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Want to be the BBQ Boss? Here’s our guide to the best bbq tools and accessories to help you become master of the flame in your backyard.

To become a BBQ boss, you need to do more than invest in a great grill for your backyard. A grill is only going to get you so far when it comes to cooking up the best possible BBQ.

The key to putting your skills over the top is snatching up the best BBQ tools, too. When you pair your tools with your grill, you’ll give yourself a much better chance to cook up the kinds of BBQ meals that will have your family, friends, and neighbors salivating for years to come.

There are many different grill tools and grill accessories that you can buy to take your BBQ endeavors to the next level. Check out 12 of the best BBQ tools and accessories below and consider adding them to your arsenal right away.

The Best BBQ Tools and Accessories

1. Spatula, Grill Fork, and Tongs

There are some very basic tools that you’ll need to BBQ no matter how experienced you might be on the grill. Without tools like spatulas, grill forks, and tongs, it’s going to be impossible for you to get your grill on.

A sturdy spatula will help you flip burgers, fish fillets, and more. A grill fork, meanwhile, will make it easy to maneuver chicken breasts around on your grill. And tongs will allow you to handle steaks, pork chops, and bigger pieces of meat with ease.

You can buy spatulas, grill forks, and tongs separately or find all-in-one grill tools that contain all three of these things in one handy product. Either way, you’ll give yourself direct access to the best BBQ tools for handling the various meats that will go on your grill.

2. Grill Tool Holder

It might seem like it would be simple enough to keep track of a spatula, a grill fork, and tongs when you’re manning the grill. It will surprise you how difficult it can be to keep them within arm’s reach at all times.

It’s not uncommon for grill tools to end up on the ground or on the grill when not in use. Both of these scenarios could do damage to your grill tools and render them useless when you need them most.

To avoid losing track of your spatula, grill fork, or tongs, buy a grill tool holder than you can keep next to your grill. You can put your tools inside the holder when you aren’t using them so you don’t ever lose sight of them.

3. Grill Grates

You are, of course, more than welcome to cook your meats on the grill grates that came with your grill. They’ll often do a fine job at cooking your meats.

But regular grill grates don’t always cook BBQ foods evenly and leave gorgeous sear marks behind. There are specialty grill grates that you can install right over the top of your existing grates to deliver more even heat to your meats.

These grills grates will make you feel like you’re in total control when you’re cooking. They’ll also help you avoid dangerous flareups.

4. Grill Basket

One of the many challenges that you’ll face when you’re BBQing is trying to figure out a way to grill vegetables without allowing them to fall through your grill grates. Veggies are a lot smaller than meats and tend to find their way through grates when you’re cooking.

The simple solution to this problem is a grill basket. A grill basket can keep your veggies on top of your grill while cooking them to perfection. They are also easy to clean, as you can put some of them into a dishwasher.

5. Barbecue Sauce Pot

You’re going to be using barbecue sauce (Source) early and often throughout the course of the summer when you BBQ. Whether you’re cooking up chicken breasts or another kind of meat, you’ll want to have sauce ready to roll while you cook.

You could keep a container of BBQ sauce next to your grill if you want. But if you want to heat your BBQ sauce up while also keeping it close, there are cast-iron barbecue sauce pots that go right on your grill grates. These make it simple to use as much BBQ sauce as you want.

Most of these pots also come equipped with brushes and mops that you can use to distribute BBQ sauce over your meats.

6. Smoker

There are some grills that come outfitted with smokers. There are also smokers that you can buy separately – check out our recommendations over here.

If you already have one of these, you don’t have to worry about adding another smoker to the mix. But if you enjoy smoking meats and don’t have a smoker right now, there are smoker boxes under $100 you can use in your existing grill.

Take one of these smokers for a test drive the next time you have a hankering for some smoked meats.

7. Meat Thermometer

It’s very important for you to make sure that your meats are cooked to certain temperatures before you serve them. The last thing you want to do is undercook or overcook someone’s meat and ruin their meal.

A basic meat thermometer will help you cook your meats to whatever temperature you want. You can also find more advanced meat thermometers that will allow you to watch the temperature of meat remotely.

8. Wooden Cutting Board

Many people prepare meats and vegetables inside their homes before bringing them outside to their grill. Why not skip this step and prepare your meats and vegetables outside while you wait for your grill to heat up?

A wooden cutting board can help you do this. Look for one that’s large enough to hold a big slab of meat or a bunch of vegetables that you want to cut up.

You’ll enjoy being outside when you’re doing your prep work for your BBQ as opposed to inside where you can’t see your grill.

9. LED Grill Light

There are going to be times this summer when you get stuck on the grill well after the sun has gone down. And it can be tricky trying to cook up the perfect piece of meat when you can’t even see it.

An LED grill light will solve this problem. Pull it out when you’re cooking up a late dinner on the grill or enjoying a late-night party in your backyard. It’ll allow you to see everything on your grill and maintain your status as a BBQ master.

10. Kitchen Towels

If you’re going to spend time cooking on a grill, you’re going to get messy. Your hands and arms are going to be covered with sauces and meats when you’re cooking.

It’s not a bad idea to have a steady supply of kitchen towels nearby. You can use these towels to wipe down yourself or any of the various surfaces that surround your grill. They’ll eliminate messes and help you stay focused on the task at hand.

11. Grill Brush

When you’re finished cooking on your grill, you might want to close it up and head inside for the night. But before you do, you should make cleaning your grill a priority.

There are all kinds of fancy grill brushes that you can use to clean your grill grates. Even a very basic grill brush will help you remove stuck-on food from your grates and keep them clean.

As long as you clean your grates on a regular basis, you’ll ensure that your grill is always ready to use at a moment’s notice. You’ll also extend the lifespan of your grill and keep it safe.

12. Gas Level Indicator

Is there anything worse than going to light up your grill and realizing that you’re out of gas? It can ruin your cooking plans and force you to make something else inside.

You won’t have to worry about this when you use a charcoal grill, but those with gas grills need to keep an eye on their gas levels.

For years, people had to guess when their gas was going to run out. But today, there are gas level indicators that will let you know when you’re running low. It’ll help you avoid running out of gas at the worst possible time.

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Start Using the Best BBQ Tools and Accessories Today

At the end of the day, you can have the best BBQ tools and not be a BBQ boss. It takes more than tools and accessories to master the art of grilling.

If you’ve already got some skills on the grill, the right grill tools can elevate them and make you even better. You’ll notice a difference in the way that your food looks and tastes when you have the right tools by your side.

Want to learn more about the BBQ accessories that are available today? Check out our blog to see some of the other tools that you can buy.