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The best grills and grill accessories of 2023 | engaged
It’s not quite summer yet, but spring is a great time to prepare for grilling season. To prepare you to spend more time outdoors, we’ve put together a list of the best grills and grilling accessories for culinary adventures on the porch, patio, deck, or backyard. We’ve reviewed and tested a wide variety of grills and other appliances, and we’ve selected our top picks to help you stay on top of your BBQ game. There are also other items for outdoor cooking, with selections that should help you serve delicious food all year round and expand your skills in the process, including your pizza-making skills.
Trager Timberline and Timberline XL
Last year, Traeger went all out for its smart grills. The company has completely redesigned its high-end Timberline lineup and turned its premium pellet grills into outdoor kitchens. Although the cooking chamber looks like any other Traeger grill, the company decided to put these new models on a rolling cart instead of four legs. This naturally gives you more storage space, but it also makes it easier to empty the pellet container. There’s a rail system on the front and sides of the grill for a range of accessories, from paper rolls to sauce and rubbing compartments.
On the tech front, Traeger has replaced the basic controls of its previous Wi-Fi-equipped D2 grills with a color touchscreen. There are more sensors inside to monitor the cooking process and extra lighting to help you see the cooking surface better in the dark. The new Timberlines will also work with a specially designed version of the wireless Meater probes (Traeger bought Meater in 2021), so you’re not dependent on the corded version that comes standard. Perhaps most importantly, the company has added what it claims is its first outdoor induction burner for sauces, sides and sears.
All those upgrades add up to a starting price of $3,500. If you can spare some of those niceties (I’d say your grill doesn’t need a touchscreen, for example), the first-generation Ironwood has been a workhorse for me since I reviewed it in 2019. It still runs like a champ and works well with the company’s complete app. It’s a great option for someone looking to dive into pellet grills, offering a little more than Traeger’s entry-level Pro Series. The company still sells the original Ironwood even though it updated the model for 2023, and you can get the larger size for $2,000 less than the smallest of the new Timberlines.
Weber Genesis II EPX-335
In 2021, Weber introduced its first smart gas barbecues. After developing the Weber Connect platform for the SmokeFire pellet grills and the Smart Grilling Hub, the company moved its Wi-Fi connected cooking to a more widely used fuel source. Last year, the company refined things a bit with PureBlu high-heat burners, sear zone, side table, expandable cooking grate, and “Nightvision” LED lighting. If the 2022 EPX-335 doesn’t meet your needs, there are other options available in three and four burner configurations with porcelain enamel or stainless steel finishes. Plus, there are both propane and natural gas models, and some have a side burner if you need it.
The main attraction here, of course, is the Weber Connect integration. As with the SmokeFire pellet grills and the Smart Grilling Hub, the technology can guide you through every step of the grilling process. A mix of instructions and videos in the Weber Connect app provides guidance to grillers of all skill levels, right down to when to flip your steak. Plus, the system provides real-time food temperatures and estimated readiness countdowns right on your phone, so you can better time side dishes (and keep the loitering crowd at bay). On its smart gas grills, Weber Connect can also monitor fuel levels so you know when it’s time to switch tanks.
Weber has also introduced a host of accessories that expand the capabilities of its gas grills. The company makes roasting racks, a grill basket, rotisserie items, and a pizza stone. There’s also a griddle that you can use to make everything from breakfast to burgers. And if you want to transform the entire grilling area, Weber has a full-size griddle accessory that does just that.
Ooni pizza ovens
Ooni has built an excellent reputation for its pizza ovens, and rightly so. The company’s equipment is easy to use and helps you make restaurant-quality wood-fired pies at home. The latest oven, the Volt 12, is an electric model that can be used indoors but still has the capacity we’ve come to expect from Ooni. In terms of outdoor ovens only, the Karu 16 can accommodate multiple fuel sources and has room for larger pizzas. Out of the box, this model can burn wood or charcoal, but Ooni sells gas burners for $120 and $150 (propane and natural gas versions).
In addition to its overall size, the Karu 16 also has a few conveniences that set it apart from Ooni’s other ovens. First, a hinged door lets you see what you’re cooking through a glass window. Second, there’s a front-mounted digital thermometer that displays the ambient temperature inside the oven. Like other Ooni pizza cookers, the Karu 16 heats up quickly, reaching a temperature of 950 degrees Fahrenheit in about 15 minutes. And thanks to the larger cooking surface, you can of course also make other things than pizza. If you can tolerate a smaller oven and analog thermometers, the company recently introduced the Karu 12G which still has the glass door, has better fuel economy, and can be outfitted with a gas burner add-on ($100).
Thermoworks Thermapen One
Over the years, a Thermapen has become my most used grilling tool. I rely on it as a sous chef to make sure I cook things to the right temperature, especially chicken. It is a versatile tool on the grill and in the kitchen. The Thermapen One from ThermoWorks is the successor to the hugely popular Thermapen Mk4. This new model shows the temperature very quickly, so you can read it within a second. ThermoWorks also improved accuracy and used a brighter screen than the previous model. An auto-rotating display makes it easy to see the numbers no matter how you hold it, plus an auto-wake and sleep feature to save battery life, and the IP67 rating protects it from accidental spills.
Meat plus
A wireless meat thermometer may seem like overkill when there are so many great (and affordable) wired options available. I was skeptical at first too, but I can assure you it’s well worth the investment not to have to avoid those metal cables when you’re flipping or wrapping a big piece of meat. For the Meater Plus, the Traeger-owned company expanded the Bluetooth range from the original model. Each probe has two sensors, so you can monitor both the internal food temperature and the ambient temperature of your grill. Statistics are sent to the company’s app, and you can set target temperatures, view an estimated completion time, or get help with a cook if you need it.
Anova Precision Hob Nano 3.0
The latest version of Anova’s Precision Cooker Nano still offers sous vide in a compact form factor. It is an updated version of the device that I have been using for a long time, mainly thanks to its accuracy and reliability. The company has traded Bluetooth connectivity for dual-band Wi-Fi, allowing you to move further away from the Nano 3.0. This model also has a two-line touchscreen display, so that time and temperature can be viewed simultaneously. Manual controls are always present here too, if you want to get around the iOS or Android apps. That software provides you with recipes and step-by-step guidance, so even if you have experience with this cooking method, it is good to consult it.
To get the most out of your sous vide setup, you’ll also want to invest in a vacuum sealer. I have the FoodSaver FM2000. It doesn’t have some of the flashy features of more expensive units, but it covers the basics just fine. If you prefer something more robust with options like automatic bag detection, retractable hand sealer, and a dry/moist setting, I recommend the FoodSaver V4400. With both, in addition to sous vide cooking, you can also use them to seal leftovers for the freezer or store other goods you don’t want air around. I’ve also found vacuum-sealed packages useful for reheating things like pulled pork. When you heat up with a sous vide, the meat does not dry out like in the microwave. Sure, you could use Ziploc bags, but I did, and a FoodSaver is worth the investment.
Stanley IceFlow Cups
I would say one of the most important grilling tools is a cold drink. And as the days warm up, plan your drinkware carefully so that your monster cocktail or water supply stays at an ice-cold temperature. I’ve tried a number of insulated aluminum cups over the years, but Stanley has been the best. The company is known for its classic thermos, but its range of cups, bottles, and more are affordable and keep drinks cold for hours.
Stanley has a ton of options that serve as alternatives to popular brands like Yeti, but the IceFlow Tumblers have been my go-to this spring. The larger 30-ounce cup can keep drinks cold for up to 12 hours, while the 20-ounce version can do so for up to seven hours. There’s a sturdy handle and the built-in fold-down straw keeps the drinking area from being exposed to the elements as much. At $25 and $30 each, these are a fraction of the cost of the most expensive options, and they also have better ice retention than some of them.
Brumate Hopsulator Duo and Trio
Brumate’s Hopsulator products are a warm weather essential for me. I originally had one for the beach, but it’s also become a staple of my grilling arsenal. The company’s Hopsulator Trio is a 3-in-1 option that includes 16-ounce cans or 12-ounce cans with a cold insert that you keep in your freezer. It also comes with a lid so you can use it as a travel cup. The Hopsulator Duo doubles as an insulated cup, but it’s designed for 12 ounce cans and doesn’t come with any cooling accessories. In addition, Brumate has a third model for slim cans. So if hard seltzers are more your thing, there’s an option for you too.
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