Can you smell it? It’s the aroma of charcoal, grilling, as well as great food and wine. I don't know if you like it, but for me, it's what I look forward to most every summer. There’s something special about firing up the grill in the backyard and cooking over an open flame until everything is browned and delicious. Whether you like burgers, steaks, ribs, or chicken drumsticks, the aim is always to make something truly tasty. But the secret to making grilling easier, the results more professional, and the food more delicious lies in choosing the right BBQ tools and accessories. We've thoroughly tested these items ourselves and use them at home, ensuring you can impress your family and friends with your grilling skills at your next barbecue.
Smart Meat Thermometer
I admit that sometimes it can be very rewarding to grill perfectly done meat without any tools, but guesswork, most of the time, ruins a good piece of meat. This is where a smart meat thermometer like the INKBIRD INT-14-BW proves invaluable, serving as a reliable assistant to ensure your meat reaches desired doneness every time.
Just take the probe out of the charging case, insert it into the meat, and it will deliver accurate internal and ambient temperatures with an estimated cooking time. With the accompanying smart app, you can remotely monitor your grill in the backyard while enjoying the party indoors.
Cutting Board
A quality cutting board is often overlooked, but it’s crucial for preparing ingredients and slicing cooked meat. Choose a board that’s large enough to fit a rack of ribs, a whole brisket, or at least a grilled tomahawk steak. Most importantly, it should have a groove around the edge so that meat juices won’t run onto your countertop. If possible, having two cutting boards - one for raw ingredients and another for cooked foods - can help you avoid cross-contamination.
Grill Brush
A BBQ master would be remiss if he didn't clean the grill before firing it up. Not only does a clean grill prevent food from sticking, but also ensures that the food does not retain the burnt smell left over from the last grilling. This makes having a good grill brush a must. While a wire brush is common, it can leave dangerous metal bits in your food, so it might be safer to choose a nylon scraper, pumice stone, or coil system.
Basting Brush
If you want to create that juicy and tender grilled chicken thighs or beautifully brown sugar glazed ham, a basting brush is essential. It's best to avoid bristle brushes because, in our tests, no matter how expensive they are, they tend to shed hair. Instead, opt for a long-handled, heat-resistant silicone brush. This type of brush not only holds a large amount of sauce for even distribution, but also keeps your hands safe from burns while you baste.
Chimney Starter
There are many reasons to love grilling with charcoal, but lighting it definitely isn’t one of them. If you happen to have a charcoal grill, a chimney stater is your new best friend. Don't be fooled by its simple, basic look, it’s a quicker, easier, and more efficient way to light charcoal with just a few sheets of newspaper. In about 15 minutes, you’ll have a hotter and cleaner burn without the need for any smelly lighter oil.
Grilling Basket
Have you ever tried to grill salmon, other delicate meats, or some chopped vegetables, only to watch half of them slip through the grates and into the flames? If so, then use a grilling basket! It enhances your grilling experience by making it easier to grill not just meat, but also fish, fruits, and vegetables without the worry of losing them. Since everything sits in the basket, flipping them becomes a breeze, too. Choose a stainless steel grilling basket, which is better at handling high heat, or one with a non-stick coating, which means food won’t stick and is easy to clean.
Tongs
A pair of sturdy, long-handled grill tongs is like your extended hands over the hot flames, perfect for flipping burgers, moving chicken, moving veggies, and anything else you need to grab or move on the grill. We recommend 16-inch grill tongs so you don't have to worry about singeing your arm hair. But if you want something a little more manageable, go for 9-inch ones. Just steer clear of heat-resistant nylon-tipped grill tongs, as they can’t withstand high heat at all - I learned that the hard way when one melted!
Heat-Resistant Gloves
When looking for heat-resistant gloves, you might notice that many are mitten-style, which can limit your dexterity. That’s why INKBIRD BBQ gloves are a great choice, which have five separate fingers for better flexibility. Made from high-quality heat-resistant aramid fabric, these gloves can handle temperatures up to 1,472°F, making them ideal for maneuvering a hot grill, moving hot coals, or adjusting the position of a cast iron pan on the grill. Additionally, they offer extra protection with a length that extends 5.5 inches up your arms.
Aluminum Foil
Aluminum foil itself may not be a traditional “tool”, but it is definitely one of the most practical accessories for grilling. It serves multiple purposes, such as acting as a grilling basket for wrapping delicate fish or vegetables, locking in the juices by wrapping meat, and even keeping grilled meat warm while it rests. Surprisingly, you can use crumpled aluminum foil to scrub the grill and then throw it away once used.
Shredder Claws
If you love pulled pork, beef, or chicken, these claws make for a quick way to shred a whole meat - much faster than struggling with two forks, and without the worry of burning your fingers. In addition to shredding meat, they also come in handy for holding a whole roast steady while you slice it. You can even use them to toss a salad, which is a surefire way to increase your efficiency.
