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How to Choose Grill Tools & Accessories
A great grill with the wrong tools is a frustrating cook: flimsy tongs that drop a burger, a brush that leaves bristles in your food, no way to know when the chicken is actually done. The right handful of accessories is cheap, lasts years, and is the difference between guessing and grilling with confidence.
The short answer
Start with the five essentials: long stainless tongs, a wide flexible spatula, a sturdy grill brush (or a bristle-free scraper), a leave-in instant-read meat thermometer, and a pair of heat-resistant gloves. Buy those in solid stainless steel before you spend a dime on gadgets, and they’ll outlast the grill itself. Add a chimney starter for charcoal, a grill basket for small foods, and a cover to protect your investment.
Start with the five you’ll actually use
Ignore the 20-piece gift sets. Most of those pieces — the corn holders, the tiny fork, the novelty branding iron — live in a drawer forever. What you use every single cook is a short, honest list, and buying those five well matters far more than buying many.
Look for 16- to 18-inch handles so your knuckles stay away from the heat, and welded or riveted joints rather than cheap spot welds that loosen. Solid stainless steel is the sweet spot: it won’t rust, warp, or melt, and it cleans up in seconds. You’ll find the whole range in grill tools & parts, and it’s worth handling a few to feel which tongs actually spring back the way you want.
The tools, ranked by how much they matter
Not every accessory earns its place. Here’s how the common ones stack up — buy top-down and stop when your grilling style is covered.
| Accessory | Priority | What to look for | Rough price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Long tongs | Essential | 16–18", stainless, scalloped edge, strong spring | $10–$20 |
| Instant-read thermometer | Essential | Reads in 2–3 sec, ±1°F, waterproof | $15–$100 |
| Wide spatula | Essential | Flexible thin edge, long handle, beveled front | $12–$25 |
| Heat-resistant gloves | High | Rated to 500°F+, silicone or aramid, snug fit | $15–$30 |
| Grill brush or scraper | High | Bristle-free coil or wood scraper, sturdy head | $10–$25 |
| Chimney starter (charcoal) | Situational | Large capacity, heat shield handle | $15–$30 |
| Grill basket / topper | Situational | Porcelain or stainless, for veg and small cuts | $15–$35 |
Tip: skip the wire-bristle brush if you can. Loose bristles that break off and stick to grates are a real hazard. A tightly-wound stainless coil brush, a wooden scraper that burns its own groove, or a nylon brush for a cool grate all clean just as well without the risk.
The thermometer is the upgrade that changes everything
If you buy one “nice” accessory, make it the thermometer. Guessing doneness by poking or cutting is how you end up with dry chicken and gray steak. A good instant-read pulls a temperature in two to three seconds, so you check without standing over an open lid draining heat.
There are two kinds, and most serious grillers own both. An instant-read probe (ThermoWorks Thermapen and Lavatools are the benchmarks) is for quick spot-checks. A leave-in dual-probe monitors the meat and the grill chamber all cook long, often over Bluetooth to your phone — ideal for low-and-slow. Weber, Meater, and Maverick all make dependable versions. Either way, a $20 thermometer beats a $0 guess every time.
Match the accessories to how you cook
Charcoal and gas ask for slightly different kits. A gas griller mostly needs great tongs, a spatula, and a thermometer. A charcoal cook adds a chimney starter (the single best charcoal upgrade — no lighter fluid, evenly lit coals in 15 minutes) and a way to manage ash and coals safely.
- Fuel and starters: lump, briquettes, and lighter gear live in BBQ fuel & accessories — grab a chimney starter here instead of lighter fluid.
- Running low on propane? Keep a spare 20-lb tank and the right fittings on hand from propane kits & fuel so a cook never stalls.
- Flavor: a decent rub or sauce does more than any gadget — browse BBQ sauces & seasonings.
- Protect the grill: a fitted cover is the cheapest way to add years of life; look under grill accessories in grills & smokers.
Care, storage, and not buying twice
Good tools last decades if you treat them right. Hang them — don’t bury them in a bin where the edges dull and the coatings scratch. Hand-wash stainless and dry it; avoid the dishwasher for anything with a wooden handle. Oil the grates, not the food, and give a cast-iron grate a light coat after cleaning so it seasons instead of rusts.
When you’re setting up the whole patio, the accessories don’t stop at the grill. A cooler within arm’s reach from coolers & drinkware, comfortable seating from outdoor furniture, and a patio heater or fire pit to stretch the season all turn a quick cookout into a place people want to linger.
Pick by griller
WEEKNIGHT GAS GRILLER
Long stainless tongs, one flexible spatula, an instant-read thermometer, and a coil brush. Four tools, done in ten minutes, and you’re covered for burgers, chicken, and veg every night.
CHARCOAL PURIST
Add a chimney starter, heat-resistant gloves, and an ash tool to the essentials. Ditch the lighter fluid; the chimney gives you evenly lit coals and cleaner flavor in about 15 minutes.
LOW-AND-SLOW SMOKER
A leave-in dual-probe Bluetooth thermometer, long insulated gloves, a grill basket, and a good rub. You’re monitoring temps for hours — the probe keeps you off the lid and on the couch.
Shop the whole project
Everything for a better cookout
Authorized-retailer grill tools, thermometers, fuel, and covers — the trusted brands your neighborhood hardware store carries. See our guarantee.
Frequently asked questions
What grill tools do I actually need to get started?
Five: long stainless tongs, a wide flexible spatula, a grill brush or scraper, an instant-read meat thermometer, and a pair of heat-resistant gloves. That covers nearly everything you cook. Skip the big multi-piece gift sets, since most of those extra pieces sit unused in a drawer.
Are wire-bristle grill brushes safe to use?
They work, but loose bristles can break off, stick to the grates, and end up in food, which is a real hazard. Safer options include a tightly-wound stainless coil brush, a wooden scraper that burns its own groove into the shape of your grates, or a nylon brush used only on a cool grate. Inspect any bristle brush regularly and replace it once it starts shedding.
Is a meat thermometer really necessary for grilling?
Yes, it is the single best upgrade for most grillers. Guessing doneness by feel or by cutting into the meat leads to overcooked, dry results. A good instant-read reads the true internal temperature in two to three seconds, so you pull food at exactly the right moment instead of hoping. A basic model costs about $20.
What is a chimney starter and do I need one?
A chimney starter is a metal cylinder that lights charcoal quickly and evenly using newspaper or a fire starter, with no lighter fluid and no chemical taste. If you grill with charcoal, it is the best inexpensive upgrade you can make, giving you fully lit coals in about 15 minutes. Gas grillers do not need one.
How do I keep my grill tools from rusting?
Buy solid stainless steel, hand-wash the tools after use, and dry them rather than leaving them wet. Store them hanging or in a covered spot instead of loose in a bin exposed to the weather. For cast-iron grates and accessories, wipe on a light coat of cooking oil after cleaning so they season and shed moisture instead of rusting.
The best grill kit is small, well-made, and used until it’s worn smooth — not a drawer full of gadgets. Buy the five essentials in good stainless, add a thermometer you trust, and you’re set for years of cookouts. Your local independent hardware store is the place to handle the tongs and feel the spring before you buy, and if you’re torn between two thermometers or setting up a first grill, ask us here — we’re glad to help.
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