The Best Barbecue Tool Sets and Grilling Accessories Every Pitmaster Needs

The easiest way to set up your grilling station is to buy a barbecue tool set. These sets typically come with a heavy-duty stainless-steel spatula, tongs and fork. These tools are designed to withstand the rigors and heat of being used around a hot grill and turning large pieces of meat and vegetables.

Larger sets may also include a basting brush, grill scraper for cleaning, large knife and skewers. Some sets come with a convenient hard case for protective storage or in a tool roll for easy access.

A meat probe monitors the internal temperature of your food, which takes the guessing game out of determining if your steak or ribs are done cooking or need a bit more time. From a health standpoint, it’s important for you know your chicken or pork is thoroughly cooked. A thermometer will tell you without pressing into it to check firmness or having to cut into it to look for clear juices. 

Digital meat thermometers are accurate and easy to use, but when you’re cooking a full meal it’s helpful to have a wireless meat thermometer. You can leave it in your food and it’ll notify you via a phone alert that your meal is cooked to your desired temperature. A wireless meat probe uses Bluetooth to connect to your phone and an app shows you real-time temperature, so you can monitor it from your kitchen or your couch.

Grilling aprons are designed to protect your skin and clothes from the splatter of hot oils and grease that can flare up while cooking. They are usually made of canvas or heavier fabric to prevent the oils from soaking through to your clothes and provide a bit more protection than a standard cloth kitchen apron.

Look for a grilling apron that loops over your neck and extends down past your waist. This will provide the best coverage compared to waist aprons which leave your torso exposed. 

Aprons with large deep pockets can keep your grilling tools close and chest pockets are great for holding meat thermometers and small utensils.

No pitmaster worth their salt would be caught cooking without grill gloves and an apron. Grill gloves are designed to protect your hands from the intense heat coming off a grill as well as hot oils and grease from flareups. 

Grill gloves are great for gently handling and moving meat without piercing it with a fork or meat claws. Thicker gloves can also be used as mitts to safely move cast-iron pans and hot grill grates.

PVC and silicone grill gloves offer the most protection, but cotton and leather gloves provide the best feel and comfort.

Smoked pulled pork is a go-to meal when cooking for large groups, and the best way to pull the pork while it’s hot is to use meat claws. Channel your inner Wolverine and use the claws to separate the meat into bite-size pieces.

Meat claws can also be used to shred chicken, ham and whatever else you need to pull apart that might otherwise burn your hands. Meat claws are also great for gently handling hot rotisserie chicken and brisket. 

You should still wear grill gloves if your hands are sensitive to heat and you don’t want to get messy.

Pitmasters will often elect to buy their grilling tools a la carte and most start with a high-quality grill spatula. Spatulas are mostly used to flip burgers, but any cook knows they can also be used to tenderize meat as well as turn fish fillets, steaks and veggies.

Look for one with a long handle to keep your hand away from the heat of the grill and make sure it’s thick enough to manage the weight of burgers. The last thing you want is your precious smash burgers sliding off the spatula and onto the ground.

Like grill spatulas, grill tongs are a necessary tool for cooking over high heat. Long handles are required to protect your hands and a grill tong must be durable enough to manage the weight of hefty steaks and beer can chicken. 

A locking mechanism to keep your tongs closed when not in use makes them easier to store and prevents them from getting twisted or pulled apart.

A pizza peel is a necessary tool for cooking pizza. You may think a spatula will do the job, but a spatula is too thick and not large enough to carry a whole pizza. A pizza peel is thin enough to gently slide under a pizza without tearing the dough and is sturdy enough to support the weight of a cooked pizza.

If you’re cooking pizza using a pizza stone over a grill, a short-handled pizza peel will do. But you’ll need a long-handled pizza peel if you’ve got a pizza oven that requires a far reach. 

Take care when storing your pizza peel as the ends can easily ding, which will cause snags in fragile pizza dough. You need a completely smooth surface for the peel to do its job.