An arsenal of inexpensive but high-quality grill tools can help ensure a smooth and enjoyable season of summer barbecues and outdoor fetes. Memorial Day is nearing as the unofficial start of barbecue season, and these useful accessories under $15 should become staples for anyone who clocks hours at the grill.
Prices and availability are subject to change.
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$11 from Amazon
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These Fire Wire Flexible Grilling Skewers hold more meat and vegetables than traditional straight skewers and curl up to fit in a bag or bowl for marinating. They can be placed on the grill with the ends hanging over the side to stay cool for easy flipping and removal from the flame. The somewhat odd-looking utensils bend to fit on almost any shape or size grill, and reviewers say they're easy to clean, awarding them an average rating of 4.6 out of 5 overall.
Related: 10 Money-Saving Tips for the Summertime Grill Master
$11 from Crate & Barrel
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Any griller knows that keeping veggies and meat moist while cooking is essential. Layering on sauces creates a depth of flavor that sinks slowly into the ingredients, ensuring that each bite is rich and tasty. A heat-resistant silicone brush is easy to clean. It comes in handy for year-round cooking as well as summer grilling.
$14 from Target
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A good thermometer guarantees that meats reach a safe and ideal heat. A set of four specifically designed for beef, pork, and chicken have easy-to-read faces and pointers that glow in the dark for no-fail results when the light is low — such as on a beach or at a campsite.
$10 from Home Depot
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Grills get hot — very hot — which gives steaks a delicious char but can also send a griller to the hospital. Keep hands safe by using heat-resistant silicone grill mitts, which provide a stronger grip than square potholders while shielding skin from intense heat.
$21 from Amazon
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Instead of buying OXO tongs ($15) and a spatula ($13) individually, save money with a two-piece set. The spatula has a serrated edge for cutting, and the tools come with loops for easy storing on hooks to help a griller stay organized.
$13 from Home Depot
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Not all ingredients benefit from direct contact with the grill grates. A sturdy grill basket expands the possibilities of cooking on a grill, offering a tasty and easy way to prepare small vegetables such as green beans that could otherwise fall through the cracks.
$11 from Crate & Barrel
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Part of keeping a grill clean is scrubbing off any food stuck to the grates after each use, so the grill is ready to be used again, lasts longer, and doesn't taint the taste of the next meal. Depending on the type of grates, a heavy-duty cast-iron brush is a good, tough choice for small to medium-size grills.
$11 from Home Depot
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Unless you don't mind wearing as much barbecue sauce as the meat, it's a good idea to cover up while tending the grill. This heavy-duty black apron hides stains and smudges while shielding against splatter from marinades, sauces, and sizzling fat. It's machine-washable and comes with deep pockets for whatever tools need to be kept handy when things get busy at the grilling station.
$16/2-pack from Amazon
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Adding a protective coat of nonstick spray eliminates the frustration of seeing a perfectly charred crust stay on the grill grate while the rest of the food comes off. Especially useful for those who love to grill fish, it makes cooking and cleanup easier for cooks who aren't yet at the level of Bobby Flay.
Related: 27 Barbecue Recipes and Tricks From Celebrity Chefs
$10 from Ace Hardware
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This gadget takes the uncertainty out of getting smoldering hot coals going on a charcoal grill and eliminates the need for chemical-laden fire starters that tend to flavor the food.
$8 from Amazon
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If you're interested in adding rich woody flavor to your meats but don't want to invest in a full smoker setup, start simple and cheap with this smoker box. Just pre-soak some wood chips and place them in the box beneath the grate to get the taste you want even on a gas grill.
$21 from Amazon
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A cast-iron grill press is an essential tool that many home cooks don't realize they need, whether they’re cooking with a cast iron skillet or on an outdoor grill. The press can be heated up and used to sear meat, press sandwiches, flatten bacon, and more, all with its own weight.
$15 from Amazon
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Enjoy crispy bacon in the great outdoors with this rack, which suspends the strips over a triangular rack to cook and folds up for easy storage. The bacon strips hang over a steel tray to catch the fat, but you can also put grilled onions or other ingredients in there to absorb some of the delicious, pork-fatty flavor.
