Grilling 101: Must-Have Gear for Cooking Outdoors

Walking past displays of grilling gear in most kitchenware stores would have you thinking you couldn’t grill a hamburger without investing in a staggering assortment of equipment, tools, and gadgets. Not so. Here’s our (short!) list of what you really need to cook outdoors.

GAS GRILLS

WHY WE LOVE THEM:
A gas grill offers reliable cooking in any weather—you can’t beat it for convenience and consistency. It delivers the same results day in and day out, whether cooking burgers, steaks, or anything else.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Check out the numbers. You want a decent built-in thermometer that registers actual numbers, not just high, medium, and low. It’s the best way to get a reliable temperature reading.

CHARCOAL GRILLS

WHY WE LOVE THEM:
For smoking and barbecuing—think ribs and brisket—there’s really no competition; charcoal fires infuse food with notes of wood and smoke that no gas fire can match.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Look for a big grill cover. It should be deep enough to close over a 14-pound turkey without hitting the top of it. And to hold that big turkey, an attached table or two is useful.

CHIMNEY STARTER

WHY YOU NEED IT:
This simple device makes lighting a charcoal fire easy, and makes lighter fluid—which can impart off-flavors on delicate foods—obsolete.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Bigger is better. A chimney starter capable of holding 6 quarts of charcoal is best, especially for grilling jobs that require high heat.

See our full review of chimney starters to see which inexpensive model beat out its pricier competition.

GRILL BRUSH

WHY YOU NEED IT:
Before placing any food on the grill, it’s important to clean the grate to remove any remaining residue from previous grilling. A grill brush makes this task less tedious and more efficient.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Buy one with a scrubbing pad. Brushes with soft bristles don’t work well, but stiffer bristles bend, break, or clog with unwanted grease and grime. Look for a brush with one large woven-mesh stainless steel scrubbing pad, which will conform to any grill grate’s size and material. (Even better if the pad is detachable. It’ll be easier to clean.)

BASTING BRUSH

WHY YOU NEED IT:
This tool makes it easy to neatly and efficiently slather barbecue on meat that’s cooking away on a hot grill—all while keeping your fingers at a safe distance.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Look for a long handle made from a heat-resistant material. As with grill tongs, you want to keep your hands at a safe distance from the hot flames. But too long is not good; handles over 13 inches in length offer less precision and control. Also, brushes with stainless steel handles get too hot when left near the grill, and those with wood handles can’t be put in the dishwasher.

In addition to a long handle, our preferred brush has an angled head and silicone bristles.

GRILL TONGS

WHY YOU NEED IT:
These specially designed tongs excel at gripping, turning, and moving food around the grill.

SAVVY SHOPPING TIP:
Length is key. Grill tongs should be about 16 inches to effectively keep the cook safe. Shorter tongs might land hands on the flames.

Our full grill tongs review taught us just how different models can perform; More than half of the tongs we cooked with failed our tests.

What’s the grill tool you can’t live without? Let us know in the comments.