Avoid Basic Grilling Mistakes With These Under-$20 Tools

Grilling seems simple, and in some ways, it is. You take a protein or some produce, season it however you like, and throw it on a sizzling hot surface until it tastes delicious. What could go wrong? Well, many things. Whether you’re an experienced pitmaster or someone who enjoys backyard grilling a few times each summer, swapping out a few key tools for better, more efficient ones can make an immeasurable difference in how your food tastes and looks. Take it from me, a former restaurant cook who has been grilling for 20 years: Once you fine-tune your approach to eliminate small mistakes that could be hindering food’s potential, you’ll be unstoppable. Below are five easy changes you should make ASAP for vastly improved grilling.

Grilling Tools to Buy to Avoid Common Grilling Mistakes

Don’t Use: A Bristle Brush

Buy Instead: A Bristle-Free Stainless Steel Brush

Grillart Grill Brush

Having a clean grill is essential for superior grilling. First, you don’t want any bitter, acrid flavors from grease and grime caking your grates, and if people are watching you cook, they’ll definitely notice if you’re throwing food on a dirty surface. Many grillers have recently been moving away from bristle brushes because metal bristles can stick to the grate and wind up in your food. To avoid these issues, toss your old grill brush and pick up this stainless steel brush. It features a helix design with an added scraper to clean your grill thoroughly. Over 5,000 shoppers tested it out in the past month. This brand makes our favorite overall grill brush, and I agree that its products are excellent.

Don’t Use: Lighter Fluid

Buy Instead: A Chimney Starter

Kingsford Heavy-Duty Charcoal Chimney Starter

I get it: It’s satisfying to load up the grill with a massive pyramid of fresh charcoal and soak it in lighter fluid to create a colossal fireball. But when you do that, you’re adding superfluous chemicals and flavors into your cooking system, and many people can taste the difference in their food. Keep your cuisine free of artificial flavors by starting your fire in a chimney instead — it circulates air, helping the fire reach all your charcoal quickly, evenly, and thoroughly. This way, you’ll be working with a powerful and balanced surface area when you’re ready to cook. This is the No. 1 bestselling charcoal starter on Amazon, with an impressive 10,000 shoppers snagging one in just the past month. 

Don’t Use: A Serrated Knife, Short Carving Knife, or Chef’s Knife

Buy Instead: A Brisket Slicing Knife

Mairico Brisket Slicing Knife

Whether you’re cooking low and slow or working with a raging flame, serving up flavorful food is the top priority. They say people eat with their eyes first, though, which is why it’s important to ensure your brisket, ribs, vegetables, and whatever else you’re cooking is sliced and prepared as cleanly as possible. Using a smaller chef’s knife or a serrated blade can lead to jagged, uneven cuts that leave your protein and produce stringy, uneven, or hacked up — not to mention that the more cutting you do, the more juice and flavor you’ll lose. Instead, execute long, smooth cuts like a pro with a brisket knife. This budget-friendly option has over 8,700 five-star ratings, with one shopper declaring, “This knife is one of the best I have ever used.”

Don’t Use: Any Knife to Check Doneness

Buy Instead: A Meat Thermometer

Alpha Grillers Digital Meat Thermometer

Using a meat thermometer is imperative in cooking proteins thoroughly and safely — all serious cooks use one when grilling steak, chicken, burgers, pork, and more. Even if you are pretty good at eyeing it from the outside, the absolute worst thing you do to check your food’s doneness is to cut into it prematurely. You end up losing all the juices of the beautiful cuts of meat you’re making, and it arrives at the table looking maimed. Over 100,000 shoppers recently picked up this terrific meat thermometer, so join the club while it’s on sale for only $15.

Don’t Use: Tongs

Buy Instead: A Fish Spatula

Winco Stainless Steel Fish Spatula

There are few worse things you can do to a delicate fish fillet, a succulent cut of meat, or fragile vegetables than squeezing the life out of them with a big, clunky set of grilling tongs. The way you handle your food is evident in its flavor and appearance. Instead of squishing your food, give it the light touch of a professional by using a sturdy but nimble fish spatula. I used this one all the time — its shorter length and wide, flat base give you more control over your finished product.