Herb Basting Brushes, a Myriad of Spatulas, and More: These Are the Grilling Essentials Martha Says Are Mandatory

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Whether you're a rookie on the barbecue or a seasoned pro, having the right tools handy is essential when grilling at home. It's no surprise that Martha, a master of the grill in her own right, always has the best utensils on hand when she decides to fire up her BBQ. In the above clip from a vintage on-air episode of the Martha Stewart Show, our founder gives us the scoop on which tools she uses to serve up steak, sliders, and more in her own backyard.

Stainless Steel Tongs

For a sturdy pair of tongs that won't get too hot to the touch while you're grilling, Martha says to look for stainless steel options with a long handle, like the Martha Stewart Collection Stainless Steel Tongs ($22, macys.com). She also recommends designating one pair for meat, another for fish, and one for vegetables, so the juices and seasonings don't transfer or mix.

Several Spatulas

Our founder notes that a standard spatula with a long wooden handle, like the Rosewood 21-Inch Stainless Steel BBQ Spatula ($11.99, bbqguys.com), that doesn't conduct heat is essential for flipping veggies on a grill. However, she says you will also need wide slotted iteration, such as the Outset Slotted Fish Turner Grill Spatula ($16.95, wayfair.com) for handling delicate foods like fish, as as well as for turning longer cuts of meat. Last but certainly not least, a smaller, narrow slotted spatula, like the Cuisinart Slotted Turner in Stainless Steel ($7.95, bedbathandbeyond.com), makes turning over burgers and sausage patties seamless.

Basting Brushes

To brush butter onto meats and veggies without burning your hands, stock up on a wooden basting brush with a curved head, like the Handy Housewares Jumbo Barbecue BBQ Angled Basting Brushes with Extra-Long Handles ($7.99, etsy.com), notes Martha. For marinating and rubbing sauces onto meats, seafood, and vegetables, she recommends a good old-fashioned mop brush, like the Better Grillin' Basting Mop ($3.99, homedepot.com).

DIY Herb Brushes

Ensure your leg of lamb is bursting with flavor by constructing your own herb brush out of fresh thyme or rosemary, our grilling guru suggests. This way, if the brush becomes slightly burned as you're basting over the open flame, it will still taste like fresh herbs—not burnt bristles.

Grill Basket

To stir fry veggies on your grill without the need for fat, Martha says to look no further than an enameled grill basket, like the Char-Broil Grilling Topper Set in Black ($19.99, target.com); it's an unexpected essential that you will use over and again (and wonder what you ever did without it!).

Long-Handled Fork

While some experts say to stay clear of forks when grilling steaks, Martha likes them; she says that it is smart to have one with a long-handle, like Baseball BBQ's "Forkball" Fork ($24.99, bbqguys.com) on hand in case you need to pick up a piece of meat in a pinch. Just remember to pierce it at the tip of the cut, and not the center, so it stays nice and juicy on the grill.

Metal Skewers

Metal skewers that conduct heat, like this 12-piece set from Crate & Barrel ($9.95, crateandbarrel.com) can help cook kebabs both inside and out. If you don't have metal options, Martha says bamboo ones will work fine, so long as you soak them in warm water for 30 minutes beforehand to prevent them from burning.

Cleaning Tools

For post-barbecue clean-up, Martha relies on an abrasive brass-bristle brush, like the Grillaholics Pro Brass Grill Brush ($22.95, amazon.com), which can quickly loosen baked-on debris and build-up without damaging the grates. To clean harder-to-reach nooks and crannies, she recommends using a brass bristle brush with a built-in scraper, such as the Rosewood 3-in-1 Grill Brush ($16.09, homedepot.com), which can also be used to clean the very bottom of your grill.