We all know that anything to do with fire has some dangers and risks, including cooking and grilling. If you love barbecuing, you’ve probably been burned a time or two by now. For your safety (and that of your family as well), it is best to take extra precautions while working with the grill. Buy gear that will protect you or reduce the chance of getting burned by heat.

Here are some essential grilling tools for safety that you should buy:

Spatula and long-handled tongs

A good spatula has an offset handle to easily slide it under food on the grill. You can choose a silicone or metal one, but be sure to choose a long-handled spatula to keep your hands away from the heat of the grill.

The same goes for flip flops. Choose a long, spring-loaded handle. Tongs are a better choice than forks when cooking meat, as the forks pierce the meat and release its juices.

Oven mitts or oven mitts

It is your hands that are always very close to the heat when you are cooking on the grill, so it makes sense that they are the most protected. Invest in good quality grill mitts or mitts (not the ones you use in your kitchen!) that are specifically designed for grilling.

There are a variety of materials you can choose from: some use heavy-duty cotton, fire-retardant fabrics, leather, and so on. Choose one that is large and hits close to the elbow.

grill brush

When it comes to grilling safety, we don’t just mean dealing with heat and fire. Food safety is also included. To ensure that the food you serve is sanitary and healthy, always clean your grill grates with a good quality grill brush before and after cooking.

Remove grease and food debris regularly; this will also prevent outbreaks that are dangerous.

meat thermometer

Speaking of food safety, you don’t want to make anyone sick by serving them undercooked meat. When grilling meat, always use a food thermometer to make sure the food is cooking well, not over or undercooked.

Insert the instant read thermometer through the thickest part of the meat, away from the bone for an accurate reading.

grill light

A grill light is a tool that all grillers should invest in. It makes grilling at night so much easier – you’ll be able to see if your food is cooking well and you’ll be able to move around and cook safely with adequate lighting.

Compared to using flashlights, grill lights allow you to cook hands-free, so you can focus on cooking.

For an overall safer grilling experience, invest in these essential grilling tools that promote safety.