I love Ina Garten’s cookbooks and videos, and I’m also a big-time fan of grilling. You might not be surprised, then, to learn that I recently went down a YouTube rabbit hole and watched a ton of her grilling videos. (This riveting steak cook-off against her husband, Jeffrey, is premium entertainment.) Besides emerging with a powerful hunger for smoky ribs and butter-topped filet mignon, I also learned a lot about the tools she relies on to make her stunning food. If you’ve ever wanted to grill like Ina — or if you simply love trying out new grilling tools — read on for some of my takeaways.
Ina Garten’s Favorite Grilling Tools
- Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill, $289, originally $339
- Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet, $25
- Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife, $170
- OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs, $16, originally $18
- John Boos R-Board Series Maple Cutting Board, $95
- Taylor Instant Read Analog Meat Thermometer, $10
- Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter, $25, originally $28
- Henckels Forged Accent 9-Piece Barbecue Carving Tools Set, $120, originally $150
Weber Master-Touch Charcoal Grill
Amazon
In many of her grilling videos, Ina can be seen firing up a classic Weber charcoal grill. It looked like she was using the Weber Master-Touch, which has powerful features, like a 1-touch cleaning system to quickly swipe away ash, hooks for hanging grill tools, and even a built-in lid thermometer. As a longtime Weber kettle fan (and just a huge fan of Weber in general), I can confidently say that with this grill, you’ll achieve big, smoky flavors in no time.
Lodge 10.25-Inch Cast Iron Skillet
Amazon
When Ina competed against Jeffrey in a steak-cooking contest, he made his on the grill outside, and she used a cast iron skillet indoors. (Spoiler alert: Ina won, obviously.) Cast iron skillets are incredible tools for many things: You can use them on a stove or in the oven, but also on a grill or over a campfire. They’re easy to use and clean, and Lodge makes one of our favorites. (It’s quite affordable, too.)
Wüsthof Classic 8-Inch Chef’s Knife
Amazon
I recently noticed that Ina uses a Wüsthof chef’s knife in a lot of her cookbooks and videos. There’s a more budget-friendly version of this knife currently on sale at Amazon, but if you want to go full Barefoot Contessa and get the exact same one as she has, this is it. What makes the Classic version of the chef’s knife superior is that it has full tang construction, meaning that the stainless steel is one long, sturdy piece that goes the length of the knife (as opposed to a shorter blade attached to a wood handle). It has a triple-riveted handle with an ergonomic handle for easy slicing, dicing, and chopping.
OXO Good Grips 12-Inch Stainless Steel Locking Tongs
Amazon
Like any good griller, Ina is always using durable stainless steel kitchen tongs to move things on and off the grill, or flip them. If you’re cooking up some tender ribs, brisket, or even some juicy steaks, you want to use tools you can depend on, and OXO’s tongs will not disappoint. I couldn’t tell which pair she used in her videos, but it looks like this one.
John Boos R-Board Series Maple Cutting Board
Amazon
Ina is a well-known fan of Boos Blocks, and sure enough, they pop up all the time in her videos. A colleague pointed out that he saw this specific board in a video. Boos cutting boards are great for grilling because they’re thick and heavy, making them an ideal surface for trimming proteins and carving up meat and vegetables.
Taylor Instant-Read Analog Meat Thermometer
Amazon
In the video where Jeffrey is cooking a steak on the grill, he’s using a version of this exact analog meat thermometer from Taylor. It’s old-school, dependable, and only $10. Speaking from experience, you’ll feel like a real pro if you opt for one of these. If you want another chef-loved option that’s digital (and the No. 1 bestselling meat thermometer on Amazon), grab the Alpha Grillers meat thermometer instead.
Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Amazon
If you’re using charcoal (which you should), don’t ruin it with lighter fluid — that can bring chemicals and astringent flavors into your food. Instead, let physics work its magic by grabbing a chimney starter, which creates an incredibly hot, controlled batch of charcoal quickly. Plus, you feel like a real boss dumping one of these into a kettle.
Henckels Forged Accent 9-Piece Barbecue Carving Tools Set
Amazon
Another tool Ina uses frequently to turn and lift larger pieces of meat is a classic, old-fashioned carving fork. Honestly, it’s a pretty genius move (and it looks really cool). You’ll probably already have one out if you’re carving some ribs, turkey, ham, or even grilled cauliflower. This whole set from German knife legend Henckels is a great deal, but if you only need a carving knife and fork, I recommend this incredible option from Made In.
