Best barbecue tool set

Make cookouts and everyday grilled dinners that much easier with the best barbecue tool set for beginners and experienced pitmasters alike.

best barbecue tool set
metal barbecue tool set on dark wood table with cherry tomatoes sausage links and cloth napkins
(Image credit: Timolina/Shutterstock)

Barbecuing is a well-loved activity here in the good old U.S. of A. So, demand is constant for durable tools to simplify and elevate time spent over the coals. The best barbecue tool set can go a long way towards making new grilling enthusiasts feel more experienced. Our staff pick from OlarHike does just that—it's a 25-piece set of food-grade stainless steel grilling utensils, and is genuinely an exhaustive collection. Plenty of sets (like this one) come in carry-cases, too, making them a gift-worthy purchase or a wise investment for your own use. I didn't forget experienced barbecuers, either; you'll see a set of barbecue tools that would delight any pitmaster. Read on for sets with aprons, heat-safe silicone gloves, and all sorts of creature comforts. 

Best overall

barbecue tool set

(Image credit: Amazon)

OlarHike barbecue grilling tool set

Staff pick

You can't go wrong with a barbecue tool set like OlarHike's—it has every single item you could conceivably need while grilling.

Pros:

  • 25-piece collection
  • Carrying case
  • Thermometer and silicone gloves
  • Replacement grill brush head

Cons:

  • No apron
  • Salt and pepper shakers aren't really necessary (and they're tiny)

OlarHike is a brand I wasn't familiar with before this article. Still, I'm definitely impressed with their stainless steel barbecue tool set—impressed enough that it won our best overall spot. Thoughtfully, OlarHike included a durable cloth carrying case for convenience and silicone heat-protective gloves to keep you safer. In addition, there are so many little extras in this 25-piece tool set: kebab skewers and corn holders, a digital thermometer, and even a pair of salt and pepper shakers. If you're looking for a more pared-down BBQ kit instead, then read on; there are a couple below that might suit your needs. 

Best value

barbecue tool set

(Image credit: Amazon)

Veken barbecue utensils and tool set with apron

Claws are the key to shredded meat

Veken's all-purpose barbecue tool set has all of the essential grilling equipment and throws in a pair of meat claws and a storage apron for good measure.

Pros:

  • Silicone grill mat included
  • Meat claws for shredding
  • All the basics plus an apron
  • Two handle lengths

Cons:

  • Skewers included are wooden, not stainless steel
  • Handles are on the short side, avoid with large grills
  • No mitts/gloves

Veken's barbecue tool set includes all the basics you'd expect. Conveniently, it's available with 16-inch longer handles or as a more compact kit with shorter handles. The extras that stand out are the meat claws, silicone basting brush, and silicone grill mat, but my favorite is the adjustable storage apron. Every component has its own space for easy access—a game-changer for regular grillers. A big downside, however, is Veken's oversight regarding protective mitts or gloves; hopefully, your kitchen's already got a pair that's safe for grilling.

Solid steel

barbecue tool set

(Image credit: Amazon)

Alpha Grillers heavy-duty barbecue tool set

High-quality, great for gifting

With a modern design and high-quality materials, Alpha Grillers nails their four-piece barbecue tool set.

Pros:

  • Tongs, brush, spatula, and fork
  • Ergonomic handles
  • Rust-resistant stainless steel
  • Hanging loops for neat storage

Cons:

  • Bare-bones set, compared to other options

For a set of grilling tools with a bit of heft and a gift-worthy presentation, consider this four-piece set from Alpha Grillers. It includes a set of tongs, a silicone basting brush, a multi-tool spatula, and a meat fork. The spatula has a bottle opener, a serrated edge, and a thin leading edge that slips right under steaks, burgers, and vegetables—anything that might cling to the grill's surface. Thanks to rust-resistant stainless steel, ergonomically designed handles, and hanging loops, this entire set is easy to use, clean, and store.

Cohesive set

barbecue tool set

(Image credit: Amazon)

Cuisinart stainless steel barbecue grill tool set

Have tools, will travel

Cuisinart's portable barbecue tool set isn't just high-quality, it's downright professional-looking.

Pros:

  • 20-piece stainless steel set
  • Extra grill brush head included
  • Multi-purpose spatula
  • Temperature fork

Cons:

  • Not for people that are happy with just tongs and a grill brush

If chefs can carry their knives with them wherever they go, why can't a griller carry their utensils? Check out Cuisinart's deluxe grill tool set, made from stainless steel and a protective aluminum carrying case. It's a slimmed-down version of our best overall BBQ tool set, and my favorite part is the digital temperature fork. Two tools, a digital thermometer and a meat hook, are combined for extra convenience and space-saving inside its little suitcase. Cuisinart's kit is the perfect buy for barbecuers that bring their skillset outside their own grill.

For competitive grillers

barbecue tool set

(Image credit: Amazon)

Dalstrong professional barbecue tool set

Pitmaster-approved

Dalstrong's pro pitmaster tool set stands up to even the toughest barbecue competitions and beyond.

Pros:

  • High-carbon 430 stainless steel
  • G-10 Garolite resin handles
  • Long-reach, sharp grill fork
  • XL spatula and tongs

Cons:

  • Has holes for hooks; hooks will need to be installed to hang these tools
  • Carrying case not included

Dalstrong curated their pitmaster's set to include the basics but made larger and more durable. Upon opening the box, you'll find a circular silicone basting and mop brush, extra-large tongs with soft, scalloped edges, an extra-wide serrated spatula, and a wickedly sharp meat fork. Each piece in the set is crafted from heavy-duty 430 stainless steel with a triple-riveted G-10 Garolite resin handle for added resilience while grilling. Those 18-inch handles are well balanced—ergonomically designed for a secure grip and better reach across large, deep grills and smokers. Unfortunately, it doesn't come with a carrying case, but Dalstrong's display-worthy box is quite striking.

Bottom line

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The best barbecue tool set for someone else may not be the same as what's suitable for your needs. Basics like tongs and spatulas are always included, which are things people may already own, so some sets can bring redundancy to your kitchen utensils. But what about the tools you're missing? You can go for a well-rounded approach with our best overall barbecue tool set from OlarHike. Or suppose you want to gift an experienced griller a set to last them through the years to come? I'd pick Dalstrong's pitmaster set 100 percent of the time. 

OlarHike's tools provide the budding barbecuist with the essentials. Pleasantly, it throws them plenty of learning curves like kebab skewers and creature comforts like a silicone heat glove in the rest of the 25-piece kit. However, Dalstrong's tool set is the epitome of high-quality grilling utensils. It's lean, mean, and will probably outlive you, thanks to military-grade resin handles and 403 stainless steel. There's a nod to design on each handle in the form of a copper engraved rivet, and the uniquely wide-jawed tongs can easily pick up and turn an entire chicken thigh

Why trust us?

At GardeningEtc, we recommend the best products to enhance your life. As expert curators, we handpick products based on quality and usefulness to positively impact your day-to-day, from cart to doorstep. We take our responsibility seriously — testing products, reading reviews, and sourcing knowledgeable outlets to ensure our selections are worthy of your time and money. We deliver detailed product overviews, balancing objective information with subjective opinions, so making the best choice for your home and lifestyle is as easy as possible.

Freelance Writer, AOP

Lili Angrisano is a freelance contributor for both GardeningEtc and Real Homes. In her spare time you will typically find her designing her next cosplay, conquering her 700+ book (and counting!), reading the latest release on her Kindle library, or tending to the many plants and flowers in her much-loved apartment garden.