The Best Grilling Essentials for Your Next Summer Cookout
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No summer is complete without grilling hamburgers, hot dogs, veggies and whatever else is on your outdoor menu. Whether you’re entertaining at home or planning a getaway elsewhere, it’s the perfect time to step up your grilling game before the hot weather season ends.
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If you’re also looking to simplify your grocery shopping ahead of your al fresco cookout, consider some of the best online meal delivery services that offer grill-ready meats and more. For fish lovers, Blue Circle’s seafood subscription box serves up shrimp and salmon sausage grill kits, salmon hot dogs and more sustainable fare, including kid-friendly selections.
And if meat is more your speed, Cuts from former NFL player Jay Cutler and famed butcher Pat Lafrieda, delivers a rotating selection each month, including dry-aged chopped beef, USDA prime black Angus beef bone-in New York strip steak, pork and chicken. Their hand-sliced protein is delivered to your door from New Jersey and can be purchased as a subscription or a gift. You can also try out Omaha Steaks with a variety of cuts, including filet mignon, Wagyu beef and tons of other meat, chicken, pork, seafood and more.
Now that you’ve covered your menu, here are more items you need to help take your grilling game to the next level. From tools to gloves and Bluetooth thermometers, check out some of the best grilling accessories — plus a few grill recommendations — for upgrading your next barbecue below.
1. Yummly Smart Meat Thermometer
Track your sizzle and monitor the temperature while you’re cooking with this Bluetooth-connected meat thermometer, which has a range of up to 150 feet. The stainless steel probe has built-in timers and alerts so you don’t have to worry about when to flip your burger or adjust the heat. It even helps you determine the cooking time for meat, poultry or fish that way you don’t have to guess or stress if the food is ready. It’s also on sale for a limited time.
Yummly Smart Meat Thermometer
2. Aizoam Portable Stainless Steel BBQ Grilling Basket
This Amazon top-rated grilling basket is useful for grilling vegetables, shrimp, fish fillets or whole fish and meats. The lockable grill grate gives you smoked flavor and heat but stops food from falling out of the basket. Keep food from dropping on the grill at your next cookout, plus it comes with a sauce brush, bamboo skewers and heat-resistant gloves so you can safely enjoy it.
Aizoam Portable Stainless Steel BBQ Grilling Basket
3. Oxo Good Grips Grilling Tools Set
This tongs and turner set from Oxo is ideal for firing up the grill. It includes a durable stainless steel spatula that’s perfect for flipping meat, tongs designed for lifting, non-slip grips to keep your hands steady and a hanging ring for convenient storage. The long handles keep you from getting burned.
Oxo Good Grips Grilling Tools Set
4. Rappica BBQ Grill Oven Gloves
Protect your hands with these water, fire and stain-resistant grill oven gloves made with food-grade neoprene rubber. They’re insulated and have a textured non-slip design so you can handle any wet or greasy items. It’s especially handy for pulled pork and fits loosely so you can work on your BBQ or smoker. The sleeve-style gloves are 14-inches long and protect your arms whether you’re grilling, brewing beer or frying food.
Rappica BBQ Grill Oven Gloves
5. Proud Grill Q-Swiper BBQ Grill Cleaner Set
Keep your grates clean and swipe them down with Proud Grill’s Q-Swiper cleaning set, which comes with a sturdy scrub brush and food contact-safe wipes that cut through grease. It’s safe for stainless steel, cast iron and porcelain-coated grills — just be sure to do the cleaning once your grates have cooled down.
Proud Grill Q-Swipe BBQ Grill Cleaner Set
6. Wood Fire Grilling Co. Cedar Planks, 12-Pack
Throw your salmon, chicken, veggies and seafood onto these USA-made red cedar planks from Wood Fire Grilling Co. for the perfect smoky finish. Measuring 5 by 11 inches, the planks come in a 12-pack and can be used on gas or charcoal grills or in ovens.
Wood Fire Grill Co. Cedar Planks, 12-Pack
7. Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer
If you plan on stepping further away from the girl, Meater’s Bluetooth-enabled Plus Smart Meat Thermometer gives you 165 feet of wireless range so you can keep an eye on what’s cooking. Download the free app and monitor internal meat temperature up to 212°F and ambient or external temperature up to 527°F simultaneously. It helps you work on each step of the cooking process and lets you know when you’re reaching the finish line. It’s also dishwasher safe.
Meater Plus Smart Meat Thermometer
8. Hedley & Bennett Denver Apron
As seen on the competitive cookmasters on Top Chef, Hedley & Bennett’s Denver apron is made of 10-ounce cotton canvas fabric and features plenty of pockets for your meat thermometer, tongs and whatever else you need to keep handy while grilling.
Hedley & Bennett Denver Grilling Apron
9. Elijah’s Xtreme Regret Hot Sauce
Whether you carry hot sauce in your bag like Beyoncé or need a special kick, check out Elijah’s Xtreme Regret Hot Sauce. Add some heat with this garlic-flavored, hot sauce. It’s guaranteed to make your taste buds might feel like molten lava or make you break into tears, a sweat (or even both). It’s a father and son-created recipe that’s fat-free, gluten-free and vegan-friendly. See what’s behind this highly-rated sauce and get ready for extreme heat.
Elijah’s Xtreme Regret Hot Sauce
10. Skercle Grilling Kabob
Skercle brings a new spin on grilling kebab with its ring-shaped skewers so you can avoid pointy-skewer ends. It’s ideal for kids, who can help you prepare the food and prevent any poking or sharp points. It’s made from food-grade polypropylene and tested by an approved product lab. It’s BPA, lead and phthalate free. Skerkles are designed to be reused and can be washed with hot water, soap or placed in the dishwasher top rack.
Skercle Ring Skewers
11. Savory Spice Licenced to Grill Spice Collection
You can’t forget about the spices when it comes to making your favorite grilled dishes. Savory Spice is a flavorful spice brand that ships to doorsteps nationwide and delivers spice sets perfect for meat or fish. The brand’s Licensed to Grill Spice Collection includes eight seasonings that are perfect for various proteins and veggies. The flavor profiles of the spices range from citrus with California Citrus Rub to sweet, spicy and smoky with the Pearl St. Plank Salmon Rub. The Reel It In Spice Set is designed to enhance seafood, including cedar plank salmon or grilled shrimp. It features four different seasonings for various dishes and cooking styles.
Savory Spice Licensed to Grill Spice Collection
12. Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
Plan on grilling away from home? Weber’s Q1200 liquid propane grill boasts a stainless steel burner and a porcelain-enamel cast iron cook grate, resulting in mouthwatering meats and veggies in a small footprint. The lid has a convenient outer thermometer and the battery-operated igniter makes it easy to start up quickly. Note that you’ll need a disposable 14.1- or 16.4-ounce propane cylinder, or you can use an adapter hose to connect it to a larger tank.
Weber Q1200 Liquid Propane Grill
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