When the weather is pleasant, it puts many of us in a get-together mind-set—and for those who fantasize not of sunny afternoons lounging by a pool or lake but rather of inhaling the aromas wafting from their barbecue, there’s a slew of gadgets you can gift to help them make the most of their favorite season. We grilled (!) barbecuing experts on their go-to tools, and here are 12 of the very best.
Yak’s heavy-duty, 15-inch Hibachi Charcoal Grill, which can fit four burgers or two large steaks, was an anniversary-gift hit for Brad Wise, chef and founder of California steakhouse chain Rare Society. “It really leans into how I like to eat—small bites, shared plates, live fire, bold flavors,” he says of the present from his wife. Wise uses it weekly to grill marinated swordfish, shrimp and other proteins, and recommends filling it with white charcoal. Made of oak, this type of charcoal “has a seriously long burn time, keeps the temperature high and keeps the cooking consistent,” he says. “Your ingredients are sitting close to the heat, so they absorb an insane amount of flavor from the smoke.” The tabletop-safe appliance is particularly great for tailgating, picnicking and other small outdoor gatherings where up to six people can grill together.
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The most well-endorsed tool on our list, the Thermapen One, got high marks from three grilling pros, who stress the importance of cooking dishes to a precise temperature. Pitmaster Rodney Scott, founder of Rodney Scott’s Whole Hog Barbecue, raves about the Thermapen’s ability to give “a pinpoint reading at lightning speed” and points out that, at just over 6 inches, it’s small enough to keep in your pocket. Christie Vanover, a pitmaster and creator of the educational platform Girls Can Grill, is such a devotee that she has five in her arsenal. “I keep one in my indoor kitchen, one in my outdoor kitchen, one in my RV, one in my BBQ trailer and one in my knife roll,” she says.
You can ensure your grilling pals stay sharp behind the barbecue with the Rapid Steel Action Set Knife Sharpener from F. Dick, a company that’s been making sharpening tools since 1873. The steel rods have an abrasive coating, so all you have to do is “slide any straightedge blade between the steel, and it sharpens the blade in seconds,” says Vanover, who credits world championship pitmaster Richard Fergola (known as Fergolicious) for turning her on to it.
The cult-favorite Blackstone Tabletop Griddle is a foolproof way to help them think beyond the bun, says Sonny’s BBQ pitmaster and brand ambassador Shannon Snell, who appreciates the portable griddle’s wide-ranging possibilities. “It allows you to do things that normal grills cannot,” he says, like sauteing rice and vegetables or cooking breakfast in addition to burgers and steaks. And though Linda Ly, author of “ The Backyard Fire Cookbook,” has the original four-burner at home—“In the morning, we use it for pancakes and in the afternoon, it cranks out grilled cheese,” she says—she recommends the more versatile 17-inch option as a gift, especially for people who love camping or tailgating. “It’s small enough to stash in the car,” she notes, “but large enough to make fajitas for a group.”
Ly has personally tested strand after strand of string lights and found a winner in Luci String Lights, a solar-powered set of long-lasting LEDs (up to 20 hours after one charge). Emitting “a nice warm glow,” they also come with their own spool to avoid tangled up situations, says Ly. “Sometimes I’ll even just run the lights down a table, rather than hanging them from trees or my RV awning.”
The best grilling sessions end with a great dessert. And when it’s time to roast marshmallows, Ly relies on the Solo Stove Bonfire Pit. At 19 ½ inches (and weighing 20 pounds), the stainless-steel piece is “the ideal size for most gatherings—not too small where it doesn’t put out enough heat, but not so large that it’s too cumbersome to bring camping or tailgating,” explains the founder of home and garden blog Garden Betty. Plus, unlike your average DIY campfire, she says, the smoke output is “minimal.”
With a hefty thickness—2 ¼ inches of North American hard rock maple—the “monster” Reversible Maple Wood Cutting Board from John Boos is the gift they’ll never let go of, according to chef Robert Irvine, host of “Dinner: Impossible” and two other Food Network shows. “It’s so durable it’ll become a family heirloom even if you don’t take good care of it,” he says, though it is still worth committing to regular oiling in order to preserve the wood as well as your knives’ sharp edges. It’s also fully reversible with chrome handles for easy flipping, and the top side’s deep gutter, ideal for juicier situations, can “handle whatever mess you make.”
Presentation matters when it comes to food, and after sweating over an open flame, a good host will want to ensure their eats look as good as they taste. Made of speckled enamel with a hand-finished stainless-steel rim, Barebones‘ dishes in soft, neutral hues like gray, eggshell, charcoal and mint green are Vanover’s pick. They are“strong enough for a big juicy steak,” she says, and they all go well together, “so you can mix and match to bring subtle earth tones to the table.”
Grilling isn’t just for meat; with cast iron cookware, your favorite outdoor chef can whip up practically anything al fresco, from eggs to fruit cobbler and other desserts. Vanover loves Lodge’s versions because they heat dishes evenly whether you’re cooking in an oven, atop the stove, on a grill or even over a campfire. She’s partial to this naturally seasoned set because the 10 ½ by 4 ½ inch pot comes with a lid that doubles as a skillet.
Sure, the meat is what’s for dinner—or lunch—but no one expects guests to tuck into a T-bone while standing. Yeti’s fold-up Hondo Base Camp Chairs, which Scott calls “some of the comfiest I’ve ever used,” are woven to curve to your body and eliminate pressure points, according to the company. He owns two and says gift recipients will find them “the perfect accessory for kicking back with a beer or taking a break from standing by the grill.”
Yes, their barbecue is their baby, so help them swaddle it up tight with the cover Snell dubs “that first line of defense for your grill.” Made of PVC-lined polyester—a heavy-duty, all-weather, water-resistant material—the Traeger Silverton Grill Cover has deftly handled snow, rain, wind and sun for Snell. “It fits most grills,” he adds. “Water won’t leak through and I rarely worry about it blowing off.”
Any griller worth their tongs needs a solid knife to slice their meats, and Vanover swears the Butcher Knife by Cutco is, well, a cut above. The wide belly of the 8 1/8-inch blade is “excellent for trimming large cuts like briskets or breaking down a chicken,” she says, and the butcher knife is also precise enough for small jobs like removing membrane or thin layers of fat. It’s sturdy, too. Vanover received her first set of Cutco knives when she got married about 25 years ago and, she reports, “they’re still sharp and in great shape.”
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