As one of the non–New York City editors lucky enough to have ample outdoor space, I’ve gotten to know a lot of grilling equipment intimately over the last several years. And one thing I’ve found to be true is that, for the most part, you get what you pay for. A pricier grill usually means better parts, more durability, and, in the long run, is a smarter buy.
So if you want to help your favorite griller (and that griller can be you) level up their outdoor cooking setup, this time of year is a great chance to do that. Black Friday grilling deals are a chance to get those high-quality grills at a discount.
And even if your griller doesn’t need a new smoker or kamado, you can still pick them up some good tools or charcoal that will improve their cooking (and hopefully your eating).
The grills (and griddles and pizza ovens)
There is no grilling without a grill, and there are deals to be had on great heavy-duty kamados, easy-to-use pellet smokers, and an XL griddle that will be your smashburger’s best friend. You can save hundreds of dollars on the brands that regularly top our outdoor cooking rankings, like Weber, Traeger, and Gozney.
The tools
Good spatulas, tongs, brushes, and grill gloves are indispensable parts of an outdoor cooking collection. I’ve tried a lot of them over the years, and I’ve learned a few things about what works best.
When choosing tongs, make sure they’re nice and long. It’ll keep your hands far from the fire and keep your arms from getting toasty while you work. When it comes to grill spatulas, a wider turner is the secret to flipping things like sizable burger patties intact. And as far as gloves go, you don’t need anything fancier than heavy cotton. When I tested them, they performed just as well as “heat-proof” material and were more comfortable to wear.
All are on sale right now, as are collapsible prep tubs from Drip-EZ, which we picked as one of our best new products of the year.
The accessories
Don’t forget the little things that make a grilling session better (and easier, and faster). Things like high-quality charcoal and firestarters are the unsung heroes of the live fire world. They aren’t always the most exciting buys during the holiday season, but they will be so appreciated.
