Essential BBQ tools you need to become a grill master

Become a bonafide grill master with the best BBQ tools. From tongs, to grill mats and cleaning kits.

Best bbq tools meat thermometer

by Natalie Corner |
Updated on

There's nothing that reminds us more that warmer weather has arrived, than the smell of food cooking on a BBQ. Aren't BBQs magic? We think so. Those longer evenings give us plenty of time to grab some BBQ fuel and fire it up, become an absolute master on the grill all while using the best BBQ tools in our arsenal.

But perhaps your utensils have seen better days, or you left them to rust after last summer (guilty), and you need to invest in some new BBQ tools to really show off your culinary prowess. Then we've got you covered.

The Best BBQ tools at a glance:

Editor's Pick: Weber Original BBQ Tool Set, 3 Piece
Premium BBQ tool set: grilljoy BBQ Grill Tool Set, 25pcs
Editor's favourite: Gentlemen's Hardware Multi-Tool
Premium BBQ gloves: Weber Premium Gloves
Premium meat thermometer: Meater Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth Repeater

Investing in long-lasting, durable utensils and BBQ tools like a cleaning kit and BBQ cover, is crucial if you frequently cook on a barbeque. If you're new to the world of outdoor cooking it can be bewildering to know what kinds of accessories and fuels are right for your barbeque. You may have friends insisting that you must use restaurant-quality charcoal - but which brand to choose? If you're looking for some guidance on how to light a BBQ scroll to the FAQs at the end of this article.

So whether you enjoy a BBQ when camping and are looking for compact essentials or are looking to take your grilled feast to the next level with handy accessories such as grilling mats and meat claws - then here are our picks of the best BBQ tools and sets.

Best BBQ tools

Editor's Pick

Description

This three-piece Weber Original BBQ Tool Set includes your basic BBQ essentials for beginners, or

Pros

  • Varied, sturdy set
  • Worthy investment
  • Hanging loops for storage

Cons

  • No bottle opener on the flipper

Premium BBQ tool set

grilljoy BBQ Grill Tool Set

Rrp: £38.99

Price: £34.99

Description

Cover all bases with this epic grilljoy BBQ Grill Tool Set, crammed full of every essential tool

Pros

  • Great value and selection
  • Rust-proof, durable stainless steel
  • Comes with a storage case

Cons

  • Fiddly to get back into case

Editor's favourite

Description

This Swiss-army knife-inspired BBQ multi-tool is a great accessory to take camping as it requires

Pros

  • Useful, solid gadget
  • Multi-tool for camping

Cons

  • A little heavy for some

Premium BBQ gloves

Weber premium gloves

Rrp: £52.07

Price: £42.08

Description

Weber Premium Gloves are protective gloves that can handle up to 250 degrees - an aramid

Pros

  • Washable cooking mits
  • Flexible silicone grip
  • Heat protection for BBQ

Cons

  • Only available in one size at the moment

Premium meat thermometer

Meater Plus Wireless Smart Meat Thermometer with Bluetooth Repeater

Rrp: £119.00

Price: £99.00

Description

A thermometer is essential for BBQing to check the consistency of the heat when you're cooking

Pros

  • Kitted out with great features
  • Has WiFi, Bluetooth capabilities
  • Helps you plan your meal

Cons

  • Takes time to master the thermometer

Best portable grill basket

ACMETOP Portable BBQ Grill Basket

Rrp: £22.99

Price: £21.98

Description

This ACMETOP Portable BBQ Grill Basket provides space for meat for two or three people. The

Pros

  • Non-stick grill basket
  • Safe, heat-resistant handle
  • Carrying pouch for portability

Cons

  • Fidgety handle

Budget-friendly BBQ gloves

Dualeco Silicone BBQ Gloves

Rrp: £20.99

Price: £15.99

Description

If you have a tendency to burn yourself while cooking, grab yourself a pair of Dualeco Silicone

Pros

  • Heatproof and waterproof
  • Ultra-protective and flexible
  • Great value and quality

Cons

  • Can be a little slippy

Best BBQ skewers

 KitchenCraft Flat Kebab Skewers, Stainless Steel
Price: £3.69

Description

These reusable KitchenCraft Flat Kebab Skewers can be used as a barbecue skewer, kebab and kofta

Pros

  • Handy size for BBQs
  • Great value pack of six

Cons

  • Sometimes spins

Best for holding Corn on the Cob

Recommended

Description

Who doesn't love an ear of buttery, chargrilled corn on the cob straight from the BBQ? Make it

Pros

  • Stylish design
  • Great value and quality
  • Take up little space

Cons

  • None

Best easy-clean drip pans

Description

Serve up all the juicy meat goodness in these disposable Weber Small Aluminium BBQ Drip Trays.

Pros

  • Durable and reusable
  • Retain heat
  • Quick and easy clean-up

Cons

  • None

Eco-friendly grill scraper

The Great Scrape Wood Grill Scraper
Price: £35.82

Description

Get rid of any leftover char with this The Great Scrape, Wood Grill Scraper. The great thing about

Pros

  • All-natural materials
  • Safe and sturdy use

Cons

  • None

Essential BBQ cleaning brush

Description

Take care of your BBQ grill with this Weber BBQ Cleaning T-Brush. Thoroughly cleans your cooking

Pros

  • Good value, perfect for gifting
  • Innovative and effective

Cons

  • Use away from food

Tools To Start The BBQ

Where would you be without the actual fire? Here are some tools to get you started when it comes to lighting your BBQ. If you need a step-by-step breakdown on lighting your grill and where to get the right gas, check out our in-depth guide to the best BBQ fuel for hybrid, charcoal, electric and gas grills.

Best chimney starter

Weber Chimney Starter

Rrp: £33.90

Price: £33.90

Description

This Weber Chimney Starter features two handles behind a heat shield to help you aim and pour the

Pros

  • Quick, easy BBQ starter
  • Good value and quality

Cons

  • No fuel or lighter cubes included

Efficient charcoal-free lighter

Weber 17670 Lighter Cube
Price: £5.49

Description

Make starting your charcoal BBQ even easier by piling in these Weber 17670 Lighter Cube

Pros

  • Nonn-toxic and odourless
  • Lights when wet, too
  • Environmentally-friendly

Cons

  • Only for charcoal BBQs and smokers

Eco firelighter alternative

Natural Eco Wood Firelighters
Price: £22.99

Description

If you're looking for something a little more eco, we recommend these odourless Natural Eco Wood

Pros

  • Eco-friendly firelighters
  • Very easy to use

Cons

  • None

FSC-wood briquettes

Weber 1759180 Briquettes 8kg
Price: £10.00

www.diy.com

Description

If you want consistent results briquettes are hard to beat. They light evenly and burn at the same

Pros

  • Good quality and value bag
  • Eco-concious briquettes
  • Easy to light for three hours of heat

Cons

  • Mixed results from customers

Best gas cylinder for BBQs

Description

Ideal for patio heaters and large BBQs with four burners or more, this Flogas Butane Gas Cylinder

Pros

  • Good value and quality

Cons

  • Take care when handling gas cylinders

Added Extras: BBQ Tools For The Expert Grillmaster

Best BBQ lights

BBQ Light with 360 Degree Flexible Gooseneck
Price: £20.36

Description

If you need some better lighting in your back garden when dusk draws in, don't fret about getting

Pros

  • Comes with a storage box
  • Ultimate adjustability

Cons

  • May not handle very high heats

Best smart grilling hub

Weber 3202 Connect Smart Grilling Hub

Rrp: £147.56

Price: £117.90

Description

Take your grilling game to the next level with this Weber Connect Smart Grilling Hub. No more

Pros

  • Easy to follow use
  • Highly accurate
  • Smartphone connectivity

Cons

  • Don't set the unit on the BBQ lid

Best apron for BBQs

Description

Grilling on the barbecue can get very messy and extremely hot. So stay protected with a hardier

Pros

  • Good quality leather
  • Hard-wearing and adjustable
  • Pockets to hold tools and utensils

Cons

  • None

Best BBQ grill cover

Velway Barbecue Cover Waterproof Grill Cover Heavy Duty

Rrp: £16.51

Price: £11.99

Description

Don't forget to protect your BBQ with a heavy-duty cover. With over 10,000 ratings on Amazon, this

Pros

  • Heavy-duty material
  • Easy folding and cleaning

Cons

  • Not as thick as expected

Best BBQ pizza oven topper

Description

Cater to the masses at your barbie with this pizza oven from Argos, which sits directly on top of

Pros

  • Thermometer to monitor cooking
  • Easy to use and good value

Cons

  • Charcoal and gas only

Best tools for shredding meat

Meat Claws Meat Shredder for BBQ
Price: £6.99

Description

This nifty piece of kit helps you to lift up meat and shred it. Ideal for making pulled pork or

Pros

  • Comfortable and practical
  • Perfect for lovers of pulled pork
  • Saves your cutlery and hands

Cons

  • There are no grips on the handle

Best meat injector for BBQs

Premiala Meat Injector
Price: £24.95

Description

Help the meat to really take centre stage and take the flavour to the next level by injecting it

Pros

  • Food safe and tenderising
  • Reduces waste
  • Gift-boxed for gifting

Cons

  • E-book - not paper guide

Common BBQ FAQs

How do I start a BBQ?

There are a couple of options when starting a BBQ and which option you choose depends on which BBQ you have, if you have a hybrid BBQ then the choice is all yours.

How to start a gas BBQ: For beginners selecting the right gas like butane gas or methane gas is the best starting point, advises Robert Dyas. After following the manufacturer's instructions to connect it correctly, keep the lid open and light it. Gas canisters can last for up to four hours on low heat but it’s wise to have a backup just in case. Never leave your gas BBQ unattended and set it up away from flammable products.

How to start a charcoal BBQ: To make things easier when lighting a charcoal BBQ, you’ll also need firelighters. This can be liquid lighter fluid, natural eco-friendly firelighters, or firelighter blocks. Pack them in between your charcoal and light them to get your fire going using lump charcoal or briquettes. Robert Dyas recommends using the 1:1 ratio for your coal – for every kilogram of meat, add a kilogram of charcoal.

How long does it take for charcoal to get hot enough?

It takes roughly 15-20 minutes for the charcoal to get hot enough to cook with, and you should keep the lid of your charcoal BBQ closed for maximum heat efficiency.

Is a gas BBQ better than charcoal?

Of course, everything depends on preference; however, if you compare the two, then the best part about gas BBQs is that there is very little wait time as they reach a cooking temperature almost immediately. If you like to grill outdoors frequently, then a gas BBQ is a great trade-off. However, if you are after something portable to take to the beach, campground or park, then a charcoal BBQ may be cheaper for short-term use.

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Natalie Corner is the Commercial Content Editor across the Specialist Portfolio for Bauer Media and is slowly learning how to care for her plant babies. When she's not soaking up the three days of sunshine in the great British outdoors, she's testing out the latest BBQ products.

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