BBQ tools and accessories have (un)official names. When you’re following a recipe or trying to find a specific tool, knowing these grill utensil names will help you throughout the grilling process.
Whether you’re browsing in-store or online or are searching for the right tool at home, it’s a lot easier to find what you’re looking for when you know what it’s called. You may know exactly what “grabby thing” or “metal pushy tool” you’re referring to, but your friends and family may not be in on your lingo.
From basting brush to smoker box, in this post we will explore 14 different BBQ tools and utensils, what they’re called, and why you need them in your BBQ tool kit. Now, let’s get cooking.
Cooking Tools and Utensils
Up your grill masterchef game with these essential BBQ tools and accessories:
1. Basting Brush
A basting brush is essential for sauce application during the grilling process. It’s easier to clean than a turkey baster (also known as a bulb baster or basting bulb), can handle a wider array of sauce types, and ensures even application and less mess.
Some people prefer a sauce mop to a basting brush. Whether you use a basting brush or a basting mop is more a matter of sauce-preference. Sauce mops are ideal for basting larger pieces of food and for thinner sauces, which it can absorb more easily than a basting brush. If using a thicker sauces, stick to a basting brush.
2. Food Skewer
Metal food skewers are a great way to cook small bites of food without needing to worry about them falling through the grates. Unlike wood skewers, metal skewers are reusable, there is no risk of them splitting, and they don’t need to be soaked in water before cooking.
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3. Spatula
The spatula, also referred to as a turner, flipper, or—fun fact—fish slice, is a classic utensil both in the kitchen and around the grill for a reason. It is a must have for flipping patties, pancakes, and fillets.
4. Tongs
Tongs are another grill-side necessity. Grill tongs are specifically designed to be longer than their kitchen counterparts so that grillmasters can keep their hands out of the flames. They are perfect for grabbing and turning smaller cuts of meat like steak, and more delicate or difficult-to-handle items, such as hotdogs, sausage, kebabs, and asparagus.
Grilling Accessories
These BBQ accessories will make grilling even easier:
5. Charcoal Rake
The charcoal rake is pretty straightforward—you use it for safely raking and arranging lit charcoal. Naturally, this one is only needed if you have a charcoal grill.
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6. Lid Prop
A lid prop is designed to hold the grill lid open. It helps modulate air flow and provides greater temperature control, and can be the key to ensuring your burgers, filets, ribs, and cuts cook to perfection.
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7. Grill Gloves
Grill gloves are not an accessory that everyone has in their BBQ tool kit, but they should be—they make handling hot items on the grill easier and are essential for protecting your fingers from the fire with more dexterity and a stronger grip than traditional oven mitts.
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8. Smoker Box
A smoker box is key for infusing your food with delicious smoky flavor without requiring you to buy another large piece of grilling equipment. Transform your grill into a smoker by adding the wood chips of your choosing to a smoker box and placing it on top of your grill grates.
Grill Cleaning Tools
Keep your grill clean and make maintenance even easier with these handy grill cleaning accessories:
9. Drip Pan
A drip pan catches grease drips, helping to keep your grill clean from grease and prolonging its life. These handy pans can also be used to make a DIY smoker box for smoking food, as well as for food prep—they’re ideal for holding items that are in the grill queue.
10. Grill Brush
Cleaning your grill grates is an unavoidable part of the grilling process. A good quality grill brush will help make this process less painful and won’t leave any bristles behind.
Learn more about how to clean your grill with a grill brush:
11. Grill Scraper or Scrubber
For extra-difficult-to-clean grill gunk, you’ll need a scraper or scrubber. These can help remove really baked-on pieces of grease and food. A wood scraper actually conforms to the shape of your grill after a few uses, speeding up the cleaning process in the long run.
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12. Grill Cleaner
While not technically a utensil, grill cleaners—from scrub to soap, oil to polish—are a useful tool for helping you keep your grill clean and protected.
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Grill Toppers
Get the most out of your barbecue with these useful grill toppers:
13. Griddle
A griddle can transform your grill into an entirely different cooking space by expanding the types of food and meals you can cook there. Built to be placed on top of your existing grill grates, a griddle creates a flat cooking surface ideal for cooking small, delicate, or runnier food items, such as shrimp, bacon, pancakes, or eggs.
14. Grill or Rotisserie Basket
A grill or rotisserie basket comes in a few different styles, with different styles suited to different tasks. A traditional four-side basket (left) is perfect for cooking delicate items that may need extra support when being flipped, such as whole fish and kebabs. An open or pan-style basket (right), on the other hand, is well-suited to grilling up small items like french fries, chicken nuggets, and vegetables.
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Conclusion
From items that help you with food prep to those that help you finish the grill cleaning process, we’ve looked at 14 BBQ utensils, names, and why they are useful around the grill. Hungry for more grill content? Learn more about BBQ tools and accessories:
