The Best Grill Brushes and Grill Tools of 2024 to Master Any Flame
the best charcoal grills, pellet grills, gas grills, and smokers are nothing without the best grill brush and grills tools. OK, maybe not nothing, but you need your supporting cast to make cooking and cleaning as enjoyable as possible.
All of that great meaty goodness comes with a price—in the form of grease globs and chunks of charred meat littering the grill grate. That's why learning how to clean a grill is essential. If you ever want to use those grates to good effect again, you'll need to tend to them with the best grill brush.
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That's why Weber 18-Inch Three-Sided Grill Brush is our best grill tool overall. It's robust, strong, and a total steal. At under $20, this workhorse makes properly cleaning and preparing your metal canvas a breeze.
Read more of the greatest hits from our 2024 Grilling Awards, including the best pizza ovens and best portable grills, plus pro tips on how to grill a steak and where to find the best mail-order steaks.
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Best Grill Tool Overall: Weber 18-Inch Three-Sided Grill Brush
For its friendly price and burly sturdiness, Weber Three-Sided Brush is hands down the best grill tool around. Get into the habit of addressing all that grease and baked-on gunk. This Weber brush is simple but stout, with two steel rods wrapped around each other, a pile of steel bristles at the end, and a comfortable composite handle. That's it. The wide front bristles tackle any grate with ease, from ceramic-coated to cast iron. The brush's shorter sides are designed to clean the edges between the grates and any other greasy nooks and crannies for a thorough job.
Best Nylon Grill Brush: Traeger BBQ Cleaning Brush
Traeger BBQ Cleaning Brush features nylon bristles that are designed to clean grill grates once they've cooled down (read: not cold and definitely not hot). So you'll want to keep that in mind before investing in this brush or cleaning your grill with it. The body is constructed of stainless steel for durability. A teak wood handle offers a dual grip to help apply pressure to the grill grates for even cleaning. Unlike steel bristles, these nylon ones won’t damage your grates or, worse, accidentally get deposited in any food you're grilling. When the bristles wear out, simply replace the brush heads.
Best Safety Grill Brush: Grill Rescue Brush
Created by a firefighter, this brand declares its Grill Rescue Brush is the "world’s safest grill brush"—in that it doesn’t use wire bristles and is made using highly heat-resistant materials. Using the power of steam to clean your grill, it features a strong composite handle that holds a cleaning head made from durable, heat-resistant aramid fiber (the same material used in the gear firefighters wear). The scraper is great for those persistent grease buildups, and the cleaning head easily detaches for putting in the dishwasher—or for easy replacement when it eventually wears out.
Best Grill Brush Splurge: Grand Grill Daddy Steam Cleaning Grill Brush
This is indeed the Grand Grill Daddy of grill brushes—harnessing the power of steam to sterilize nasty grill grates. We used it to clean multiple grills as well as a flat top (or griddle) grill—with results you'd expect and demand from a steam-powered grill brush pushing $80. Using it is a cinch. Simply reheat the grill, fill the brush handle with water, and release a measured amount of water from the brush head onto the grill grate. That H2O then turns to steam upon contact with the heated grill surface, providing a deep cleaning you can't get with a normal brush. For those tough-to-reach areas, flip the brush over and water will shower down from the three-row scraper. Afterwards, load the brush heads into the dishwasher so they're clean and ready for next time.
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Best Grilling Knife: New West Knifeworks Tactical Outdoor Chef Knife
Every guy loves to have a wide range of quality knives at his disposal when getting into grilling mode. But if you could only have one knife for handling all of your outdoor cooking tasks, here's your blade. The New West Knifeworks chef knife is created with a unique blade shape that includes the attributes of a petty knife, slicer, and chopper to make quick work of any grilled meats or veggies. It also features a unique handle made from G10 and rubber composite to eliminate slipping or sliding when the meat gets juicy. Crafted in Montana from CPM S35VN "super-steel" for excellent hardness and toughness, the TOC is a high-quality knife that you'll be passing down to the next in grill-duty line. It's backed by a lifetime warranty and lifetime sharpening.
Best Grill Carving Knife: Williams The Carver
Well-known for their top-of-the-line hunting, fishing, and everyday carry knives, Williams Knife Co. recently introduced their own line of culinary knives. Made from durable and strong Elmax steel with G10 handle material in multiple colors, these new knives will slice like a dream in the kitchen, backyard, or campsite. We like The Carver, with its thin, 9.25-inch blade that makes it a perfect performance tool for your next smoked brisket, beer can chicken, or pork loin before a hungry audience.
Best Grilling Tool Set: Toadfish Ultimate Grill Set + Case
This grill set from Toadfish is almost as playful as it is functional. Each of the three tools in the kit are a re-imagination of traditional grilling tool designs with modern features and materials added to the mix. Made from the highest quality stainless steel paired with soft-touch inlays for a comfortable yet reliable grip, the set comes complete with the ultimate spatula, tongs, and grill fork. It's all packaged in a hard-sided case for easy storage—or transport, when grilling duty calls beyond the backyard on an overlanding trip or fishing expedition.
Best Grill Thermometer: ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
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ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE is widely regarded as the gold standard of instant-read thermometers, and the reason is clear. It's a durable, easy-to-use thermometer that won't fail you when trying to determine whether your brisket that's been on the smoker for 12 hours is still caught in a stall or about to bust through and bring you to meat candy heaven. The durable plastic case feels good in your hand when probing meat, and the easily deployable stainless steel temp probe turns on right when you rotate it out. Temps—which register in one second—are easy to see even in the dark with the bright display. It comes with a five-year warranty.
Best Grilling Wireless Thermometer: MEATER 2 Plus
Upgrade your grilling game with the MEATER 2 Plus, an updated smart thermometer from the grill gurus at Meater. This new temperature tool now features higher temp limits (up to 1,000 degrees), is 100-percent waterproof, utilizes fast charging, includes wireless technology with a longer range, and can provide custom alerts for tailored grilling. All those features are available at the tip of a finger on an easy-to-use app.
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Best Grilling Cast Iron Pan: Le Creuset Alpine Outdoor Collection Skillet
Made from cast iron that's completely encased in matte black enamel, this 10-inch Le Creuset skillet is specifically designed for cooking over an open flame—perfect for searing, sautéing, and griddle-specific cooking. Its design features angled sides that make it perfect for flipping and holding onto food, while the small diameter allows for grilling other items in tandem. Unlike traditional cast iron, this enameled skillet is dishwasher safe.
Best Grilling Griddle Spatula: Razor Extra Large Spatula
This Razor spatula is an extra-wide stainless-steel monster featuring beveled edges that ensure you'll be flipping those burgers, veggies, and eggs without any ugly mishaps. For those of us who've felt that singe of heat on our knuckles from a flat top too many times, the Razor has a stay-cool thumb grip handle that helps keep your fleshy digits safely away from the sizzling heat.
Best Grilling Fish Tray: Traeger ModiFIRE Fish & Veggie Stainless Steel Grill Tray
While designed for Traeger grills, we found the Traeger ModiFIRE Tray allowed us to easily change up the cooking surface without having to remove or modify the grates on other grills. This substantial tray keeps foods like fish, shrimp, onions, sliced peppers, and other vegetables safely away from being sacrificed to the fiery abyss below. The brushed stainless steel is durable and easy to clean while the handles allow for easy lifting, even with a full load of shish kebabs. Make sure to measure the surface area of your grill to ensure that your grill of choice can accommodate the 18.25-inch length of the tray.
Best Grilling Trays: Williams Sonoma Dual Grill Marinade + Prep Tray Set
If you haven't yet used a tray system like this marinade and prep set from Williams Sonoma, it's a grilling life-changer—letting you take your raw and/or marinating meats out to the grill in one nesting tray while the other clean tray is ready and waiting for prepared food. In other words, no more scrambling to find a clean plate. It's right there by the grill when you need it. Lightweight, shatterproof, and made of BPA-free melamine, the trays come in red and black pairs to help keep food items separate. Additional flat trays are available in small, large and extra large. When you’re through, just place them in the dishwasher for easy cleaning.
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Best Grilling Charcoal Chimney: Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
This is a must-have for any charcoal lover—and the best reason to retire your starting fluid or instant light charcoal forever. Affordable and still the gold-standard for chimney starters, Weber Rapidfire will make your next kettle grill session that much more enjoyable, letting you safely and easily get a stack of charcoal going with just a match and some newspaper stuffed in the bottom. No need for messy and smelly kerosene, or having to suffer the smell of pre-impregnated charcoal as you wait for it to burn off before adding food to the fire.
Best Grilling Gloves: Breeo Leather Fire Gloves
If a solid set of grilling gloves aren't already on your list, they will be the moment you accidentally grab a piece of metal that's been heated up by a raging grill. These soft, supremely confidence-inspiring gloves from Breeo should leap to the top of that list. We've tried many gloves over the years, from bumpy rubber to heat-resistant textile to thick silicone, but these cowhide leather gauntlets are a joy to slip on with a soft, insulated cotton lining. They're easy to manipulate for everything, save for the most delicate grilling tasks. For extra protection, they include an air-isolated aluminum foil layer on the grip side, which allows them to handle 550 degrees for 30 seconds and 1,000 degrees for 15 seconds.
Best Unique Grilling Tool: 4sFire Texas Onion Oiler
The Texas Onion Oiler is an intriguing alternative to using a steel or steamy grill brush. Based upon an old south Texas grilling method, this steel powder-coated tool has an onion-shaped cup at one end (that holds half an onion) which you then use to clean a hot grate or griddle. The claim here is that an onion's natural disinfectant qualities will amp the cleaning level. You can also brush a little oil on the cut side of the onion to help season your grilling surface, or add lemon to boost the disinfecting affect. When you're done, just toss the burnt onion into the coals to add even more aroma to your meaty feast.
Why You Need a Good Grill Brush
Of all of the essential tools required to attain true grilling mastery, the grill brush is the most important. You can manipulate food around a grill with a dinner fork, slice meat and veggies with a cheap knife, and technically "clean" a grill grate with a wad of aluminum foil, but using a quality grill brush before and after each grilling session confirms the foundation of grilling: A spotless grilling surface is essential for a great grilled meal.
Too many backyard chefs don't practice proper grill maintenance by religiously cleaning their grates. Keeping your grilling surface slick and free of crusty droppings is the most important step in grilling that most newbies—even experienced cooks—habitually skip. Too bad, because it's the real key to killing it when making meals over a fire or with smoke.
Why You Need Good Grilling Gear
Great grilling gear isn't just limited to a quality grill brush. A wide assortment of indispensable tools will help make you next cookout easier, smoother, and more enjoyable. From oversized spatulas to premium knives to a pig-tailed poker, working with new, ingenious grilling gear is part of what makes the job fun. That's why we've rounded up even more grilling tools here, beyond the brushes, that will make your next backyard barbecue experience a blast—and, dare we say, even more delicious.
Why You Should Trust Us
Clay Abney was first introduced to outdoor cooking as a kid in the 1970s when his family would take the camper every weekend to the lake. Between the iconic green Coleman camp stove with the red fuel tank and the campfire, he got his proverbial feet wet in outdoor cooking over 40 years ago. From there, Clay progressed into Boy Scouts in the early 1980s where he perpetually cooked over an open fire, cooking everything from beef stew to peach cobbler in a cast iron dutch oven, and bacon and eggs in a skillet. Clay has since written about grills and grilling gear for multiple outlets, shared his favorite picks on TV morning shows, and has judged professional barbecue events.
Adam Bible has been a gear editor, gear reviewer, and outdoor writer at multiple publications for over 20 years. He is the gear editor at Men's Journal and he's tested and reviewed everything from coolers and grills to e-bikes and flashlights. Adam's first attempt at smoking was with a Weber Smokey Mountain that was a Christmas present. Of course, he had to try it right away—which ended up being on a deck in the middle of a snowstorm in Brooklyn. It didn't go well. Since then, he has graduated to smoking whole pigs and grilling on everything from a beach campfire to smart pellet grills in his backyard.
