The 9 Best Grilling Accessories to Seriously Simplify Your Outdoor Cooking

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The weather is turning. It's starting to get warm, and you're building that perfect outdoor space complete with a sofa, lounge chair, and fancy fire pit. It's about damn time to throw on your dad shoes and start grilling.

But before you throw some beverages on ice and start working on the burgers, you're going to want to outfit yourself with the best grilling accessories. You don't need much, but a handful of select tools will make grilling a whole lot easier. If you're starting from scratch, buy everything on this list top-to-bottom, and you'll be set for life. If you're adding to your setup, pick and choose what works best. After that? Just throw on some tunes and enjoy your time in the sunshine.

4-Piece Grill Tool Set

Snobs like to turn their noses up at grill sets, because they think they're low quality. Reverse it by going for big luxury.

Laguiole makes some of the most coveted pocket knives, steak knives, and wine openers out there, and the French brand makes an incredible grill set as well. These four handcrafted tools will encompass every grill job you need. They're made with beautiful wenge wood, and they come with an incredibly well-made leather carry pouch. They're an investment, yes, but the'll stay with you for the rest of your life.

Good Grips 16-Inch Tongs

The base requirements for grill tongs are: Long enough to keep you away from the flames, sturdy enough to move that big ribeye around.

For under $20, these tongs give you exactly that. You couldn't really ask for much more. But there is, indeed, one last thing. They have a great grip on the handle. The thumb cutout on both sides gives you just that extra bit of leverage.

Four-Probe Block

If you want to get in on the smart grilling revolution, the easiest way to start is smart thermometers.

Like other wireless thermometers, they track your food's temperature in real time, and they can be used to track the ambient temperature inside your grill. The real advantage is that they send that data to your phone, instead of a secondary thermostat. You can set target temperatures for your food and grill, and you can get alerted immediately when they're hit or surpassed. We'd suggest going with the four-probe block, but if you're on a budget, even one Meater will really up your game.

Instant Read Thermometer

If Meater or similar wireless probes are too fussy, Lavatools has perfected the old school instant read thermometer. Quick, accurate temps and a bright, easy to read display. There's no way you can improve on it.

Reversible Grill & Griddle

There's a million things you will be sold to cook veggies, burgers, fish, etc. on your grill. There's only one thing you really need: A Lodge double sided griddle.

The grill side is great for veggies, which gives them nice grill marks and keeps them from turning to mush. The griddle side is great for smash burgers, fajitas, and searing a steak. It's cast iron, so it's low maintenance, and it will truly last for the rest of your life. For $60? You cannot beat it.

Firm Duck Apron

Sure you'll look like every barista or mixologist in Brooklyn, but there is literally no better apron for the money. Carhartt makes this apron with its sturdy 12-ounce duck canvas, the same stuff they use for real work clothes. There's plenty of pockets, and it's easy to clean.

Leather Fireplace Gloves

The common wisdom when looking for grilling gloves is that you really want to buy welding gloves. Usually made out of suede and leather, they give you great heat resistance and dexterity that silicone gloves just can't really match. They're tougher to clean, but they're not so tough to clean that it's a real negative.

These L.L. Bean fireplace gloves wouldn't be used by any serious welder, but they have the same feel. Leather trim, suede hands, and a long sleeve to cover the forearm. Plus, they look better than any of the other options.

Grill Brush

You're going to need to clean that grill, and Grillart makes a great little brush. Scraper on one side, steel on the other. It's simple, but you'll be happier with this than anything else.

Silicone Basting Brush

The last thing you'll want to think about is a basting brush. If you've already got one you use for desserts, it'll probably work here too. But if you need one for the grill, Le Creuset makes our favorite.

The wooden handle feels nicer than plastic, and the brush head comes in a handful of color options. The silicone will stand up to the heat, but the bristles are not too fat to use on more delicate indoor cooking. The best of both worlds.

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