BBQ Tools & Utensils

Tongs, turners, skewers and cleaning brushes are the small kit that decides whether cooking over fire is pleasant or fraught. The single most useful spec is handle length — 16 to 18 inches keeps your knuckles clear of a 500°F firebox.

Stainless with a riveted or silicone-wrapped handle survives dishwashers and heat; hollow-handled sets warp and loosen within a season.

If you use a wire-bristle brush, inspect the head before every cook and retire it the moment bristles start to loosen. Bristle-free scrapers, coil brushes and wooden scrapers are included here as alternatives.