The brush is also dishwasher safe. Fire-roasted salsa usually involves blackening vegetables in a screaming-hot cast-iron skillet under your ovens broiler. After charring, we moved the vegetables to a metal sizzle plate in the indirect zone to cook with the grill covered for 20 minutes. We tested more than 36 instant-read meat thermometers and probe thermometers for speed, accuracy, and price. We still think the split leather US Forge 400 Welding Gloves offer the best combination of heat resistance, dexterity, and price. Since bakers sheets offer so much versatility in the kitchen and by the grill, youll want to stock up. We researched more than 50 sets before selecting 9 of the best available on the market today. The stainless steel construction is by no means flimsy, but it is not remarkably thick and may be prone to bending under enough force. But the tools themselves are not high-quality and have notably short handles, measuring just under 15 inches. GearLab is reader-supported. But we also take into heavy consideration the size of the tools. In our tests, the ThermoPop was quick at reading temperatures, and very accurate. *At the time of publishing, the price was $19. They claim to deliver a better sear and higher heat than the grill manufacturers grates, while also eliminating flare-ups. In conjunction with our charcoal grill testing, we spent a week putting these tools through real-life cooking scenarios. Like the ThermoPop, the Thermapen has a reading range of -58 to 572F and a backlit, rotating digital screen; it also comes with a two-year warranty. That, combined with a comfortable 10-inch plastic handle, made the Best Grill Brush stand out among the brushes and scrapers we tested. Here are our top picks. We independently review everything we recommend. The first notable difference is that this set excludes an oversized fork which is, as far as we can tell, a useless tool that should never come into contact with your grilled meats. Tools Included: Tongs (non-locking), spatula, knife. Our former upgrade pick was discontinued. Comparing the scooped scallop-design of the Weber tongs (right) with the classic design used on many other tongs, including the BBQ-Aid set (left.). Its affordably priced, easy to use, and equipped with a strong magnet that keeps it securely attached to the side of a grill. The handles are backed with ergonomic rubber grips that conform nicely to the natural contour of the fingers, and although they don't come with a case, these tools do have large hanging loops. All trademarks property of their respective owners. Secondly, the tongs have a unique "clamshell" shape, which gives you more surface area for easier gripping and flipping. The large perforations on this basket provided the most contact with our grill grate, so vegetables achieved more color and flavor than with the competition. They're available to fit most common grill brands, and we tried them out on both charcoal and gas grills. And it has a longer temperature probe. We think the best option for cooking diced vegetables on the grill is using the affordably priced Grillaholics Grill Basket. We used the Slow N Sear several different ways in our tests. The Woody Shovel is good if you have only one grill, as the grooves form to a specific grate shape; multiple grills would require a dedicated Great Scrape tool for each, and that can get costly. The Alpha Grillers Heavy Duty 4-Piece Set is a purposefully designed kit built to last. We think this new ergonomic design allowed us to get a stable grip, but it comes with a small price bump. No sponsored content. Another important design point is that the stainless-steel neck of these utensils extends all the way back into their grip, improving both strength and durability especially when compared to wood handle grips secured with rivets, which can come loose over time. In that vein, the tongs included in the Anpro set are especially adept for accuracy, thanks to a design that puts the tongs' teeth on the very end. The GrillFloss isnt just a scraperits also an all-around grill-grate grabbing and rotating tool that Sam Sifton calls his "secret weapon for summer grilling." Grilling gloves protect your hands from ambient heat while youre working in the firebox, cooking on the grates, and dumping hot coals from a chimney starter. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing to save people time, energy and money when making buying decisions. Weve updated this guide to include our new meat thermometer upgrade pick, the ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE. This is a no-frills set of essentials, and the tools are constructed with heavy-gauge stainless steel. By evaluating performance and function based on these fundamental metrics, we were better poised to examine various tool sets side-by-side. We used the Woody Shovel on both the Weber Spirit E-310 and the Weber Genesis II E-310 (because they have identical grates), and it did a good job of clearing sticky cooked-on sauce and charred bits alike. Bright colors aside, this is overall an average set that includes just the basics: spatula, tongs, and fork. While all of the other tools measure 18 inches, for some reason, the tongs are shorter at only 15 inches. We filled the basket with hot coals from the chimney starter, topped with peach-wood chunks, and filled the reservoir with water. The result was some of the best salsa weve ever made, without turning the kitchen into a sweatbox with a hot oven. Though any number of welding gloves offer similar features, we didnt find any that were as inexpensive and widely available through Amazon and welding specialty shops as the US Forge gloves. Whether you spend every night braving the weather to cook over an open flame or simply love the occasional kabob on a beautiful summer evening, grill tools are a practical solution to keep you cooking and your hands out of the fire. Its sturdy and maneuverable, with a wide, super-heat-resistant plastic handle thats comfortable to hold. The stainless steel is lightweight and flimsy, and the flat neck of the utensils bends out of place, rather than flexing and snapping back to its proper position. Unfortunately, a lot of them are flimsy, poorly designed, or gimmicky. This set goes above and beyond even the complete sets featured in this review by including tools like a meat thermometer, meat injector, silicone heat glove, and even a salt and pepper shaker set. The beveled edge of this wooden grill paddle takes on the pattern of your grill, becoming a custom scraper that hugs the grates. Theyre also fire resistant and comfortable. After flexing, bending, and applying scrubbing pressure, we can confidently say that out of the 9 sets we tested, only the Alpha Grillers Heavy Duty set actually lives up to that claim. If you want to save a few dollars and dont mind losing the enhanced handle, the Woody Paddle is a good option and offers the same cleaning functionality. Once they were ashed over, we filled the rest of the basket with unlit coals, topped with peach-wood chunks, and added water to the reservoir. The brush has two types of bristles: silicone outer bristles, and a set of flat perforated bristles in the core of the brush. A complete kit that sticks to the essentials, Utensil neck extends into the handles for increased durability, The Home-Complete set has everything you need and nothing more (though some additional skewers might be a nice addition. We wanted to see if we could get similar (or better) flavor and texture on the grill using the Slow N Sear. Weve spent over 65 hours researching grill accessories, speaking with grilling experts, and testing more than 90 different toolsfrom tongs to thermometers to chimney startersto find the best. None of these are as heat-resistant as our pick. For the second test, we tried the "low and slow" method on St. Louisstyle ribs. The Slow N Sear Deluxe turns any 22-inch kettle grill into a more capable and versatile smoker, and makes indirect cooking and high-heat searing simple. Also, we liked the strong magnet on the back of the unit that kept it securely attached to the side of a grill. The grill brush would certainly benefit from some extra heft, as the flat stainless-steel neck flexes under the pressure necessary to scrub a grill clean. Over the years, weve found fish turners to be the most versatile spatulas in general, and this large version is no different. 2022 Wirecutter, Inc., A New York Times Company. Despite their oversized design, the 15-inch handles on this set are not particularly long with the exception of the spatula, which oddly measures 16.5 inches. A quality instant-read thermometer is maybe one of the most valuable tools in a kitchen. After years of using the US Forge gloves with high heat and sooty grill parts, we feel comfortable in saying that if you use them within their capacity, they will keep you safe. For more recommendations, see our full guide to probe thermometers. *At the time of publishing, the price was $100. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. The long wooden handle on the Le Creuset basting brush keeps your hands farther from the grill, but the silicone head is heat resistant only to 480 F. The scalloped head of the Cuisinart Bamboo tongs are agile enough to individually turn even delicate foods like shrimp. The experts we spoke with recommended an instant-read thermometer over a probe thermometer: Instant-read models are faster, and they generally last longer since they have no exposed cables that could deteriorate in the heat. This allows you to have it all to start and then decide which tools best suit your needs once you develop a cooking style. Since the Grillaholics basket is dishwasher safe, its also easier to clean. To continue to heap on praise, the tongs are designed with a unique "clamshell" shape that provides much more of a gripping surface than almost any other pair of tongs we tested. Chrome brand stamp on handles gets very hot in the sun. He continued, "As a result, theres a silky follow-through that gets it off the grill." In our tests, the less contact that vegetables had with the grill, the more they steamed. The tongs do not have a locking mechanism, and even though the handle on the spatula is short, the head is almost too wide to nimbly navigate a full grill. After settling on nine of the best, we purchased all of these sets at retail cost to personally compare side-by-side. The exception may be the tools in the OlarHike set, whose handles are more oblong than round, making them more comfortable to hold than others. If youre hellbent on "no wire brushes," The Great Scrape's Woody Shovel is our favorite wire-free grate-cleaning option. Just like the Home-Complete, the handles of the OlarHike set are shorter, with an average length of just under 15 inches. These tools are highlighted in appearance rather than quality construction. Our team spent hours comparing and contrasting some of the most popular grill tool sets on the market today. When testing charcoal grills, we learned that this is enough fuel to cook 12 burgers and still have some cooking time to spare. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison. Our team of culinary experts compared these sets side-by-side to tease out the subtle differences between spatulas and tongs. While the GrillGrates did manage to eliminate any chance of a flare-up, wed rather have more contact with the high ambient heat from the firebox to get the browned crust and crispy, rendered fat cap we look for in a grilled steak, or the nicely charred surface that makes for great grilled veggies. Show off your team spirit at your next tailgate or Sunday BBQ with the YouTheFan NFL 3-Piece Spirit Series Set. However, criticisms and wishes aside, this is an attractive and well-functioning set at a fair price. Their 16-inch length offers ample reach for cooking over an open flame. We havent seen any reviews of diminished scraping abilities with use, so well be long-term testing the Woody Shovel this summer to see how it holds up to frequent use. Whether you are looking for the perfect gift for the griller in your life or looking to improve your own kitchen, our comprehensive analysis provides objectively honest comparisons to help cut down on buying time and get you cooking outside. With a price well below $10, the Winco tongs are an excellent value. The easy-to-read display is backlit with digits that automatically rotate in four directions depending on the thermometers orientation, so its convenient to read at almost any angle. Unlike oven mitts, these five-fingered gloves allow for better dexterity, which translates to a better grip on tongs, spatulas, and basting brushes. Although this might seem counterproductive for grilling tools, hear us out. Michael Sullivan has been a staff writer on the kitchen team at Wirecutter since 2016. The popularity of the Weber kettle grill has invited a lot of third-party innovationsessentially, ways to "hack your Weber" to add even more versatility. But typically when youre direct grilling, or if youre heating something on the grill, youre going to be up above 600 to 700 degrees. Instead of loops, there are merely holes at the end of the handles, which are awkward to try to hang on the free-swinging S-hooks popular on so many grills. Plus, mitts limit dexterity, and woven-fiber gloves let liquids penetrate, which can hamper their thermal protection. Its so versatile, youll want to stock up.