I love cooking outdoors. Whether I’m using my Zgrills Multitasker for a low and slow cook or smoking some veggies on the Ninja Woodfire grill, I always need my 12 favorite BBQ tools to make the process that much more enjoyable.

This BBQ Prep Tub was a game changer for me. When I prep my meat, I can rub it, baste it, marinade it, cut it up, and store it all with one tool. This DripEZ XL tub also comes with a lid so that you can safely store your meet in the fridge while it soaks up all the flavor of your favorite marinade. If you need something smaller, you can use a collapsible cutting board. These don’t have a lid though, so you’ll need some foil or plastic wrap for that.

To truly ensure that my meat soaks up all the flavor, I use a meat injector. I’ve been using this BBQ Monster syringe kit for a couple years now. The different sizes of needles make this injector suitable for all types of marinades.

I don’t let bad weather keep me from cooking out. When there’s rain or snow in the forecast, I set up my canopy the day before I plan to smoke. I currently use this Ozark Trail 10′ x 10′ straight-leg canopy. The price is affordable, and the canopy is sturdy and durable. If you don’t need the sturdiness of a straight-leg canopy, this Ozark Trail 10′ x 10′ slanted-leg canopy goes on sale often. At the time of this post, it was listed for $39.97. If you don’t have a lot of space, you can go with a classic 8′ x 5′ grill canopy.

Insulated gloves are a must have when cooking with high heat. These heat-resistant gloves were one of the first purchases I made for using my smoker. Other gloves I tried were not insulated enough. These gloves are perfect. Click here! Currently on sale.

Whether I’m using my smoker or propane grill, I often use a smoke maze to get that extra smoky flavor. Using a maze also makes it easier to mix smoke flavors. This pellet maze smoker tray is my preferred maze. The pellets burn evenly and not too fast so that I can leave it burning for hours.

After trying a couple Bluetooth meat thermometers, I found that I need the range of Wi-Fi to monitor my meat temperature. I tried a well-known brand with four probes, and the probes broke within one year of use. The cost to replace the probes was almost as much as I paid for the entire thermometer kit. Thus, I decided to try another affordable brand. I’ve been using this Govee Wi-fi thermometer with four probes for a few months now, and I find the features to be perfect for my needs. The temperature is accurate, and I don’t need to baby sit my meat during a long cook. I can monitor my meat from my cell phone. The price of this thermometer regularly runs under $100, and there is currently a $30 off coupon dropping the price to $59.98.

I love these basting brushes. I like to spread some sauce on my meat while it’s still warm, sometimes it’s still on the smoker or the grill, so I needed brushes that wouldn’t melt. These silicon brushes are great for my needs. Check them out here.

When I take my meat off the smoker, it still needs time to rest before I serve it to my guests. To make sure the meat maintains the moisture and absorbs all of the flavor, I wrap it in butcher paper before sticking it in a cooler to rest. I use this unbleached affordable butcher paper to keep my meat moist and tender.

To ensure that my meat is nice and tender for cutting, pulling, and eating, I let it rest for about an hour after I take it off the smoker. After wrapping my meat in butcher paper, I stick it in a cooler so that it doesn’t cool down too quickly. This Igloo cooler is affordable, currently only $29.99, and just the right size for most meat. Plus, when you’re not smoking, you can take it tailgating.

Even after letting my meat rest, it can still be scorching hot. Thus, I wear heat resistant gloves for handling my meat. I use these mostly when I’m pulling my meat, but these gloves are great tools for handling meat during and after cooks.

Cleaning up the grill is my least favorite part of cooking outdoors, but some tools make the process way more efficient. First of all, a chainmail brush is a must have for any grill or smoker. These clean effectively, last long, and they’re safe. With this brush, you don’t have to worry about any bristles getting into your food.

With a pellet smoker, it’s imperative that you clean out the hopper and auger tube frequently. Otherwise, the auger can get jammed and ruin your entire day and maybe even your smoker motor. Even if you’re just using a propane grill or smoker, you should give it a good cleaning every now and then. I clean out my pellet grill after every cook because I live in a humid climate, so I can’t risk any leftover pellets absorbing moisture. I purchased this Milwaukee cordless vacuum to clean out my grills. Like all Milwaukee tools, this vacuum does it job well, and without a cord, I can easily maneuver it to get my entire grill cleaned.