8 Tools You Need to Take Your Grill Setup to the Next Level

You bought a grill, extra-long tongs and a bag of charcoal. What followed was the slow realization that your out-of-the-box setup is limited. The grates create flare-ups, the coals take too long to light and you’ve burned off every hair on your forearm. Sound familiar? Then this guide is for you.

MEATER Plus

Meater

Presented by MEATER

There is nothing better than a juicy steak on the grill, but it’s not always easy getting it to that perfect temperature. The MEATER Plus is a truly wireless smart meat thermometer that takes the guesswork out of cooking meat. The smart thermometer will monitor the meat’s internal temperature and your grill’s ambient temperature to let you know just how much time your masterpiece needs to cook. Plus, with a 165-foot extended Bluetooth range, you can put your meat on the grill and head back inside until the app alerts you that your meat is done. Secure yours below and fire up the grill.

Price: $99

Chef’s Press

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For a better sear, employ a healthy dose of gravity.

Price: $14+

Sage Owl Brass Grill Scraper

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Still using bristly wire brushes to clean your grates? You should stop, unless you like putting indigestible metal in your guest’s burger. Instead, get a simple, cheap, hard-wearing universal grill scraper from Sage Owl, which come in various brass and stainless steel finishes.

Price: $19

G&F Welder’s Gloves

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Oven mitts are poor stand-ins for grill-safe gloves, and most grill-safe gloves suck. Instead, get welder’s gloves — they go further up your arm, are safer at higher heat levels and allow your fingers freer movement.

Price: $20

GrillGrates Upgraded Grates

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Endorsed as the “best thing to happen to gas grills and pellet smokers since salt and pepper” by the grill testers at Amazing Ribs, these cast-aluminum grates are rust-resistant and distribute heat more evenly across whatever you’re grilling.

Price: $40

ThermoWorks IR Gun

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Utah-based ThermoWorks might be the most trusted name in temperature telling. Its infrared temperature-tracking gun is less popular than its industry-standard thermometers, but it’s nearly as essential. Fire it at the grates to track when you’re building enough heat to properly sear a steak.

Price: $69

Looftlighter

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This is essentially the world’s hottest hair dryer — but for charcoal lighting.

Price: $100

Anova Culinary Sous Vide Nano

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The best way to ensure perfect doneness. Sous vide, sear, slice.

Price: $129

Auber Instruments Wi-Fi Controller

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Designed for professional pitmasters to use on overnight smokes, Auber Instruments’ grill controller is only for the most serious of home smokers. Just plug a probe into your meat and another at fire level, set your desired internal temperature for the meat and the temperature you want to smoke at. The controller does the rest, automatically adjusting airflow and air speed at coal level and feeding all cook data into an app on your phone.

Price: $315

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