it’s cooking on the grill (or in the oven!). The probe sends real-time temperature updates and even lets you know when it’s done, so you never have to worry about overcooking dinner. It has a range of 165 feet, so you’ll still receive updates from another room, and it’s particularly useful for bigger cuts of meat that need to be grilled or smoked for long periods of time that you don’t want to constantly manage.
13. Best Grill Caddy: Mr. Bar-B-Q Adjustable Grilling Caddy
There are several items I like to keep within reach while grilling, including seasonings and my grill tools, and instead of carrying them in and out of the house by hand, it’s much easier to stash everything in a grill caddy like this one. (It’s also a super handy purchase if you live in a condo and use a communal grill!)
This caddy can fit it all — it has a generously sized compartment for salt, pepper, and your favorite condiments, as well as a built-in paper towel holder. The height can be adjusted so you can hang your grill tools off the side, and there’s a handle on top for easy carrying to your grilling station.
14. Best Chimney Starter: Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
It’s no secret that charcoal is more time-consuming to get going than propane, but the Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter will get your fuel burning in no time and still achieve that amazing smokey flavor This chimney starter comes in two sizes, and you just load in your briquettes, then use lighter cubes or newspaper to start a fire underneath it. In around 20 minutes, your hot charcoal will be ready to go, and you can pour it into your grill and start cooking.
It’s easy and pretty much foolproof, and there’s no lighter fluid needed.
Why You Can Trust Me
I’m the author and recipe developer behind Skinnytaste, which features hundreds of healthy recipes for you and your family (even if you have a picky eater or two). My goal is to create healthier versions of classic foods with compromising flavor, and that includes lots of lightened-up recipes for the grill. I love grilling seasonal, whole foods that you can find at your local grocery store or farmer’s market, and I’m a firm believer that the best grilling tools can help expand your grilling skills beyond the basics.
Many of the grilling tools included in this list are products that I personally use and love, as well as highly rated options that are recommended by professional chefs, grillmasters, and home grilling enthusiasts.
Prices were accurate at time of publication.
