Elevate Your Veggie Grilling: Essential Grill Accessories for Vegetables

Grilling is not just for meat. It is also an excellent way to cook mouth watering vegetables. Grilling veggies elevates their flavors, transforming even the humblest of veggies into something exquisite.

But to achieve perfectly grilled vegetables, you have to do two things: fine-tune your technique and have the right grilling accessories on hand. Having the right tools makes handling the vegetables easy so you can get the results you’re looking for.

But what tools do you need? I’m glad you asked! Here are the essential grill accessories for vegetables at every step of the process.

The Prepping Phase

Vegetable Baskets

These handy wire baskets come in various shapes and sizes and are an easy way to keep smaller vegetables from falling through the grill grates.

They allow for even cooking thanks to the balanced heat transfer, and flipping a lot of veggies at once is super easy. With the right basket and know-how, you can get the perfect flavor and char.

Vegetable baskets are great for smaller vegetables. For example, bell peppers, zucchini, asparagus, mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, and cubed potatoes.

If you want ideas for the best vegetable grill baskets, check out the Grillaholics grill basket.

Grilling Skewers

Like grilling baskets, grilling skewers make handling smaller vegetables easy. Skewers prevent the vegetables from falling through the grill grates and enable easy flipping, but they take a little more time to prep than a basket.

Grill skewers come in different materials, lengths, and thicknesses. Wooden skewers are budget-friendly and easily disposable. They also add a cool rustic vibe. On the downside, they aren’t reusable and are prone to breaking.

Metallic skewers cost a little more, but they are reusable and durable. They can get pretty hot and require careful handling, though, so be careful. In terms of length and thickness, the size you need depends on your grilling needs.

Long skewers give you more space to load up your vegetables, while shorter skewers are easier to handle. As for thickness, 1/4 to 3/8-inch diameter works well. Flat skewers are a little better for control when turning.

Enhancing the Grilling Process

Grill Mats

These non-stick mats give a clean cooking surface for your veggies and prevent sticking. You place them right on the grilling grates, creating a barrier between the heat source and the vegetables.

A grill mat is especially useful for delicate vegetables, like smaller or chopped veggies that might fall through the grates but aren’t quite big rough for a skewer. The mat also distributes heat evenly so you veggies cook evenly.

Smoker Box or Wood Chips

Adding wood chips or using a smoker box gives your grilled veggies a truly unique flavor. Which is right for you depends on your type of grill.

A smoker box is a dedicated grill accessory for holding wood chips or pellets. It gives you a lot of control over the flavor, letting you regulate airflow and, consequently, the level of smokiness. Most gas, electric, and charcoal grills have a built-in smoker box. Those that do not typically have a provision for one.

Wood chips are, well, wood chips soaked in water and added directly to the grill. They are extremely affordable and easy to use. There is also a wide variety of flavors to choose from, so you can get creative with your flavor combinations.

Mastering the Flip and Toss

Long Handled Tongs

Tongs are a must-have for any grill master. Invest in tongs with extended handles to safely and easily flip veggies without risking a burn.

Grilling involves high heat, and the extended handles keep your hands safe. They also give you access to every corner of the grill, so you can make sure all of your veggies are turned at the right time to ensure even cooking.

Grill Spatula

A wide, flat spatula is good for turning larger veggies like portobello mushrooms and eggplants. Find a spatula made with a sturdy and durable material such as stainless steel.

The handle should be strong enough to resist bending or breaking under high heat or heavy weight of vegetables. A long handle is another important feature because it lets you safely handle the veggies on the hot grill from a distance.

Safety and Control

Instant Read Thermometer

Different vegetables have different cooking times, depending on their size, texture, and temperature. The surest way to confirm if the vegetables are well done is to check their internal temperature.

This is especially crucial for larger vegetables like potatoes and beets, which tend to cook unevenly, leaving the inside raw or undercooked. There are few things worse than cutting into a potato and finding that the inside is still raw; a thermometer is a sure-fire way to prevent this.

Grill Gloves

Grill gloves are a must-have to protect your hands and arms from the heat. They’re heat-resistant and allow you to handle hot grill accessories and food confidently without risking burns and blisters.

Go for gloves with a high heat resistance. You want something that is easy to clean that gives you a firm grip so hot items don’t slip from your hands. They should be at least cuff-length to protect your wrists and arms. A longer cuff is better for a large grill, smoker, or cooking over an open flame.

Presentation and Serving After Grilling Vegetables

Grill Basket or Platter

A dedicated basket or platter keeps grilled vegetables organized, and it’s an attractive way to present your grilled masterpieces. Platters are excellent for serving your grilled vegetables and help retain heat, keeping the vegetables warmer for longer. Most are dishwasher-safe for easy cleanup.

Basting Brush

Apply flavorful marinades or glazes to vegetables using a basting brush. This goes a long way to enhance their taste and appearance. A silicone basting brush does an excellent job of evenly applying sauce, seasonings, olive oil, or marinades on your vegetables when grilling.

Cleaning Accessories: Maintenance Matters

Cleaning your grill and all the accessories after each use is key to making them last longer and making sure your food always tastes as delicious as possible. Some essential cleaning accessories for grills include brushes and scrapers.

When picking a grill scraper, you have to consider the material your grill is made of. Using the wrong scraper can cause significant damage to your grill.

For example, stainless steel brushes are good for a cast-iron grill grate, but they scratch a porcelain-coated grate. If you have a porcelain-coated grate, use nylon or brass bristles instead.

Conclusion

From prep to presentation, the right veggie grill accessories can make all the difference in your outdoor grilling. They do everything from enabling you to safely handle the veggies over high heat to helping you achieve the results you want every time.

I covered accessories for just about every step of the grilling process. Want something to make grilling large amounts of veggies easier? Try a grill basket, skewers, or a grilling mat.

Want to take your flavors to the next level? Try a silicone basting brush to add marinade while you’re grilling. If you’re really ready to try something new, go with a smoker box or wood chips to add a complex, smokey flavor.

If you have a hard time flipping veggies, go for some long-handled tongs or a wide grill spatula. Grill gloves protect you when working over high heat.

If you want protection against undercooked food, grab yourself a food thermometer. And don’t forget the cleaning brush and scrapers. Having a clean grill is the first step to making an amazing meal.