Grilling Tools & Cookware

Simple, yet crucial. These grilling utensils are the foundation of your cookout, and many times, they'll come with a special storage case (since they tend to be long-handled tools). Heavy duty tongs are versatile enough to pick up and rotate food of any thickness, from a juicy steak to mouth-watering vegetable kabobs. Look for grill tongs that are about 16 inches long and dishwasher-safe to make cleaning easy. A locking mechanism to keep the stainless steel tool closed when not in use and a soft grip are bonus features. By using tongs instead of a fork, your food retains its juiciness.

A spatula is your best flipping friend, especially if you find one with a comfortable grip. Stainless steel spatulas are easy to clean, and silicone models also work well. You want a sturdy spatula that won't give any when you're timing that perfect flip, and like the tongs, it should be extra-long (about 16 inches). A bent or offset neck that's slightly lower than the handle is essential, too.

Finally, you'll use a grill brush with stainless steel bristles to clean your grill before and after every cookout. Before you grill, preheat your barbecue for at least 15 to 20 minutes, and then scrape the grates with the grill brush. After your meat is done cooking, use that same grill brush to vigorously clean the grates until they're smooth and char-free. Many barbecue sets may include more than just these three accessories, but these particular utensils are essential to any grill experience.

A meat thermometer is a must for best food safety practices, and there's tons of different options on the market to ensure your meat is fully cooked to a safe temperature. An instant-read thermometer will show you the temperature of your meat on either a digital or dial face. Insert it into the center of your meat near the end of the cooking so you don't accidentally overcook anything on your gas grill.

You can spring for a wireless grilling thermometer that lets you gauge the temperature of your meet from up to 300 feet away. This flexibility comes in handy when you're grilling larger portions of meat that need constant temperature monitoring, but you don't want to be chained to your barbecue.

A handmade potholder won't do the trick with temperatures this high. You'll need heavy-duty barbecue mitts made specifically for temperatures up to 700 degrees F (yes, a charcoal grill can get all the way up there). Try on a few pairs and look for models that go up to your elbows. BBQ mitts can come in a variety of materials like silicone, leather, and even fire-retardant. A solid, heavy-duty pair will last you through years of handling hot coals and grilling steaks.

If you have a charcoal grill, you'll need a chimney starter to get your charcoal briquettes nice and hot. This must-have doesn't use lighter fluid, resulting in a safer grilling experience. You'll need one with two handles, one that rests on top of the starter for support and has a heat-resistant handle on the side for lifting. As far as capacity goes, you're best off with at least five quarts of briquettes (about 80 pieces).

To use a chimney starter, place crumpled newspaper or another tasteless, odorless starter in the bottom of your chimney, topped with charcoal briquettes. Light the charcoal and let it burn until it's covered with a white-gray ash.

Ramp up the flavors at your next cookout by basting your meats. Sounds fancy, right? In reality, basting just means brushing, spooning, or pouring liquids, sauces, and marinades over your food. Basting is also a great way to keep your meats moist and juicy while they cook. Your basting brush will likely be made of either boar bristles, plastic bristles, or even dishwasher-safe silicone. If you don't have a silicone basting brush, you'll need to clean the brush every now and then by dipping it in bleach.

Not everyone's a carnivore, and eventually, you're going to have to grill some vegetables, fish, or other delicate food that's irritatingly prone to falling through your grill grates. When that day comes, a grilling basket will help your food stay intact while you cook it. While you can get specialized baskets for meatballs, fish, quesadillas, corn on the cob, or sliders, your best bet is just an all-purpose, large-capacity basket that can fit a variety of foods. Make sure it has an extra-long handle that's heat-resistant so you don't burn yourself.

Skewers, also called kebabs, add a fun element to grilling. Use them to skewer your favorite veggies for a fun side dish, or add cubes of marinated chicken or steak for an international flare. Or, if you have a sweet tooth, try grilled pineapple or grilled peaches skewered on a kabob; the grill brings out their natural sweetness for a mouth-watering juicy texture. Kebabs can be either wooden or metal. If you choose the cheaper wooden versions, soak them in water for 30 minutes prior to grilling so they don't burn on the barbecue. If you go the stainless steel route, you can easily wash and reuse them several times over (no soaking required).

Want to ensure even, high-quality cooking throughout your entire grill? Avoid a burger-ruining flare-up with a stainless steel or enameled cast iron grill topper. Plus, the smooth, even surface opens up millions of possibilities for cooking new and exciting items on your grill. (Grilled pancakes, anyone?)

There are dozens of grill inserts and accessories just waiting for your BBQ. How about a pizza stone, for an outdoor pizza party? Or, maybe you need a specialized roaster to make your famous beer can chicken; many stainless steel options feature a cylinder that comfortably supports both the beer and the chicken. Got a vegetarian in your life? Don't worry, you can set up a veggie tray insert to keep them satisfied at even the most meat-heavy BBQ. And finally...

In fact, we'd call this the number-one most important BBQ tool. Because after all that hard work, you deserve a cold one (or two).