The Best BBQ Tools You’ve Never Heard Of

7 Underrated BBQ Tools That Make a Huge Difference

You’ve got a grill, a brush, and a good cut of meat—but what if I told you the best BBQ upgrades are tools you’ve never heard of? Most home cooks focus on the big-ticket items, overlooking the smaller, specialized gadgets that can truly elevate your grilling game. These aren’t just novelties; they’re game-changers pros swear by, designed to make your cookouts easier, more efficient, and, most importantly, more delicious.

Here are 7 underrated BBQ tools that will transform your next cookout.

1. Bear Claws / Meat Shredding Forks

What they are: Large, sturdy forks designed to look like bear claws, perfect for shredding cooked meat.
Why they’re a game-changer: Forget struggling with two regular forks or burning your hands trying to pull apart a hot pork shoulder. Bear claws make shredding pulled pork, chicken, or even brisket incredibly fast and easy, keeping your hands clean and safe.
How they elevate your cookout: Achieve perfectly shredded meat in minutes, ideal for sandwiches, tacos, or chili. They’re also great for stabilizing large cuts of meat while carving.
Pro Tip: After slow-cooking a pork shoulder, use these to effortlessly pull it apart right in the pan, mixing in all those flavorful juices.

2. Grill Grate Lifter

What it is: A simple, sturdy tool designed to safely lift hot or heavy grill grates.
Why it’s a game-changer: No more struggling with oven mitts or waiting for grates to cool down. This tool allows you to safely adjust charcoal, add wood chunks, or clean underneath the grates even mid-cook.
How they elevate your cookout: Enables better heat management and allows you to easily add wood for smoking, ensuring consistent flavor and temperature control.
Pro Tip: Keep it handy when setting up your grill for a brisket, allowing you to easily arrange coals for indirect heat.

3. Insulated BBQ Gloves (Silicone or Cotton with Silicone Grip)

What they are: Heavy-duty gloves made from heat-resistant silicone or cotton with a non-slip silicone coating.
Why they’re a game-changer: Far superior to flimsy oven mitts, these gloves allow you to safely handle hot meat directly, rearrange hot coals, or even move hot grates without burning yourself.
How they elevate your cookout: Provides incredible dexterity and heat protection, making tasks like flipping ribs, rotating whole chickens, or even pulling hot pork from the smoker effortless and safe.
Pro Tip: Look for gloves that extend up your forearm for maximum protection when reaching into a hot grill.

4. Charcoal Chimney Starter

What it is: A metal cylinder with a grate at the bottom, used to quickly and evenly light charcoal without lighter fluid.
Why it’s a game-changer: Eliminates the need for chemical-laden lighter fluid, which can impart an off-flavor to your food. It gets coals hot and ready for grilling in about 15-20 minutes.
How they elevate your cookout: Ensures a clean, even burn and pure charcoal flavor. It’s an essential tool for anyone serious about charcoal grilling.
Pro Tip: Place a crumpled piece of newspaper or a natural fire starter under the chimney, fill with charcoal, and light. Your coals will be glowing in no time.

5. Grill Press / Cast Iron Press

What it is: A heavy, flat piece of cast iron with a handle, designed to press food down onto the grill surface.
Why it’s a game-changer: Creates maximum contact between food and grill, ensuring a superior sear and even cooking, especially for thinner cuts like bacon, smash burgers, or chicken thighs.
How they elevate your cookout: Achieves a beautiful, crispy crust and helps render fat more efficiently. It also prevents thinner meats from curling up on the grill.
Pro Tip: Preheat the grill press on the grill alongside your grates for a few minutes before placing it on the meat to maximize its searing power.

6. Rib Rack / Roasting Rack

What it is: A metal rack designed to hold multiple slabs of ribs upright, or elevate roasts off the grill grates.
Why it’s a game-changer: Maximizes grill space by allowing you to cook more ribs at once, and ensures even airflow around all sides of the meat, preventing soggy bottoms.
How they elevate your cookout: Perfect for cooking multiple racks of pork ribs for a crowd, or for achieving a uniform cook on larger roasts by keeping them out of rendered fat.
Pro Tip: If using for ribs, alternate the direction of the ribs in the rack to ensure even cooking and smoke penetration.

7. Heavy-Duty Butcher Paper

What it is: Food-grade, unwaxed paper that allows meat to breathe while still retaining moisture, unlike foil.
Why it’s a game-changer: Essential for the “Texas Crutch” method in smoking large cuts like brisket or pork shoulder. It helps push through the “stall” (where meat temperature plateaus) by preventing evaporative cooling, while still allowing some smoke penetration.
How they elevate your cookout: Creates a beautiful, tender bark on smoked meats without turning it into a steamed mess (which can happen with foil).
Pro Tip: Wrap your brisket tightly in butcher paper once it hits the stall (around 150-160°F or 65-71°C) to speed up the cooking process and preserve the bark.

Conclusion

Don’t underestimate the power of specialized tools to transform your BBQ experience. While the basics are crucial, these underrated gadgets can make a significant difference in the quality, efficiency, and enjoyment of your grilling. Investing in even one or two of these can elevate your next cookout from good to legendary.

For more essential grilling gear, check out our guide on Essential BBQ Tools & Gadgets.

External Resources:

AmazingRibs.com: BBQ & Grilling Tools Reviews: A highly respected resource for in-depth reviews and recommendations on all things BBQ tools.
Serious Eats: Essential Grilling Tools: A chef-driven guide to the must-have tools for any serious griller.
BBQGuys.com: The Best BBQ Tools & Accessories: A retail site with a good overview of various tools and their uses.

Evaldo Carvalho

Author & Editor of Gear For Audio