Since completing the outdoor kitchen, I've been enjoying every second I can get in front of the grill(s). I've also added a few grilling tools to my collection, and I've narrowed down a list of the essential grilling tools for all my fellow hobbyist grillers out there. Whether you're just beginning your grilling journey and are looking for some guidance, or maybe you're seasoned and are looking to up your game, these are my top 10 tools.
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In addition to our Father's Day gift guide, snag a few of these essentials to gift to your partner, father, grandfather, or yourself!
1. Long Tongs
This is the least sexy thing on this list, but it will 100% be the most used. Any grilling accessory list that doesn’t have a good pair of tongs is an incomplete list IMO. I look at everything with my tongs - grip, tension, length. These are the best tongs out there–long enough to keep your knuckles out of the heat.
2. BBQ Gloves
BBQ gloves are a great tool for anyone using a smoker, rotisserie, or just generally cooking large pieces of meat or full chickens. Tongs can get a bit clumsy, so being able to get your hands on it, keep a good grip, and not rip it to bits in the process is helpful. I also prefer gloves that don’t have fabric on the outside. These coated gloves are really great.
3. Oil Mister
I used to be "anti-spray oil" on my grill because you can cause flares when you spray. And while that’s still something to worry about, I’ve now come to prefer it for my grill grate lubrication, so long as I do it before the grill gets too hot. An oil mister gets a good spray and allows you to choose your own oil. Avocado oil is tops for gilling IMO.
4. Grill Bags
No more vegetable pieces falling through the grill grates. My grill bags are one of my favorite new tools from the past year, and I use them weekly. They make grilling vegetables so easy.
5. Burger Press
Going along with my smash burger recipe from a couple of weeks ago, a good burger press is a great tool for outdoor griddling (on a flat top or a Blackstone, etc.) I avoided getting one for years and just used the underside of a plate, which worked fine but was a bit clunky. Now I’ve tested three burger presses, and this one is my favorite.
This goes along with the last–great tool for flat-top cooking, especially scraping and flipping smash burgers. It looks like a joint compound knife, which is why I picked this one because I actually use a joint compound knife for my griddle. But this one has the same shape and is labeled for flat-top cooking, so it’s a great option if you’re nervous about the joint compound knife direction.
This is a great meat thermometer. Weather resistance has a remote lead, so you can keep an eye on it from a distance. No dealing with fickle Bluetooth or lost connections and pairing. Four wire leads to monitor four things at once. Especially great for smoking and long cooking.
My favorite grill brush. No scratching your grill grates (which always leads to rust), and no leaving behind dangerous wire fragments that can get into your food. You can also buy the sponges separately to replace them as needed instead of swapping out your entire grill brush.
Here’s a tip. Never grill things sauced. The sugars in most sauces burn far too quickly on the grill so you’re left with charred exterior and a raw interior. Season, grill, and brush on your sauce at the end, just before taking off the heat. These silicone basting brushes are the ones I have, and they work great.
10. 10-in Cimeter
This is the only thing on this list that is on my wish list, as opposed to me already having it. A large, quality butcher knife/cimeter is just a fun grilling flex. If you really want to get something special for your griller, this is it. The shape is perfect for meats of all types; it’s large enough to handle big cuts but agile enough for separating and carving chickens. This just looks fun.
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Great recs! I purchased the mesh bags after seeing Chris use them last year and looooooove them. Veggies still get all the grill flavor but don’t fall through the grates. :) They make great gifts, too!