Whether you’re firing up the grill for quick weeknight burgers or setting off on an all-day smoked barbecue, cooking outdoors is more enjoyable with the right tools. A good set of essentials can help you prep efficiently, nail the perfect medium rare without guessing and even speed up cleanup.
But you don’t need one of those oversized grilling kits packed with a dozen gadgets built for looks, such as hulking tongs, and oversized grilling forks that pierce meat and spill juices. In reality, cooking outside requires many of the same tools you would use in your kitchen, so you’re better off investing in a handful of well-made essentials. After years of testing grills, griddles, smokers and accessories, these are the ones that have earned a permanent place on my patio – and many see just as much use indoors.
Prep trays: OXO Grilling Prep And Carry System
OXO Grilling Prep And Carry System none-selected
One of the biggest hassles of outdoor cooking is constantly darting back into the kitchen for ingredients and supplies. This six-piece prep system keeps everything organized, letting you season, marinate, transport, carve and serve from one kit. Color-coded trays help prevent cross-contamination, while the non-slip cutting board catches juices. When you’re done, everything nests together for easy cleanup.
Chimney starter:Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter none-selected
Charcoal’s biggest drawback is the hassle and wait of lighting it. A chimney starter is the fastest, easiest path to red-hot coals without lighter fluid, which can impart a nasty flavor to food. The Weber Rapidfire’s cone-shaped grate and generous air vents maximize airflow for quick, even ignition, while its durable aluminized steel construction and dual-handle design make it easy to safely pour hot coals into your grill.
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Tongs:Oxo Good Grips Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs
OXO Good Grips 12-in Stainless-Steel Locking Tongs none-selected
Skip the oversized barbecue fork and use tongs instead. Oxo’s stainless steel tongs are comfortable, dishwasher-safe and precise enough to grab everything from asparagus spears to steaks without dropping dinner into the coals. Get the 12-in model if you want them to serve double duty in the kitchen, the 16-in version if you need extra reach on larger cookers, or the 19-in grilling tongs if you prefer something burly, including a built-in bottle opener and generous loop for hanging on your grill.
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Squeeze bottles:Tablecraft 16-oz Widemouth Squeeze Bottle
Tablecraft 16-oz Widemouth Squeeze Bottle none-selected
A squeeze bottle is one of those inexpensive tools you will reach for every time you cook. Fill them with cooking oil, barbecue sauce, salad dressing or homemade marinades for cleaner, more precise application than pouring from the original bottle. The wide-mouth opening makes refilling easy, while the durable bottles are dishwasher-safe and equally useful at the grill, on the stovetop or as condiment dispensers at the table.
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Heat-resistant gloves: Hey Grill Hey Pitmaster Gloves
Hey Grill Hey Pitmaster Gloves none-selected
Bulky gloves and mitts protect your hands, but they sacrifice dexterity. The Pitmaster gloves combine a waterproof rubber shell with a comfortable, cotton-insulated lining, letting you move hot grill parts, cast-iron cookware and sizzling cuts of meat while remaining flexible enough for slicing, shredding and saucing. When you get them grimy, just toss them in the wash.
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Grill brush: Rescue Ultra Brush
Rescue Ultra Brush none-selected
Dipping this brush’s aramid fiber (AKA Kevlar) cleaning head in water creates steam as you scrub hot grill grates, loosening baked-on residue without the risk of wire bristles shaking loose, maybe into your food. A row of stainless steel teeth tackles stubborn buildup between the grates and the brush works just as well on flat-top griddles.
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Spatulas:Traeger XXL BBQ Spatula
Traeger XXL BBQ Spatula none-selected
Despite its name, a fish spatula is one of the most versatile kitchen tools you can own – perfect for flipping burgers, chicken breasts, vegetables, and yes, fish fillets. But when you need to hoist an entire brisket, pork butt, turkey or spatchcocked chicken, reach for Traeger’s XXL Spatula. Its oversized, 6in x 10-in stainless steel blade supports large cuts without bending, and even doubles as a capable smash burger press.
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Thermometers: ThermoWorks Thermapen One
ThermoWorks Thermapen One none-selected
Stop guessing a steak’s doneness by poking your palm and measuring it with a Thermapen instead, which delivers an accurate temperature reading in about a second. For longer cooks, a wireless leave-in probe like the two- or four-piece Typhur kit keeps tabs on chicken, roasts and brisket from hundreds of feet away. Once connected to your home’s wifi, it can send alerts to your phone, while its intuitive base lets you set target temperatures without the app.
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Sheet pan:Nordic Ware Naturals High Sided Half Sheet Pan with Multi-Task Oven & Cooling Rack
Nordic Ware Naturals High Sided Half Sheet Pan with Multi-Task Oven & Cooling Rack none-selected
A rimmed sheet pan is useful for prepping, transporting, and serving food and a wire rack elevates cooked food so the underside stays crisp instead of steaming in its own juices. It’s also ideal for dry-brining larger cuts overnight by promoting airflow in the refrigerator. Nordic Ware’s pure aluminum pan resists warping and heats evenly, while the precision-fit rack supports roasting, broiling, cooling, and glazing. You can pop the rack out and use it on a grill to cook smaller veggies without losing them through the grate.
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Grill press / Burger smasher:Made In Grill Press
Made In Grill Press none-selected
A heavy grill press is the easiest way to maximize contact between food and a hot griddle, creating crispier bacon and smash burgers with deeply browned, lacy edges. Weighing nearly two pounds, Made In’s stainless steel press applies even pressure without much effort. The raised handle keeps your hand away from the heat, while the leather sleeve provides a comfortable grip.
Prep tubs:Drip EZ 3-Piece Prep Tub Set
Drip EZ EZ 3-Piece Prep Tub Set none-selected
Before you can smoke a great barbecue, you have to trim meat and coat it with rub – a messy job with briskets, pork shoulders and ribs. These collapsible Drip EZ tubs contain the mess, then fold flat for easy storage. The base of each tub doubles as a cutting board, while the vats can serve as an ice-filled cooler, a prep trash bin or even a serving bowl for messy favorites such as sauced chicken wings.
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Grill cart: Oklahoma Joe’s Workstation DLX Prep & Storage Cart
Oklahoma Joe’s Workstation DLX Prep & Storage Cart none-selected
With a 900-sq in stainless steel prep surface, this cart gives you countertop-caliber room to prep, season and organize. Locking casters let you roll it exactly where you need it, then tuck it away when the season ends. Built-in storage, fuel bins and cleanup features keep the entire cook efficient and contained.
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Skewers: OXO 6-Piece Grilling Skewer Set
Oxo 6-Piece Grilling Skewer Set none-selected
Try flipping a kebab speared with cheap, round bamboo skewers, and you’ll find it spinning in place like beads on a necklace. OXO’s flat stainless steel skewers keep food locked in like players on a foosball table, so every chunk rotates when you want it to. Their sharp tips easily thread through food and their wide handles are easy to grip with tongs. When you’re done, they nest together for compact storage.
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Basting brush and sauce pot: OXO Grilling Basting Pot and Brush Set
OXO OXO Grilling Basting Pot and Brush Set none-selected
This stainless-steel sauce pot holds 18oz of barbecue sauce, marinade, melted butter or glaze, keeping plenty within reach during long cooks. The silicone lid helps protect the contents from bugs, while the angled silicone basting brush loads up with sauce and keeps messy drips off your work surface. It’s equally handy for glazing ribs, basting chicken or buttering corn on the cob.
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Spritz bottle: Oklahoma Joe’s Competition BBQ Spritz Bottle
Amazon Competition BBQ Spritz Bottle none-selected
A spritz bottle is one of the simplest ways to improve smoked barbecue. During long cooks, a light mist of water, cider vinegar or apple juice helps keep the surface from drying out and encourages smoke to cling to the wet and cooler meat. Oklahoma Joe’s 1.2-liter bottle holds enough liquid for an all-day smoke and delivers a consistent, controlled spray.
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Veggie grilling basket:Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket none-selected
A grilling basket is the easiest way to cook vegetables (or small protein like shrimp) without sacrificing them to the fire. It keeps asparagus, peppers, mushrooms, zucchini and other delicate ingredients from slipping through the grates while still exposing them to smoky, direct heat. Weber’s version is durable enough to use over hot charcoal, easy to grip with gloves and can even double as a colander for rinsing produce.
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Charcoal baskets: Weber Char-Baskets
Weber Char-Baskets none-selected
Charcoal baskets make one of the most useful grilling techniques – two-zone cooking – almost effortless. They hold lit coals neatly to one side of a kettle grill, creating separate heat zones for everything from reverse-seared steaks to whole chickens and racks of ribs. Weber’s aluminized steel baskets fit kettles from 18in to 26in, and make charcoal placement easier and more consistent.
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Melting dome:Blackstone Culinary Medium Square Basting Dome
Blackstone Medium Square Basting Dome none-selected
A dome traps heat and steam, helping food cook faster while making a griddle even more versatile. It’s equally useful on a grill, where it quickly melts cheese over burgers or helps finish thicker cuts without drying them out. Blackstone’s stainless steel cover is built sturdy enough for everyday use and its heat-resistant handle stays cool enough to reposition safely while cooking.
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Rib rack:Napoleon Expandable Rib Holder
Napoleon Expandable Rib Holder none-selected
This stainless steel expandable rib rack lets you cook anywhere from one to six racks of ribs at once, adjusting to your grill space as needed. It fits cart-style barbecues and kettle grills, goes in the dishwasher when you’re done and folds down tightly for storage.
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Skillet:Lodge 8-in Carbon Steel Cast Iron Skillet
Lodge 8-in Carbon Steel none-selected
If you’re new to carbon steel, this inexpensive Lodge is the perfect tool to learn about this durable favorite of pro chefs. Lightweight yet tough, it heats quickly and evenly for reliable searing and frying. Pre-seasoned with vegetable oil for an easy-release surface, it’s ready to use on any heat source – from induction stovetops to grills, campfires or charcoal setups – without having to baby it like Teflon.
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Other pieces you might enjoy from the Filter, the Guardian’s guide to buying fewer, better things:
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Baking Steel v Ooni v Gozney: I tested the three best pizza makers for home in the US
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Field Company’s new No 5 chef skillet fixes everything I hated about cast iron
