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The 5 best grill baskets of 2024, tested and reviewed
The Proud Grill cooks food evenly, has a stay-cool handle, and moveable dividers, making it — as the name suggests ��� quite versatile.
What we like
- Enough surface area with large enough holes to result in smoke-kissed flavor
- Easy to clean
- Can cook different foods at the same time thanks to the dividers
What we don’t like
- Moving the dividers can be tricky
Right out of the box, we swooned at the look of this grill basket. It's sleek and sturdy and the moveable dividers make it very practical.
It only took a few seconds to snap the handle into place and arrange the dividers in a way that allowed me to add fish on one side and vegetables on the other. Thanks to the dividers, I was able to stir the vegetables several times without disturbing the fish. The fish cooked in a few minutes and I was able to easily remove it from the grill while the vegetables continued cooking.
The stainless-steel surface area is wide and the holes are large enough that all the finished food was evenly charred. The basket — or maybe more accurately, high-sided tray — was easy to move around on the grill top and fit on both round and rectangular grills.
Cleanup was also a snap. The basket cools quickly, the handle detaches with ease, and the whole thing fits into both full-sized and portable dishwashers.
If you're not looking to spend more than $20, this 12-cup capacity, no-fuss grill basket gets the job done.
What we like
- Slats allow for quick cooking when food is arranged in a single layer
- Large capacity (14 cups)
- Flared sides makes it easy to cook with
What we don’t like
- Limited surface area hinders versatility
- Doesn't cook evenly without stirring
This wok-style square basket with curved handles has excellent heat and air circulation. Its flared edges make it easy to cook with, and (with something underneath to catch any juices) it can go right onto the table for family-style meals.
At less than half the price of our top choice, this basket is not as adaptable as the other baskets. It has limited surface area, so unless you're cooking a very small batch of food, you'll need to stir the food frequently to get charring.
That said, with some finesse, the slots create great grill marks for vegetables and fish. We also tested the grill pan in a smoker, using it to cook tomatillos, sliced onions, and tomatoes. After 15 minutes, they became the perfect base for a smoky pureed salsa. The pan is compatible with most standard grills and smokers. If you don't grill very often and don't want to make an investment, this is your choice.
Ideal for stir-frying, this high-sided, Made-in-America grill basket cleans up like a dream.
What we like
- Easy to clean
- Ideal for low-fat cooking and delicate fish
What we don’t like
- Can't use metal utensils
- Doesn't brown as well
This grill basket has a similar design to the Cave Tools basket, but it's nonstick. The easy-to-clean surface is ideal for low-fat cooking, delicate seafood, and anything else prone to sticking. The trade-off is that you will need to use silicone or other heat-resistant tongs and spatulas to avoid damaging the nonstick surface. We noticed that browning isn't as pronounced as with stainless baskets.
It's easy to store and cooks fish and vegetables quickly. The airflow is enough that our vegetables cooked evenly and the fish was done in five minutes. The sloped sides make arranging, flipping and stirring a snap.
Perfect for anyone with a smaller grill or limited space, this three-piece set includes a grill pan, vegetable basket, and grill basket that each can make enough food for two, or used all together, enough for six.
What we like
- Three sizes to choose from
- Lightweight enough for traveling and camping
- Can. fit multiple baskets on one grill
What we don’t like
- Too small for a crowd
When you don't have a lot of space, either because your grill is small or you just have a lot of other food already on the BBQ, this grill basket trio is the perfect solution. With three small options in a range of shapes, the Yukon Glory set is great for keeping things tidy on an already crowded grill. Each basket can hold enough food for two to three people.
This lightweight set is also portable enough for camping trips and beach fires; the baskets are durable, heat evenly, and cool quickly. Each basket also cleans up easily in the dishwasher or in the sink.
The classic work-horse, this cast-iron grill basket gives large amounts of vegetables the most beautiful sear and char.
What we like
- Restaurant quality sear on vegetables
- Durable and can survive drops and flames
- Works on grills and open flames
What we don’t like
- Heavy
- Requires maintenance
The unique tear-drop holes and pre-seasoned cast iron make this pan a substantial choice for getting a restaurant-quality sear on all your vegetables. It's also our top choice for making fajitas and chicken wings.
Like all cast-iron, this grill pan needs to be washed and dried thoroughly to prevent rusting, and maintain the nonstick seasoning. The heavy pan performs best when preheated on the hottest part of the grill and then moved to the side. It retains heat so well that you can get a hearty sear even over indirect heat.
Thanks to its handles and ability to withstand high temperatures, this grill basket should be your go-to when cooking over a fire pit and want to put the pan directly on red hot coals. Cast iron can also be cleaned with just some salt and a bit of scrubbing, which makes it convenient for cat camping where running water might not be available.
To find the best grill baskets, we tested 12 models. I have years of experience as a professional chef and cooking instructor. In addition to leaning on my own expertise, I invited two local caterers and some amateur family members to help evaluate the grill baskets. I also reached out to grilling experts for additional insight. Overall, we looked for:
Ease of use: We focused on whether the basket was easy to open, set up, use, and lift. We read the manufacturer's directions and recommendations for any limitations and preheating requirements and double-checked whether the handles were heatproof.
Size and shape: We tested various grill pans with different shapes, sizes and materials to determine which was the most versatile and user-friendly. The designs included grill trays, wok-style baskets, rectangles, squares and round shapes.
Cooking: To test the baskets, we grilled 1-inch thick filets of cod cooked to 145 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as asparagus, sliced zucchini, and bell peppers. Our goal was to cook the food properly and evenly, with the expectation of some charring, grill marks, and smoke flavor.
Cleaning: When we were finished cooking, we cleaned each grill pan based on the manufacturer's directions, either by hand in the sink or in the dishwasher.
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Disclosure: Written and researched by the Insider Reviews team. We highlight products and services you might find interesting. If you buy them, we may get a small share of the revenue from the sale from our partners. We may receive products free of charge from manufacturers to test. This does not drive our decision as to whether or not a product is featured or recommended. We operate independently from our advertising team. We welcome your feedback. Email us at reviews@businessinsider.com.
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