These Grilling Accessories Will Make Cookouts Even Easier (2024)

Tongs are the tools we reach for most often when we're in the kitchen and when we're grilling outside. They're highly versatile and can be used to mix foods while prepping, transfer food to the grill, flip and serve. They can also be handy when carving larger meats that are still warm after resting. This set from Grillhogs includes three sizes: 16 inches, perfect for keeping your hands far from the heat when cooking; 12 inches, a versatile size that can easily be used at the grill or in your kitchen; and 9 inches, which are ideal for serving.

These stand out for being sturdy but not heavy with a wide handle that's easy to grasp. The silicone handles offer a secure grip, and the hook at the top is oversized and fits on most tool holders we tested. The hook also releases the lock on the tongs easily in one attempt. The head on the tongs is big and can grab all types of ingredients from thin asparagus to thick steaks without puncturing them.

We've tested several grill baskets, and this one stands out for being high performing and versatile. It has a rectangular shape with tall walls that allow you to cook all types of food, from delicate fish to small veggies. It comes with two removable dividers so you can keep your ingredients separate if you desire; they're particularly helpful if you choose to use the handle to shake the basket instead of tossing ingredients with a pair of tongs.

The basket is lightweight but sturdy. It's small enough to clean comfortably in your sink but large enough to handle an assortment of cooking tasks. Like many stainless steel grill baskets, it discolors over time, so we recommend using a good stainless steel cleaner to keep it looking new and fresh.

Chimney starters are a game changer for anyone who has ever used lighter fluid to light the coals in their charcoal grill. A chimney offers a contained environment to light the coals quickly and evenly without added chemicals; they're great for beginners and pros alike. In our testing, we found that though the comfortable, oversize handle of this Weber chimney is plastic, it's positioned far enough from the coals to stay cool. It's light and a manageable size to use. It discolors over time but the change does not affect its performance.

Pro tip: We like keeping a second batch of coals hot and ready to go for long cooks and to help better maintain the temperature.

Basting food is an easy way to add flavor to your meal. This basting set from OXO includes a silicone bristle brush, a stainless steel container and a lid, which makes it unique. The brush evenly distributes marinade before or during cooking, and the container's lid means you can keep it on hand without pests getting in.

The clear bristles have discolored in our testing, but this set makes grilling easier and is worth keeping around. It's light but stable and offers a good capacity. It stores relatively compactly as well. All pieces are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean, which is essential when working with raw meats and sticky or oily ingredients.

The secret to good BBQ is not overcooking it. Sounds simple but most people are surprised how juicy and delicious chicken, pork, steak and more can be when cooked to the right internal temperature.

This thermometer from Lavatools is our best overall grill thermometer and one of our personal favorites. In our tests, it quickly delivered accurate results, but, the features that make it great for grilling are the super thin tip that can easily pierce all types of food; its large, easy-t0-read numbers; measurements that go to the tenth of a degree; the magnetic base for storing on your grill and the large hanging hole in case your grill isn't magnetic.

These stainless steel skewers are going to be the talk of your next BBQ bash. The fun designs aren't just for looks, the unique heads and tails make them easier to grip and turn with tongs, and the dual-sided prongs allow you to cook twice as much as your typical skewer.

"I was impressed by how quickly and evenly meat cooked on these," said one consumer tester. Bonus: They’re a great reusable alternative to classic wooden skewers and are dishwasher-safe.

A smart grill thermometer can take your grilling to the next level by tracking the internal temperature of your food and alerting you when it's ready. We particularly like the Meater+, which performed well in our Lab tests. It comes with a charging block that doubles as storage.

It tracks both the internal temperature of food as well as the air temperature, which helps it guesstimate your cooking time. The app is user-friendly, and the interface is easy to navigate.

The Meater+ is sold as a set of two probes as well.

A good grill brush is key for a smooth grilling experience: Removing the burnt-on bits right after cooking (or before) helps prevent sticking, keeps flare-ups to a minimum and keeps your grill looking clean. While some people are wary of metal-bristled brushes, we found that they cleaned our grills the best out of the styles we tested, including nylon, coiled and wooden paddle styles.

We've been using this particular grill brush for about three seasons now. It has three rows of bristles that get between grates well and a scraper for stubborn bits. The handle is thick and comfortable with a hanging loop so you can easily store it on your grill's hooks.

Turn your grill into a smoker with this Nexgrill smoker box. It works by holding your favorite wood chips in the base and allowing them to smoke so you can add flavor to your food.

The box is designed to keep wood from catching on fire and the vents allow for adequate smoke dispersal. While we have not tested it ourselves, we appreciate that it’s made of cast iron, which means it won’t stain and is extremely durable.

It's hard to find a grilling tool set that includes quality products that you'll use often. Many come with a lot of extra pieces that you likely don't need, which is why this set from Oxo catches our eye. It includes a 16-inch version of their popular tongs as well as a long spatula. The tongs have a built-in bottle opener and large keyhole so you can store it on the side of your grill; the spatula is sturdy and slotted.

Both pieces are relatively lightweight, but strong and responsive. The silicone grips on the handles are comfortable to hold, and they can both be put in the dishwasher, which we appreciate.

Oxo offers a five-piece BBQ tool kit, which was sold out at the time of publication, but it also avoids the pitfall of including less-useful items. In addition to the featured tongs and spatula, it comes with a large fish turner and basting brush. Fish turners are great for getting under delicate fish and even meats because they're typically more flexible than regular spatulas and have a sharper edge. The basting brush has silicone bristles that can withstand high heat. The set also comes with a heat-resistant grill mat that you can consider a bonus.

Our analyst used these gloves while testing grill baskets and handling hot pizza stones. They provided a nonslip grip while offering a high level of heat protection for your hands, wrists and forearms.

Our pro found them comfortable even if they don’t slip on as easily as traditional oven mitts. One caveat: She noted that she did start to feel the heat when holding hot objects for more than two minutes. The company claims the gloves are cut-proof, which adds an extra layer of safety.

Baking sheets are good for more than sheet pan dinners. When it comes to grilling, half sheet pans work well as large, sturdy trays for carrying tools and ingredients to the grill, and they can also withstand high temperatures, making them a perfect landing spot for cooked foods. The rimmed edges prevent juices from running everywhere.

We love that Nordic Ware's durable and reliable half sheet pan comes with a lid, which keeps bugs at bay outdoors and allows for stacking in the fridge or next to the grill.

Nicole Papantoniou is the director of the Good Housekeeping Institute Kitchen Appliances and Innovation Lab, where she manages all kitchen appliance content and testing. She's been testing grills and grill accessories since she started at Good Housekeeping in 2019, and she tests multiple grills from February through October every year.

Sarah Wharton is a deputy editor with the Good Housekeeping Institute, where she writes about, edits and tests products for the Kitchen Appliances Lab. She led the most recent test of grill thermometers and has tested indoor grills for Good Housekeeping.