Checklist · 11 picks · 3 categories
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Grillers almost always want better tools rather than more gadgets. A chimney starter, long tongs and a good brush are cheap, useful upgrades over whatever's hanging by their grill now. A meat thermometer is the gift that changes how they cook, from a quick instant-read to wireless probes for long smokes. The splurge is a Weber kettle, still the top charcoal grill in Serious Eats' reviews. Every pick is already on another list of mine, where I explain why it made the cut and name the outlet that recommends it.
Who this is not for. Skip this if they only grill on gas; the chimney starter and kettle are for charcoal, though the tools and thermometers work on any grill.
means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter | budget | $25-50 | anyone still using lighter fluid | 1 outlet |
| OXO Good Grips 16-Inch Locking Tongs | mid | $15-25 | replacing their worn-out tongs | 1 outlet |
| Oklahoma Joe's Blacksmith Combo Grill Brush | mid | $25-50 | the one who hates scrubbing grates | 1 outlet |
| Mr. Bar-B-Q Steam Clean Grill Brush Powered by Scrub Daddy | budget | $15-25 | a wire-free brush | 1 outlet |
| Blackstone Griddle Gloves | mid | $15-25 | moving hot grates and skillets | 1 outlet |
Best chimney starterbudget pick · 6 qt
Best for anyone still using lighter fluid
Serious Eats' best chimney starter: lights charcoal faster and cleaner than lighter fluid, and holds enough to cover a 22-inch Weber.
Heads up. Serious Eats gives no drawback detail for this one
1 outlet. Serious Eats best charcoal chimney starter.
$25-50
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mid pick · 16 in
Best for replacing their worn-out tongs
Serious Eats' best grill tongs: long, sturdy and quick to open and close, keeping your hands away from the heat.
Heads up. No hook for hanging, and the rubber tab wore off over time
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill tongs.
$15-25
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mid pick · Long
Best for the one who hates scrubbing grates
Serious Eats' best grill brush: bristles plus coiled metal for hot or cold cleaning, cutting through grease faster than most.
Heads up. The big head is hard to store in a drawer
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill brush.
$25-50
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budget pick · 18 in
Best for a wire-free brush
Serious Eats' best steam-cleaning grill brush: the fastest in its test, cleaning grates in about 12 seconds without metal bristles.
Heads up. The plastic body doesn't feel built to last
1 outlet. Serious Eats best steam grill brush.
$15-25
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mid pick · Knit
Best for moving hot grates and skillets
Serious Eats' best grill gloves: a double-sided silicone grip and a tidy, comfortable fit.
Heads up. Dry-clean only, though the silicone wipes clean
1 outlet. Serious Eats best grill gloves.
$15-25
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ThermoWorks ThermoPop 2 | budget | $25-50 | quick temp checks at the grill | 3 outlets agree |
| ThermoWorks BlueDOT Alarm Thermometer | mid | $50-100 | low-and-slow cooks | 1 outlet |
| MEATER Plus Wireless Meat Thermometer | mid | $100+ | a totally wire-free probe | Limited evidence |
| Typhur Sync Dual WiFi Wireless Meat Thermometer | splurge | $100+ | two cuts at once | 1 outlet |
Best meat thermometerbudget pick · Compact
Best for quick temp checks at the grill
Fast, accurate readings so the turkey is safe without being dry. Pop-up turkey timers aren't reliable.
Heads up. Not a leave-in probe
3 outlets agree. America's Test Kitchen best inexpensive thermometer. Reviewed thermometer pick. Good Housekeeping top-performing thermometer.
$25-50
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mid pick · 1 probe
Best for low-and-slow cooks
Serious Eats' best Bluetooth meat thermometer: so simple everyone in the tester's family used it, with a huge temperature range.
Heads up. Only one probe
1 outlet. Serious Eats best bluetooth meat thermometer.
$50-100
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mid pick · Gift-box
Best for a totally wire-free probe
A wireless probe that sends the temperature to his phone, so he can hang out instead of hovering over the grill.
Heads up. Bluetooth range is limited through walls
Limited evidence. No outlet has named this one yet. It is here as a reasonable option, not a reviewed one.
$100+
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splurge pick · 2 probes
Best for two cuts at once
Serious Eats' best double-probe wireless grill thermometer: sleek, compact and simple to set up and use.
Heads up. The app is cluttered, with an AI helper that pops up too often
1 outlet. Serious Eats best double-probe wireless grill thermometer.
$100+
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Best charcoal grillbudget pick · 22 in
Best for a first charcoal grill
Serious Eats' best charcoal grill and best budget pick: equally good at grilling and smoking, with a highly adjustable damper.
Heads up. The ash catcher was hard to clean, and the build could be sturdier
1 outlet. Serious Eats best charcoal grill (and best budget).
$100+
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mid pick · 22 in
Best for upgrading an old kettle
Serious Eats' more luxe Weber kettle: grates spaced ideally for fast, even cooking and well-designed dampers.
Heads up. One owner had to replace an ash-cleaning arm after years of use (an inexpensive fix)
1 outlet. Serious Eats more luxe weber kettle.
$100+
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A tool upgrade they'll use every cookout: a meat thermometer, long tongs, a good brush or heat-proof gloves. A chimney starter is a cheap favorite for charcoal grillers.
Yes. It's the easiest way to stop over- or undercooking. An instant-read like the ThermoPop is for quick checks, and wireless probes are for long smokes and roasts.
It is less useful if they only grill on gas; the chimney starter and kettle are for charcoal, though the tools and thermometers work on any grill.
No. I have not reviewed them. I read published reviews and name the outlet on the pick.
Budget is the cheaper one that still does the job. Mid is what most people should buy. Splurge is only if you will use it often.