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The Best Outdoor Cookware

Outdoor cookware promises to expand your grill repertoire and solve common grilling challenges such as handling seafood and vegetables and cooking for crowds. Which gear is worth getting?

By Lisa McManus ･ Published June 26, 2024.

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What You Need to Know

We tested an array of outdoor grill cookware designed to be used on gas and charcoal grills, including flat-top griddles, barbecue rib racks, grill baskets, fish baskets, and more. We found products we recommend and some we don’t; see the chart for details. We’ll update this story as we continue to test more outdoor cookware.

A pan for grilling oysters and seafood (left) and an adjustable-height steel basket (right) both performed well, holding small or delicate foods in place as they cooked.

This grill-basket set included one large and two small perforated stainless-steel deep square trays. They quickly won us over since they were so easy to use.

This sturdy steel rack held five full racks of spare ribs, supporting them so that heat and smoke could circulate and cook them evenly. Large handles made the whole rack easy to lift and turn.

Made of steel and rounded to fit on a charcoal kettle grill, The Little Griddle Kettle Q also worked fine on our favorite three-burner gas grill. We fried eggs, pancakes and bacon, and food browned evenly while the deep trough in front collected grease.

Outdoor cookware promises to eliminate common grilling challenges—such as preventing vegetables from plummeting into the fire and keeping fish intact when you flip it—while expanding your grilling repertoire beyond basic burgers and steaks. We sought innovative, sturdy outdoor cookware that could make grilling a variety of foods easier and more failproof. We tested an assortment of grill cookware designed for different purposes and focused on items that work on most grills, rather than proprietary systems only for particular grill brands. We also made sure that the gear we tested would function on both charcoal and gas grills.

Outdoor grill cookware is an imprecise category, encompassing widely different styles of products. We tested perforated or wire-mesh trays, pans, and baskets that hold food while letting in flavorful smoke; griddles and planchas that create a flattop for short-order cooking and smashburgers; and specialized gear such as a rack for barbecuing several racks of ribs at once and a pan designed for roasting oysters.

We enjoy using our everyday unenameled cast-iron cookware—including skillets, griddles, and Dutch ovens—outside on the grill. For this story, we decided to check out new products designed specifically for outdoor cooking. Here’s what we learned.

What to Look For

Uncoated Metal: Choose uncoated metals such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and plain (not enameled) cast iron, all of which are rugged enough to survive temperatures at the grill surface that can reach 650 degrees, far too high for nonstick coatings.

We chose uncoated stainless-steel and carbon-steel grill cookware, like this stainless griddle. In our experience, grill cookware with nonstick coating is a bad idea. Nonstick coating burns off and degrades at typical grill temperatures, which can exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit at the grill surface, leaving the metal beneath to rust.

Easy Cleanup: Seek gear that fits in the sink for scrubbing or can go in the dishwasher. Choose models with fewer, simpler parts to clean and keep track of.

We washed all the grill cookware we tested, both by hand in the sink and in the dishwasher where possible. Steel grill baskets (left) were easy to clean in the dishwasher and fit neatly with other items.

Big Handles: Maneuvering cookware on and off the grill shouldn’t be a struggle. We loved models that had large, generous handles.

Nice to Have

Removable Handles: We liked grill baskets with handles that came off (and went back on) easily, so we could close the grill lid fully over the basket while keeping the handle clean and cool.

We liked grill baskets that had removable handles that detached easily, so we could close the lid over the basket and reattached without effort for flipping or removing the basket from the grill.

Fits on Rimmed Baking Sheet: Perforated and mesh grill baskets and trays can drip on their way to and from the grill, so we liked when this cookware fit neatly on a rimmed baking sheet. It’s also an easy way to transport grill cookware after cooking, while it’s hot.

Perforated grill cookware that sits neatly on a half-sheet pan made it easy to transport to and from the grill without dripping or when it’s hot to touch.

What to Avoid

Nonstick Coatings: A surprising amount of grill cookware on the market is nonstick-coated, which is a terrible idea. In our testing experience, temperatures near grill grates easily reach 600 degrees or higher, and most nonstick coatings can’t withstand temperatures above 550 degrees before they break down and emit harmful fumes. While it seems like a great idea for easy cleanup, a nonstick coating on a piece of grill cookware is a waste. In previous testing we saw that the coating burned off in the first few uses, and then the cheap metal below began to rust. For this lineup, we chose only products made of uncoated metal.

Rickety Construction: A two-part wire-mesh grill basket that we tested ultimately worked, but it was a struggle to keep the rickety parts together as we flipped food, and we had to do minor repairs on the clamp of its removable handle before we could even use it. It wasn’t just about price; some less expensive gear we tested was more solidly made, with parts that fit together more smoothly.

This wire-mesh basket was rickety, overly complicated, and difficult to clean; it also stuck and ripped off part of the grilled fish.

Complicated Design: Don’t choose grill cookware with too many nooks and crannies; it’s a pain to clean by hand and can hang on to trapped bits of food even after being run through the dishwasher.

Minor Flaws

No Handles: While we could use tongs and grill mitts to maneuver cookware, it was harder when the item had no handles to assist.

The Tests

Barbecue five full racks of ribs in rib rack
Grill oysters in oyster pan; compare to oysters grilled directly on grate
Cook salmon fillets and whole branzino in fish baskets
Grill assorted vegetables and chopped chicken breast in steel perforated trays and baskets
Grill Smashed Burgers, Easy Pancakes, fried eggs, and bacon on flat-top griddles
Wash cookware by hand after each use; put dishwasher-safe models through machine at least twice

How We Rated

Performance: We rated each product on its ability to deliver on its promises to help us successfully grill whatever it was designed for—from vegetables to fish, racks of ribs, oysters or smashburgers, and more—as well as how well the cookware item fit on our top-ranked gas and charcoal grills.
Ease of Use: We assessed how comfortable and easy each product was to transport to the grill and to handle during and after cooking, and how well it held food and in what quantity.
Cleanup/Durability: We considered whether products were easy to clean, either by hand or in the dishwasher, and how well they were constructed for long-term use.

Everything We Tested

Good 3 Stars out of 3.

Fair 2 Stars out of 3.

Poor 1 Star out of 3.

Highly Recommended

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Little Griddle Kettle-Q Stainless Steel BBQ Griddle

This stainless-steel griddle with a handy, tall backstop is an easy, affordable way to turn your regular gas or charcoal grill into a flattop, with room to spare on the grill grate for toasting burger buns. Shaped to fit on a round charcoal kettle grill, it also fit easily on our three-burner gas grill (a rectangular version is also available). Cross-bars underneath lift the griddle off the grill surface, which, along with vented sides, helps hot air circulate so that it heats evenly without hotspots. Food cooked and browned well, including Smashed Burgers and chicken burgers, pancakes, eggs, and bacon. A deep grease trough across the whole front of the griddle captures excess fat, reducing splatters and helping food taste less greasy. This device was easy to handle, cook on, and clean. It’s sturdy and large enough to offer a generous cooking surface, but the whole thing weighs just 7 pounds and fits in the kitchen sink.

Model Number: KQ-17RMaterial(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 14 x 17 x 3.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $65.95

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: KQ-17RMaterial(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 14 x 17 x 3.5 inPrice at Time of Testing: $65.95

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Weber Deluxe Grilling Pan

This sturdy perforated rimmed stainless-steel tray was spacious and easy to use for grilling small items such as chopped vegetables and chunks of chicken breast, which you’d typically have to put on skewers. Food could spread out and brown while picking up good smoky flavor. It wasn’t ideal for grilling a pair of whole branzino, since their skin stuck when we flipped them, though the second side released easily once we got it indoors (we just presented the fish pretty side up). The whole tray fits neatly on a rimmed baking sheet to transport to and from the grill, and it was easy to clean in the dishwasher.

Model Number: 6435Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 17.4 x 11.81 x 1.46 inPrice at Time of Testing: $30.98

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: 6435Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 17.4 x 11.81 x 1.46 inPrice at Time of Testing: $30.98

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Vencino Kitchenware Three-Pack Grill Baskets

This grill-basket set includes one large and two small perforated stainless-steel deep square trays. They quickly won us over since they were so easy to use instead of wrapping food in foil or threading it onto skewers. We tossed all kinds of vegetables into them for grilling, including baby potatoes, chunks of zucchini, chunks of pumpkin, mini peppers, whole ears of corn, whole eggplant, and wedges of cabbage, simply coating food lightly in olive oil, salt, and pepper. Nothing stuck; we used an offset turner to flip food in the baskets, and everything browned and cooked evenly, with pleasant, smoky grill flavor. The three baskets can be used singly or as a group, fitting snugly on our three-burner gas grill. They were easy to grab and transport on a rimmed baking sheet and came clean in the dishwasher; any brownish residue was easy to scrub off with Bar Keeper’s Friend, if desired.

Model Number: n/aMaterial(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 13.7 x 11.8 x 3.75 in (large), 9.75 x 8 x 2.5 in (small)Price at Time of Testing: $35.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: n/aMaterial(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 13.7 x 11.8 x 3.75 in (large), 9.75 x 8 x 2.5 in (small)Price at Time of Testing: $35.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Weber Premium Grilling Rack

This large, sturdy stainless-steel grilling rack is designed to hold five full racks of barbecued ribs upright for cooking at the same time, a quantity that wouldn’t fit lying flat on most grills. It was wide enough to support the long racks of ribs without flopping or slumping. Plenty of space between the upright arches meant heat circulated freely and with room to lean the ribs “bone side down” and then “meat side down” as they cooked. Nothing stuck to the rack, and the bark on the ribs emerged intact; the rack’s simple shape was easy to clean by hand or in the dishwasher. Although it was large, the filled rack fit well inside the grill with the lid down. We loved how evenly and thoroughly all the ribs cooked. Huge handles on each end made it simple to grab and rotate the whole rack periodically throughout cooking and to transfer the whole rack full of ribs to a rimmed baking sheet for transport. If you cook for crowds, this is a great device.

Model Number: 6469Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 17.1 x 10.5 x 4.4 inPrice at Time of Testing: $29.49

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: 6469Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 17.1 x 10.5 x 4.4 inPrice at Time of Testing: $29.49

This beautiful carbon-steel griddle, or plancha, from the Weber Crafted line of products is meant to be used with a Weber Crafted frame kit and grates in place of regular grill grates, which hold interchangeable Crafted cookware, including this griddle, a wok, and more, all sold separately. We skipped the frame kit (about $170.00 for our Weber Spirit II E-310 gas grill) and simply placed this plancha-style griddle on top of our regular grates. It worked fine. Constructed of thick, sturdy, uncoated carbon steel, it must be seasoned before use, which takes a few hours but isn't difficult. Weber warns to keep the heat below 500 degrees or risk burning off seasoning—not difficult to do on gas, but this needs some care with charcoal. (Seasoning is renewable, so any damage isn’t permanent.) Once seasoned, it released food without sticking, and because carbon steel transmits heat well, food browned beautifully. We grilled crisp, lacy Smashed Burgers (toasting buns on the grate beside the griddle) and fried eggs, bacon, and pancakes. We had one quibble, that the drainage hole is just 1¾ x ⅜ in, so bacon fat pooled on the surface; we had to push it down the hole. Fat drips down into the grill (the Crafted frame has no grease-catcher, either). Remember to empty the grill’s grease trap frequently. After use, you can clean and reseason the 15-pound griddle in place, but we also hauled it indoors to the sink and then dried, oiled, and heated it in the oven. It takes some effort and dedication to use, but if you’re up for this, the cooking results are excellent.

Model Number: 7672Material(s): Carbon steelDimensions: 16.3 x 15.8 x 1 inPrice at Time of Testing: $99.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: 7672Material(s): Carbon steelDimensions: 16.3 x 15.8 x 1 inPrice at Time of Testing: $99.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Braize Stainless Steel Adjustable Grill Basket

This roomy steel grid–style grill basket has a clever feature. Its adjustable lid can be set in four positions depending on the thickness (or quantity) of the food you’re cooking. We grilled a mix of hearty chopped vegetables and whole boneless chicken breasts at the highest setting, a fillet of salmon at a lower setting, and a whole fish at a medium setting, and each type of food stayed in place without being squashed or flopping around—so we could flip the whole basket with ease. Salmon skin on the fillet stuck to the grid and came off neatly with the lid; generous oiling is recommended. The basket’s open stainless-steel grid was just wide enough to admit smoky flavor but narrow enough to contain small vegetables. A sturdy removable handle was fairly simple to attach or detach while grilling. The whole basket fit easily on a rimmed baking sheet for transport. While the steel became brown with use, it cleaned easily in the dishwasher without taking up much more space than a large plate. A carry/storage bag is included.

Model Number: BRZ-005Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 16 x 7.25 x 2.25 inPrice at Time of Testing: $38.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: BRZ-005Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 16 x 7.25 x 2.25 inPrice at Time of Testing: $38.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

The Oyster Bed Le Petite Grill Pan

When oysters roast on the grill, their shells pop open, putting flavorful juices at risk of spilling. You can simply set unopened oysters right on the grill grate to cook, but keeping them upright and removing them from the grill without tipping is tricky. Enter the Oyster Bed. This pretty, oyster-shaped pan holds six oysters in (or out of) their shells, keeping them steady in oval cavities while they’re grill-roasting, with channels to capture errant juices. A larger cavity at the end can hold a few more oysters, other seafood, or melted butter and sauces for dipping. You can also chill the pan to serve oysters raw on the half-shell. The pan works as promised, though we found that it insulated oysters so that they cooked more slowly than oysters sitting directly on the grate. We did find it easy to cook and serve from the pan, and washing it by hand took seconds; it’s not dishwasher-safe. A larger size with cavities for 12 oysters is available.

Model Number: “Le Petite”Material(s): AluminumDimensions: 14.5 x 9.25 x 1.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $75.00

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: “Le Petite”Material(s): AluminumDimensions: 14.5 x 9.25 x 1.75 inPrice at Time of Testing: $75.00

Not Recommended

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Outset Chef’s Jumbo Outdoor Grill Basket

A pair of steel-mesh skillets—one deep, one shallow—that can fit together and form a covered grill basket to make tossing and turning food easy seemed like a great concept, but it was sloppily executed here. The baskets don’t really fit together except by weaving the helper handles together and constantly squeezing hard on the pair of removable main handles to keep the two baskets conjoined. One of the removable handles arrived with a jammed clamp that we had to repair before we could use it. The baskets were a bit too oversized and awkward when used together, though we liked tossing and flipping food such as chopped vegetables without a spatula or tongs. While they could go in the dishwasher, the mesh baskets took up a good deal of space and were fussy to scrub by hand.

Model Number: 76450Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 23 x 12 x 6 inPrice at Time of Testing: $37.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: 76450Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 23 x 12 x 6 inPrice at Time of Testing: $37.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Weber Large Grilling Basket

This flexible metal basket, which looks and feels like mattress springs in a frame, is marketed as a “fish basket,” but the manufacturer claims that it can be used for other foods. Small vegetables would fall out of the large, looping coils, so we grilled salmon fillets and, later, whole branzino with lemon halves, laying the fish in and snapping the basket closed. The basket held food securely, but it was both too flat and too tight, so metal springs dug into the fish, left a deep imprint, and tore our fish fillet. It was a bit difficult to remove food. The open weave allowed for good smoky flavor, but with low, curved handles on its short sides right next to the grate, it was easier to use tongs to flip the basket. The basket didn’t fit on a rimmed baking sheet and slid around as we tried to transport it. It also was too long to fit from front to back in our gas grill; the lid couldn’t close all the way unless we turned it horizontally, where it consumed most of the available cooking space, meaning we couldn’t cook anything else alongside the main course. Cleanup was harder than it should have been, since coils snagged bits of fish and skin that didn’t come out even after it went through the dishwasher. While this basket wasn’t completely terrible, there are better choices

Model Number: 6471Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 16 x 10 x 1 inPrice at Time of Testing: $47.99

Performance
Ease Of Use
Cleanup / Durability

Model Number: 6471Material(s): Stainless steelDimensions: 16 x 10 x 1 inPrice at Time of Testing: $47.99

*All products reviewed by America’s Test Kitchen are independently chosen, researched, and reviewed by our editors. We buy products for testing at retail locations and do not accept unsolicited samples for testing. We list suggested sources for recommended products as a convenience to our readers but do not endorse specific retailers. When you choose to purchase our editorial recommendations from the links we provide, we may earn an affiliate commission. Prices are subject to change.

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The mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. Have a question or suggestion? Send us an email at atkreviews@americastestkitchen.com. We appreciate your feedback!

The Expert

byLisa McManus

Executive Editor, ATK Reviews

Lisa is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, and gadget expert on TV's America's Test Kitchen.

Lisa McManus is an executive editor for ATK Reviews, cohost of Gear Heads on YouTube, host of Cook's Illustrated's Equipment Review videos, and a cast member—the gadget expert—on TV's America's Test Kitchen. A passionate home cook, sometime waitress, and longtime journalist, she graduated from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism and worked at magazines and newspapers in New York and California before returning like a homing pigeon to New England. In 2006 she got her dream job at ATK reviewing kitchen equipment and ingredients and has been pretty thrilled about it ever since. Her favorite thing is to go somewhere new and find something good to eat.

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What You Need to Know

What to Look For

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