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Food on a grill with corn on the cob in the center and tongs about to turn it. Credit: Getty Images

The Best Grilling Tools for a Perfect Barbecue of 2024

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Food on a grill with corn on the cob in the center and tongs about to turn it. Credit: Getty Images

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Editor's Choice Product image of ThermoWorks ThermoPop
Best Digital Meat Thermometer

ThermoWorks ThermoPop

Check Price at ThermoWorks

The ThermoPop immediately impressed us with its super quick, accurate readings and its beautiful appearance. Read More

Pros

  • Accurate readings
  • Quick readings
  • Well-designed

Cons

  • None that we could find
Editor's Choice Product image of ThermoWorks ChefAlarm
Best Probe Thermometer

ThermoWorks ChefAlarm

Check Price at ThermoWorks

For grilling, cheese making, sugar work, and more, the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm is a top pick among electric probe thermometers. Read More

Pros

  • Accurate
  • Easy to read
  • Adjustable alarm volume

Cons

  • None that we could find
Editor's Choice Product image of OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Tongs
Best Grill Tongs

OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Tongs

Check Price at Amazon

OXO Good Grip's tongs are super versatile, handling whole chickens and delicate vegetables with ease. Comfortable handles make them a top pick. Read More

Pros

  • Scalloped pincers provide precision and muscle
  • Comfortable handles
  • Versatile

Cons

  • None that we could find
Editor's Choice Product image of OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Turner with Serrated Edge
Best Grill Spatula

OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Turner with Serrated Edge

Check Price at OXO

Between the lightweight feel and comfortable handle, it was easy to like from the get-go. The sharp top edge easily separated items from the grill while the long handle kept hands safely far away. Read More

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable
  • Good control
  • Sharp, serrated edge

Cons

  • Only sold as a bundle with tongs
Editor's Choice Product image of Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal
Best Charcoal

Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Check Price at Home Depot

The price, the well-distributed chunks, and pleasant smell impressed us enough to pick Royal Oak Charcoal Lumps as what we'd want in our grills. Read More

Pros

  • Good assortment of coal
  • Sweet and smokey scented

Cons

  • None that we could find
  • Best Digital Meat Thermometer ThermoWorks ThermoPop
  • Best Probe Thermometer ThermoWorks ChefAlarm
  • Best Grill Tongs OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Tongs
  • Best Grill Spatula OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Turner with Serrated Edge
  • Best Charcoal Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal
  • More Articles You Might Enjoy

Here’s how to ruin a summer barbecue: Don’t buy enough ice, refuse to move indoors when a thunderstorm rolls in, or serve up burnt, messy food. We can’t help you with the first two, but if you’re looking for the essential grill tools every backyard BBQ master should own, we’ve got your back.

From the best-performing grills to the grippiest tongs and most accurate meat thermometers, we’ve spent hours cooking burgers, turning corn on the cob, and smoking pork loin to see which equipment will make your cookouts the stuff of neighborhood legend.

And after hours of testing, we can recommend the best grilling tools you need to throw the perfect barbecue. If you’re finally ready to ditch your dusty, rusty old grill tools in favor of something better, these reviewed-and-approved products are an ideal upgrade.

Whether you're working with a gas grill or Big Green Egg, we've got suggestions for grillers everywhere. Let the barbecues commence.

Thermopop meat thermometer taking temperature of food in a cast iron skillet outdoors.
Credit: Reviewed / Jackson Ruckar
Best Digital Meat Thermometer
ThermoWorks ThermoPop

The ThermoPop offers super quick, accurate readings in a nice-looking package. It averages a mere 3 seconds to reach final temperatures. The probe is long enough to reach the center of a roast while keeping your hands safely away from the hot steam, yet the super thin tip won’t cause too much chicken juice to escape after probing.

Fast and precise, the ThermoPop’s aesthetic features are also a slam dunk. With a click of a super soft button, the display rotates 360 degrees for ease of viewing. Another click and the backlight illuminates the large numbers. Simple and convenient.

See more of the best digital meat thermometers we tested and reviewed.

Pros

  • Accurate readings

  • Quick readings

  • Well-designed

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at ThermoWorks
Probe thermometer sits on a wood counter next to sliced meat.
Credit: Reviewed / Lindsay D. Mattison
Best Probe Thermometer
ThermoWorks ChefAlarm

It really doesn't get much better than the ThermoWorks ChefAlarm. It’s the most accurate probe we’ve tried and you can even calibrate it to ensure it displays the correct temperature.

Its backlit display can appear a little crowded, but thankfully the “current temp” reading is large and easy to read. You can use this item as a timer and adjust the volume of the alarm, plus it keeps track of the minimum and maximum readings. It even has a high- and low-temperature alarm. We especially love that it has a hinged, tilting screen for easy viewing on the countertop, but it also has a magnet and a clip if you’d prefer to place it elsewhere.

Spending $60 on a thermometer might not be for everyone, but it's well worth it if you're serious about your barbecue. The cable is heat resistant to over 700° F so there's no reason to think that this model won't last a lifetime. It's the best probe thermometer on the market.

See more of the best probe thermometers we tested and reviewed.

Pros

  • Accurate

  • Easy to read

  • Adjustable alarm volume

Cons

  • None that we could find

Buy now at ThermoWorks
Grill tongs and spatula sit on a grill's side table.
Credit: Reviewed / Lindsay D. Mattison
Best Grill Tongs
OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Tongs

The OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Grilling Tongs are the best on the market. The scalloped pincers—a design that aligns the edges all the way around—creates the perfect surface area for gripping a variety of foods and textures.

During testing, it flipped heavy, saucy chicken with ease and was able to grip even the tiniest sprig of asparagus. OXO’s signature non-slip grip makes the handle extremely comfortable, and the tongs have the perfect amount of springiness and tension that won’t tire your hands.

Between the comfort-forward design, the versatility, and its grip, this model will feel like an extension of your arm—and the price is definitely right.

See more of the best grill tongs we tested and reviewed.

Pros

  • Scalloped pincers provide precision and muscle

  • Comfortable handles

  • Versatile

Cons

  • None that we could find

$17.95 from Amazon

$18.18 from Walmart
Grill spatula hanging from the side of an outdoor grill.
Credit: Reviewed / Lindsay D. Mattison
Best Grill Spatula
OXO Good Grips 16" Grilling Turner with Serrated Edge

With a lightweight feel and comfortable, soft-grip handle, it’s easy to like the OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Grilling Turner with Serrated Edge.

The spatula's sharp top edge makes quick work of separating the burgers from the grill, while the long handle keeps your hands a safe distance from the flames. During testing, it was one of our favorite spatulas to use for pizza, giving us the perfect amount of control as we deftly flipped the awkward piece of dough. Also nice: this spatula has a serrated edge that's sharp enough to cut into meat if you so desire.

Versatile, comfortable to use, and cleverly designed, this spatula also won us over with its affordable price tag.

See more of the best grill spatulas we tested and reviewed.

Pros

  • Lightweight and comfortable

  • Good control

  • Sharp, serrated edge

Cons

  • Only sold as a bundle with tongs

Buy now at OXO

Buy now at Amazon
A close-up of Royal Oak charcoal in a charcoal grill drum.
Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser
Best Charcoal
Royal Oak Hardwood Lump Charcoal

Royal Oak Lump Charcoal was our favorite charcoal overall. While it didn't win hands-down in every category, we think it's the best for the average charcoal grill owner.

When you open the bag, you'll find a fine assortment of chunks. For casual grillers, this is a good thing because you want a mixture of easy-to-light pieces and ones that burn for a long time. Royal Oak Lumps strike a balance between being easy to light and longevity in the kettle.

After lighting the Royal Oak, a sweet and smoky scent greeted us. It was strong enough to be distinct but subtle enough not to overwhelm what we were cooking. From the time of placing the burger on the grill, it took seven minutes until the center burger reached 130°F. That's on point for only using two pounds of charcoal.

Compared to other lump charcoals, the Royal Oak burned an average amount of time. We found a lower percentage of large chunks, so as time goes, you may find that it burns up real quick, which isn't a problem if you're making a meal for your family. Also of note, Royal Oak Lump Charcoal is designed for smokers, so it imparts food with a smoky sweetness that we liked. If you're planning on grilling for more than a few hours at a time, there are better options.

Overall, the price, the well-distributed chunks, and pleasant smell impressed us enough to pick Royal Oak Charcoal Lumps as what we'd want in our grills.

See more of the best charcoal we tested and reviewed.

Pros

  • Good assortment of coal

  • Sweet and smokey scented

Cons

  • None that we could find

$17.97 from Home Depot

$14.97 from Walmart

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Reviewed Staff

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The Reviewed staff is based in the heart of Cambridge, MA. Backed by our knowledgeable writers and rigorous test labs, we're working hard to make sure you can make the right decisions about what to buy.

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