Grilling Tools Everyone Needs

It’s grillin’ season and it’s time to get the meat sizzlin’. Whether you’re new to the grill and wondering where to get started or you’re the grill master of the block, you need the right tools to get the job done. We’ve narrowed down the list of tools you need, to have all your friends and family wowed at your next cookout.

Sturdy Tongs

Keep your hands away from the blazing heat by equipping yourself with a great set of long-reach stainless steel tongs. Stainless steel tools are durable, easy to clean and handle high grill temperatures very well. The long handles will keep you and your arm hair safe from the hot grill and give you a good grip while you flip those sausages for an even crisp all around. Some tongs have a built-in turner to make this even easier and a rubber handle for a sturdier grip. You might also want to consider tongs which are designed with two individual arms with a hinge in the middle, as these allow you to easily grip a variety of food, however thick or thin it is and easily clamp shut when done.

Spatula

When it’s time to flip a burger over, you don’t want to grip the meat and risk having it fall apart. This is where your loyal spatula comes in. A stainless-steel spatula is excellent at handling high heat and is perfect for outdoor grilling. A silicone spatula is also a safe option for the grill. Try to avoid plastic spatulas as they can melt on the grill. However, if you have no other option, you can wrap your spatula in aluminum foil which will hold the heat and prevent the spatula from melting.

Getting a good spatula will ensure you can smoothly slide in between and underneath all the meat on your grill. When looking at which spatula you would like, consider the length of the handle, the size of the head, the grip, and any drainage slots it might have. A long-handled spatula will allow you to move large cuts of meat without burning your knuckles. Wide-head spatulas are great for flipping large cuts of meat without breaking them apart. Some spatulas also come with a cutting edge, so you can flip and cut at the same time! A rubber-handled spatula can be easier to grip for long periods, and drainage slots will reduce the amount of hot grease you carry as you move the meat around.

Metal Skewers

Forget about wooden skewers! Get yourself a set of metal skewers. Unlike their wooden counterparts, metal skewers are reusable because they don’t burn. This summer, we’re all about Green Grilling! All you have to do is rinse them off once you’re done with them, pack them away, and pull them out when you need them again. Both round and flat skewers are great choices; however, flat metal skewers have a better grip, so you don’t have to worry about your meat or veggies spinning around as you grill them. It’s also important to consider what kind of handles your skewers have. The best type of handle is perpendicular to the skewer, which allows for easy grabbing. Avoid those that lay flat as they will often carry a lot of heat and be challenging to grab off the grill.

Cast-Iron Skillet

A great grill isn’t just about the meat; it’s also about the sides! A cast-iron skillet is perfect for cooking delicious veggies without worrying about them falling through the grates on your grill. They’re also great for more delicate meat such as fish that can easily break apart. And if you’ve wondered how to keep your food warm while you finish up on the grill, placing any already prepared food in a cast-iron skillet near the grill will keep it warm without burning it. Remember to be extra careful when working with this skillet, as the handles can get red-hot.

Cast iron skillets can last several lifetimes, if you know how to treat them well! These skillets need to be seasoned at least two to four times a year with vegetable oil or melted shortening. The oil will prevent your pan from staining and rusting and keep your food from having a metallic taste. Keeping your pan seasoned will also keep it both nonstick and highly resistant to the high heat of the grill. You can season your pan by lining it with the oil or shortening and placing it face down in the oven at about 350 degrees for an hour. Allow it to cool in the oven as well. Once you’re done using your skillet, you will also need to clean it thoroughly and immediately. Avoid soaking it in water as this will cause it to rust and avoid using soap as this may wash your seasoning away. Instead opt for baking soda or kosher salt and a gentle brush. These will help to counteract any odors or flavors still remining in the pan, as well as sanitize your skillet so it’s ready for its next use!

Grill Brush

Once you’re done grilling, you have to get cleaning! A grill brush is great for getting all that grease and meat sauce off your grill before it solidifies and becomes harder to remove. This will help your grill to last longer, rust less, and prevent your next meal from tasting like the last one. However, be careful when selecting the right grill brush. Some brushes have wire bristles or low-quality bristles that aren’t fitted well, and this could result in some bristles coming off and getting lodged in your food. A brush with silicone bristles is a great option for scrubbing your grates as the bristles don’t break off as easily as others might.

Once you’re done scrubbing the grate, be sure to clean the brush as well. You can do this by submerging the brush in warm soapy water until the grease and food start to slide off. Then, rinse it off and place it face down in a cool, dry area to prevent moisture build-up. If you don’t have a grill brush handy, a good alternative is a ball of aluminum foil or half an onion which you can grab with your tongs and run along the grates. Stay safe and make sure to wait until the grate is just warm enough to touch before beginning any cleaning!

Carving Board

How can you carve your meat without a carving board? Short answer- you can’t. Equip yourself with a good-quality plastic or wooden carving board. It’ll be worth the investment. Avoid materials such as glass and metal, which will not only blunt your knife but are also more slippery and can lead to unfortunate cutting accidents. Ensure that your board has a trough or groove around the borders, which will prevent any oil/juices from flowing over the board and making a mess.

A wooden carving board is a great option if keeping your knives sharp is important to you. They are gentle on knives and highly durable. Any cuts, scratches, or damages can often be easily sanded away to restore the board. Wooden carving boards are also a great sanitary option as they are able to trap and kill bacteria quickly. However, wooden carving boards require tender love and care. They need to be hand-washed gently after each use and never put in a dishwasher where the high heat can cause them to break apart. In addition, they are prone to staining, drying out, and cracking and will often need to be conditioned with mineral oil to keep the wood moist and healthy.

Plastic carving boards are a great option if you’re on a budget as they tend to be more inexpensive than wooden boards. They can withstand the heat of the dishwasher and often take up less space than other types of boards as they are lighter and smaller. They are also great at not holding on to various food odors and flavors. For example, no one wants to eat beef-flavored chicken breast. Ultimately, the best board for you will be the one that best meets your needs.

Meat Thermometer

You may not always need a meat thermometer, but it sure is handy when you do! Meat thermometers are a great way of ensuring you don’t have to cut a little hole in your meat to make sure it’s not underdone or add a few “insurance” minutes to your cook time and end up with overdone steak. Not only are meat thermometers great for relieving you from the stress of wondering what to tell your family when they ask if the food is done yet, but they are also great for your health and safety by helping you to avoid foodborne illnesses like salmonella.

There are various meat thermometers on the market, each with different technologies. Some thermometers allow you to stick a probe in the meat and keep it there to monitor as the meat cooks, while others offer instant reads. If you are technologically inclined, some thermometers allow you to connect them to your phone via Bluetooth and monitor the temperature of the meat from anywhere in the house. No meat thermometer is the wrong meat thermometer; select one that matches your needs!

Grilling Gloves

Long-reach tools are a great way to stay safe when grilling, but the best way to keep your hands safe from the heat is to cover them with heat-resistant material. Grilling gloves are typically made from either silicone, which is ideal for handling food; leather, which is highly durable; synthetic(rubber), which offers great flexibility; and fabric, such as Kevlar, which is a strong synthetic fiber designed to keep you safe from burns. Do not use regular fabric gloves as these can easily catch fire and will likely be more dangerous than wearing no gloves at all.

True heat-resistant gloves will make it easy to handle that hot cast iron skillet handle, any metal tools you’ve forgotten too close to the grate, and even the grate itself. When selecting the right gloves, ensure that you have full mobility of your hands and fingers to avoid dropping your food or any hot items. Grilling often requires longer gloves than regular ones, so ensure the glove's cuff is long enough to cover your entire arm. This is especially true if you have a large grill and need to reach over the heat frequently. If you want to handle your food with your gloves, avoid materials like leather and fabric, as these are much more difficult to clean.

Grilling Storage

Now that you’ve equipped yourself with the tools of the trade, you need somewhere to store them all. Keeping your tools outdoors is a great way of avoiding the inconvenience of hauling your entire grill set up and down between the grill and the house each time you need it. However, you want to make sure you never leave your tools outside, exposed to the elements. They may be made of tough material, but they still need to be properly taken care of to get the best and longest use out of them.

You can equip yourself with a grill toolbox or a portable carry storage bag. Find an area close to the grill to stash your bag/box and pull it out whenever you need it. If you want to get a little fancy, you can invest in an outdoor cabinet with multiple shelves for easy organization. Another great option is a portable table with shelving that you can place next to the grill and use both for storage and for placing food on while you grill! If you have a patio area, you can add an outdoor cabinet as part of the furnishing. Make sure any storage item you use has weather resistant material and if it's close to the grill, ensure it is also heat resistant.

Stay safe, organized and well-fed this grilling season!