BBQ Season Is Here — Stock Up On the Best Grill Accessories for Memorial Day Weekend and Beyond

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Whether it’s a backyard cookout with the neighbors or an afternoon at the park, your grill can become your go-to cooking method during the summer months—but without the right grill accessories, your beloved backyard grill becomes an unwieldy source of chores and maintenance.

Grill accessories cover everything from cleaning products to gadgets that boost flavors. While the term is broad, finding the right grill accessories means you can spend less time scrubbing last week’s burgers off of the grates and more time finessing the perfect soaked-t0-dry wood chip ratio.

We’ve been testing grills for years here at Popular Mechanics, so we’re familiar with the grill accessories that make your barbecues tastier and—crucially—easier to clean up when the sun goes down.

The Woody Paddle BBQ Grill Scraper

If you want a cleaner grill without the hassle of wire bristles that can snag or break off over time, the Great Scrape Woody Paddle grill scraper is worth considering.

The wide handle and stem are ergonomic to give you better leverage and—best of all—it molds itself to your grill as you use it for a deeper clean over time. Each scraper is made of Red Oak and Beech hardwoods for long-term durability.

The only issue now is finding the motivation to actually get scraping (which you should really do every time you use your grill!).

Hell’s Handle Large Fish Turner

While the Mercer Culinary Hell’s Handle fish turner is designed specifically for big filets of salmon or tilapia, the spatula is incredibly versatile for all sorts of grill-friendly food.

The wide stainless steel top is strong enough to slide underneath and flip thick cuts of meat on the grill with one movement, so you don't have to stab your steak to flip it over and lose those all-important, flavorful juices.

The flexibility of the steel also makes it easier to maneuver the spatula around more delicate items like filets or veggie burgers, with a nonslip handle so you don’t drop the goods mid-flip.

Good Grips Basting Pot and Brush

For any barbecue connoisseur, a slow-cooked meat that you spend hours tenderly basting and brushing down with your own homemade sauce is practically a religious experience.

The OXO Good Grips basting pot and brush helps you keep your items properly sauced without dripping or wasting that sweet nectar of the gods (a.k.a., barbecue sauce). The pot comes with a silicone lid that only has a large enough opening to fit the brush to protect from spills and sugar-hungry bugs near your grilling station.

The brush itself has a slight angle to it, too, so even if you place it on your prep counter, the bristles won’t make a mess of the surface.

Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer

Instead of taking your items out of the grill or opening the top to take an internal temperature, losing that precious heat you’ve built up, the Meater Plus smart meat thermometer only needs a smartphone.

The meat thermometer wirelessly connects to your phone, so you can read the temperature inside your grill and inside the meat you’re cooking, all without opening the grill top.

It will also notify you based on your preset desire temperature, so you can actually enjoy your beer while you catch up with your guests instead of obsessively checking in on the food all day long.

Heavy-Duty Grill Basket

For smaller items that don’t fit directly onto your grill grates, like sliced veggies, the Grillaholics heavy-duty grill basket is a worthy alternative. You can infuse that smokey flavor into vegetables, shrimp, or diced meats easily in the grill basket without fear of pieces falling through the grates—notoriously a pain to clean up.

The grill basket is stainless steel and comes with curved handles so you can place it directly in your grill and take it off without risk of damage or drops. This is especially key for any grillers prone to accidentally feeding the pets as often as the people.

Cast Iron and Wood Pepper Mill and Spice Grinder

For custom spice blends or fresh pepper for every grilling sesh, the Skeppshult pepper mill and spice grinder is there. The grill accessory grinds peppercorn and other raw spices into a course texture perfect for seasoning meats by hand.

The grinder itself is made of cast iron and wood and should last for years without any major damage even if you drop just about everything on your walk to the grill.

The multitiered structure allows you to both grind and store your spices in one device, so you can create a personal blend for multiple meals instead of grinding up a new batch every time.

Grilling Gloves

For handling scalding hot food just off the grill or flipping huge cuts while they’re still on the grill, proper protective gloves are a necessity. The Artisan Griller BBQ Grilling Gloves are some of the best you can get for the cost.

The gloves are heat- and flame-resistant, and the 17-inch neoprene sleeves provide adequate protection all the way up your arm, so you can expect to be safe even if you are deep-frying something.

The interior of the gloves is made of a soft cotton to prevent discomfort and protect your hands, even as they warm up and start to sweat. The palms of the gloves are textured to provide more grip for greasy or oily food items.

4-in-1 Burger Press

For any homemade burger lovers, the Cuisinart four-in-one burger press is an exciting gadget. The press is designed to serve as a patty shaper for sliders, traditional burgers, and even stuffed patties.

The device comes with multiple sizing options and has a nonstick coating to prevent the burgers from falling apart when you take them out of the mold.

In addition to shaping the ground beef patties, the grill accessory is also designed to build patties from black beans, salmon, or any other meat alternatives. Hand-shaping patties is great, but when you’re cooking for a crowd, this mold comes in clutch.

Professional Grade Grill Pan

To get that same grill contact treatment for small foods, this Weber grill pan is a great hack. The pan has thin slits across the surface to drain away excess liquids without being large enough for food to fall through.

The pan is also designed for even heat retention across the entire surface, preventing hot spots. The grill pan has raised edges so no food slides off, and the curved handles make for easier transportation. Most importantly, my dad uses this pan for his own barbecues, so it certainly has at least one major seal of approval.

Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs

Perhaps the most important grill accessory to have by your side, a good pair of tongs can make all the difference for searing hot dogs and flipping peppers. The OXO Good Grips 16-inch tongs are a pair you can trust for years, with a handy lock to prevent barbecue sauce from getting everywhere.

The longer length of the tongs compared to other options gives you better reach to prevent any arm hairs from singeing off. The tongs have a nonslip grip handle for steady usage when holding and flipping thick food items, and the thumb rest gives you a natural holding position.

Rapidfire Compact Chimney Starter

For anyone with a charcoal grill, the Weber Rapidfire compact chimney start can cut your waiting time down significantly.

The chimney starter is capable of lighting barbecue coals in 15 minutes or less without lighter fluid or any other chemicals. All you need is some wood chips or other kindling and you’ll be ready to grill in no time.

The chimney starter also comes with multiple safety features, including an extended handle and a stainless steel guard to prevent coals or embers from burning your hand. The device may be too small to fill up larger charcoal grills in one go, but it’s still likely faster than going the old fashioned route.

Grill Brush and Scraper

While we like the peace of mind that the wooden paddle scraper above affords, wire brushes are undoubtedly effective at removing grease and char—just make sure you wipe down the surface before you cook to eliminate any risk of loose bristles getting into your food.

This Grillart option remains remains one of the best grill cleaning tools, with a unique design built around thicker, more tightly packed bristles than the average brush. The brush offers a more comprehensive clean without shedding or falling apart over time, and the rows of brushes get between those finicky grill grates with ease.

The grill brush is built with an angled nonslip handle for better leverage when cleaning your grill grates, so the grime will come off nicely even if you procrastinated for a few days.

7-Piece BBQ Apron and Utensil Set

For our grill masters who are just starting out, this Chef Buddy seven-piece barbecue apron and utensil set serves as a solid foundation—and a great gift for the aspiring BBQ-er in your life.

The set comes with multiple entry-level grill accessories including tongs, a spatula, a fork, an oven mitt, and salt and pepper shakers. These grill accessories each have a designated place to fit directly on the barbecue apron for easy access while you’re cooking.

Conveniently, these pockets also fit beer cans and bottles with relative ease. The apron itself easily rolls up and snaps into a low-profile bundle for storage.

Prep & Slice Cutting Board

If you often find yourself running back to the kitchen to finish one more bit of prep work throughout the barbecue, this Prodyne cutting board is a great option. The board comes with a deep bottom tray for storing your already-chopped food or scraps. You can even use the tray to marinate meat without fear of spilling.

The cutting board is detachable from the tray for easy access, though each side has an opening so you can slide chopped vegetables directly into the tray below. Similarly to the Weber grill pan we recommend, you can rest easy knowing this board also has my father’s personal stamp of approval.

Stainless Steel Griddle

For pancakes, eggs, and at-home hibachi, this Little Griddle stainless steel griddle is the grill accessory for you. The griddle fits on most grill sizes and provides a smooth, flat surface.

The griddle is designed with underside cross bracing to even out heat distribution across the entire surface, so even for your first pancake of the morning, you can get a nice golden brown color. The griddle also comes with two side handles for easy transfer on and off the grill.

Cast Iron Grill Press

This Cuisinart cast-iron grill press is perfect for getting crispy grill marks and charring on burger patties, paninis, and any other grilled sandwiches.

The press has the grill mark texture and weighs three pounds to press your food—you can even use this for steaks, but we don’t recommend that if you like a juicy steak.

The press also comes with a wooden handle so you can hold it, and works well in the kitchen when the grill is packed up for the season.

Kabob Skewers for Grilling

The Grillart Kabob skewers stand out from many other options: the food slider on the end of each skewer lets you push the food off of the kabob so you never have to touch it with your hands. (This also prevents the skewer from poking at your throat, for the foolish among us, like me.)

The stainless steel design makes them safe to place right on the grill, and most importantly, the tips are angled with a raised dot on the side to keep all your items on the skewer, even if held at an angle.

Grill Foil

Perhaps the simplest and most versatile grill accessory, Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil is built for anything—it’s a bit thicker than the typical foil to stand up to the heat.

You can use it to cover your grill grates and form a makeshift flat-top surface. You can use the foil to wrap your vegetables while on the grill. Of course, you an also use the foil to keep your food warm after it has been cooked.

Grill and Grate Cleaner Spray

For built-up grease and grime on your grill grates, the Goo Gone cleaner spray is your best bet for the best price—it’s our best budget pick for grill cleaners. The spray is designed specifically for grills and grates, with a gel-style texture that sticks on to the bars instead of dripping off.

Even after you have cleaned your grill with the Goo Gone spray, you don’t have to worry about chemical-scented smoke or potential flare ups from excess spray. The formula is biodegradable and safe to use on food surfaces.

Grill Smoker Box Starter Kit for Wood Chips

For anyone with a gas grill who also wants a smokier flavor in their food without caving and getting a charcoal grill, the Cave Tools smoker box is worth considering. Fill the box with wood chips and leave it in your grill as you cook, turning any grill into a bonafide smoking machine.

As the heat rises, the wood chips begin to smoke up, giving your food the same smoky flavor as a charcoal grill without buying a whole new system. The box is resistant to high heat temperatures and can hold up to two cups of wood chips with ease.

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