You might think that grilling up your favorite veggies, fish, or thin slices of meat is always going to be a challenge on a grill, but then, you would be wrong. To help keep these delicacies from slipping through your grill grates, you simply need to make sure that you have the best grill basket at your disposal. Luckily, this page is exactly where you’ll find the most remarkable models the market currently offers.
Not all grill baskets are the same. You need to make sure that you look for a model that is made to be durable and, preferably, out of stainless steel. You also need to look for models, as we did, that is made for the right kinds of food. Some models are just for fish or veggies, while others are great for lots of different kinds of food. We also made sure to give you options that have non-stick grates that are easy to clean. We also found a few models that can double as a skillet, which only serves to make it even more useful.
More features: dishwasher safe; triple-reinforced corners
This is a high-capacity grill basket that is good for any style of grill. It is made with dishwasher safe stainless steel and features reinforced corners for added durability. This model is designed to be used with shrimp, vegetables, and diced meat.
What we liked: There is a lot to like about this grill basket, but perhaps its best feature is its large capacity. This is an exceptionally deep basket, making it good for thicker cuts of meat or seafood. This model also is quite durable. It is built out of stainless steel and has triple reinforced corners to help it stay together for years to come.
Another nice feature of this model is the fact that it is completely dishwasher safe. While many other baskets need to be cleaned by hand, you can simply throw this one into your dishwasher on the top shelf and get it nice and clean with minimal work. Even if you do decide to wash this basket by hand, you won’t have any trouble keeping it clean. The holes are large enough to keep food from slipping into them and getting stuck, which makes it that much easier to scrub out and wash.
What could be better: There is a lot to like about this grill basket. From its dishwasher safe, durable design to its high capacity, this is a great model. The handles, however, leave a bit to be desired. These handles are quite thin and somewhat hard to grasp, especially in oven mitts because of their thin design.
More features: fits Weber Q 300 and larger gas grills, 18-1/2-inch and larger charcoal grills
This slim style grill basket is designed with charcoal or gas grills in mind. It works well with bigger grills due to its larger size. The mesh grates are stretchy, and the basket can be locked. This basket is best suited for fish or vegetables.
What we liked: When it comes to grills, there is not a bigger name out there than Weber. They have been making excellent grilling options for decades, so it should be no surprise that this grill basket is so high on our list. This is a very wide model, which makes it perfect for larger Weber grills, or any grills for that matter, regardless if they are gas or charcoal.
This model is perfect for cooking fish. It has mesh grates that allow the fish to be held snugly inside of the basket. This will help to keep the fish from falling apart, even when you are flipping it over or removing it from the grill. These grates also work well with vegetables as well.
Despite the fact that the grates on this model are metal mesh, they are extremely durable. The handles are also quite well-made, which should allow you to use this basket for a good long time.
What could be better: This is an awesome grill basket for fish or vegetables, as long as they are sliced thin. The narrow depth of this model makes it very difficult to keep it closed if you are using thicker slices of meat, which is why it is so perfect for use with filets of fish.
More features: can be used as a skillet, a deep basket, or a grill basket with a lid
This grill basket is both wide and deep, which provides for a large capacity. It comes equipped with a long handle and lockable lid. This model can be used as a grill basket, skillet, or deep fry basket. It is best suited to be used with vegetables, poultry, fish, beef/pork, and shrimp.
What we liked: Versatility is the name of the game when it comes to this grill basket. Not only can it be used as a grill basket, but it can also be utilized as a deep-fry basket or as a skillet. This makes it a great all-around option for someone that loves to make lots of different types of food.
Something else that makes this a great option is its large capacity. Unlike many different grill baskets, this one is shaped more like a pot. This deeper design allows you to fit more food inside than you might have otherwise, which is always a plus if you have a lot of mouths to feed. The lockable lid and durable design are also great attributes for this model.
What could be better: While this is one of the highest capacity grill baskets on the market, that larger than average size comes with a price. With this model, you will not be able to close your grill while you are cooking unless you have a very large grill. This could cause the cooking time to extend a bit longer since you will not be able to retain as much heat as normal.
More features: elongated heat-resistant handle; non-stick
This smaller than average grill basket is made with durable stainless steel that is coated in non-stick materials. It has a heat resistant elongated handle. It is best suited for fish, seafood, and vegetables due to its thin profile.
What we liked: If you are just starting to get started using your grill and are not sure if you need a grill basket or not, then this is an awesome option. It is fairly priced, which makes it a sound investment for a beginner. It is also a great option thanks to its durability and how easy it is to clean. The wide grates are coated in a non-stick material, which makes cleanup a breeze. The lid can also be locked into position, which will keep all of your food exactly where you want it, making this a good choice for seafood.
Another fine point is its extra-long handle. This handle makes it very easy to stay clear of the heat from your grill due to its length. The handle is also heat-resistant, which should allow you to handle it pretty easily with mitts without having to worry about getting a burn.
What could be better: The handle on this basket is a really nice touch, as long as you can use two hands to hold it. Since the handle is so long, it moves the center of gravity towards the basket, especially when it is full. This can make it a bit unwieldy when you are moving your food onto or off of your grill.
More features: non-stick; suitable for steaming
This grill basket has a high capacity thanks to its open-top design. It is crafted with stainless steel, which is coated in a non-stick material. This grill basket can also be used as a vegetable steamer. It is best suited for vegetables, fish, and poultry.
What we liked: One of the best ways to prepare vegetables is to grill them. Unfortunately, they can easily slip through the grates, which is why a basket like this one is so handy to have. It is nice and wide and plenty deep, which will allow you to easily pile in your favorite vegetables. This model also doubles as a steamer, which is another great way to unlock the flavor of vegetables. You can also use it for cooking fish or poultry as well.
This stainless-steel grill basket is also quite durable. The handles are well made, as is the frame that the grates are attached to. These grates are then covered in a non-stick coating, which makes for relatively easy cleanup each and every time.
What could be better: The good thing about this grill basket is that it is non-stick, which allows you to clean off 95% of any food or grease very quickly and very easily. That last 5%, however, can be quite the problem. Thanks to the smaller than average holes, small bits of food can become lodged, which takes a bit of work to get back out.
More features: detachable and adjustable handle; lockable grate
This high-capacity grill basket is equipped with a lockable grate. It also features an adjustable and detachable handle, which allows it to be used on lots of different grill types and sizes. This model is best suited to be used with fish, veggies, meat, and shrimp.
What we liked: If you are looking for a grill basket that can be used on lots of different grills, then this is the right model. Thanks to its removable and adjustable handle, you can easily fit this basket on pretty much any size grill, regardless of the need to be used with the lid open or closed. This versatility makes this an excellent option if you are traveling since grills might be different sizes at each of your stops.
Since this model is built for travel, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it is made out of high-quality 430 stainless steel. This makes it very durable and less likely to get bent during your travels. The lockable grate is another nice touch, as is the high capacity design.
What could be better: One of the best things about this particular grill basket is that it has a handle that can be removed. That makes it much easier to fit the basket onto a ton of different grills. Unfortunately, the handle can be a bit tricky to remove if you need to get it off so that it fits onto a smaller grill. Though this is definitely a bother, you should be able to figure its system of removal out over time, which will only make using it easier.
In this section, we will guide you through everything that you need to know to find the best grill basket for your needs. We have also taken the time to answer several frequently asked questions, so be sure to read through those as well if you need any further information.
While all grill baskets are similar, none of them are exactly alike. Some are made for fish, while others are made just for vegetables, which can make finding the right grill basket tricky. But don’t worry, we have taken the time to lay all of these different components out in great detail so that you can buy with confidence.
The very first thing that you should decide upon is what type of grill basket you want to get. Different models are set up in different ways so that you can cook different foods to perfection. The different designs that you can choose from are as follows:
Whichever style of grill basket you decide to purchase, you need to make sure that you get one that is made with the best materials possible. Otherwise, they are liable to break down on you too quickly or be very difficult to clean. The best material that we have found during our research has got to be stainless steel. Not only is this material extremely strong, but it is also rust-resistant. This perfect combination will help you to not only make delicious foods but also save you money as well.
Of course, while stainless steel is a wonderful material, it can be tricky to clean if you don’t get a model that is non-stick, like the Cuisinart CNTB-422. This type of coating, as the name implies, will keep your food from sticking to the basket. Not only will that keep your food fresher, but it will also save you a ton of cleaning time when you are done cooking.
Something else that you will need to keep in mind when you are looking for a new grill basket is how large of a basket your grill can handle. Obviously, it is always a good idea to look for the biggest possible model that you can. That way, you can get as much food as possible into the basket when you are grilling. To figure out how large of a basket you can get, you should measure your grill from front to back, side to side, and also from the grates to the lid. That way, you will have a clearer idea of how large of a basket you can get.
If you find out after your measurements that you have a smaller grill, then the Grillaholics Heavy Duty Grill Basket is a good option. Its slimmer profile makes it great for grills that have shallow lids. On the other hand, if the size is not a concern, then the WolfWise Portable Grilling Basket would be a fine option. This basket is huge from side to side, making it a great choice for cooking a ton of food at once.
Another key feature to keep in mind is whether or not your new grill basket should have a handle and, if so, what kind of a handle do you prefer. Handles make it a lot easier to get the basket into position on the grill, whether it is on or not. There are two basic types of handles that you can choose from, which include long single handles and shorter handles on the side. The type of handle you need should be based on your preferences since both types work quite well.
If you prefer a longer handle and are not going to be cooking too much at once, then something along the lines of the WolfWise Portable Grilling Basket would be a good option. This long type of handle is also more effective at keeping you from accidentally getting a burn since it is usually far enough away from the grill so that it won’t get warm. On the other hand, if you want to really load up the basket, the handles on the Grillaholics Heavy Duty Grill Basket will help you to keep it steady. Of course, these handles will get quite hot, so you will need to make sure you have gloves handy to remove it.
If you truly want to make sure that none of your food is going to go anywhere on you while you are grilling, then it might not be a bad idea to look for a model that comes with a lid. If the lid is lockable, that is even better. Aside from helping to keep your food in place, this also allows the grill basket to be used in different ways, such as a fry basket or as a skillet. These multiple functionalities help to make these types of baskets a better investment since they can be used for so many different kinds of food.
The Outset 76182 is a great option in this regard. Not only does it come with a lid, but it also can be securely locked into place. This makes it much easier to keep your food secure. It also allows the basket to function as a fry basket and skillet if you so desire.
Even though all of the different models that we found for our list are non-stick, that doesn’t mean that they will never get dirty. You need to make sure that you clean them very carefully, however, since you don’t want to take the non-stick coating off. To clean your new basket, assuming that you pick a model that cannot go in the dishwasher, simply follow these steps:
Whether you are grilling fish or veggies with your grill basket, you can follow very similar steps. They are as follows:
The second reason that grill baskets are better than a regular grill grate is that they will keep smaller foods from falling down into the burner chamber. There is nothing worse than watching a delicious piece of food fall down into the depths, never to return again. A grill basket prevents this from happening.
Of all the different grill baskets that we looked over, we found that the Grillaholic Heavy Duty Grill Basket was the best of the best. This model has a high capacity, is very durable, easy to clean, and great for lots of different kinds of food. Plain and simple, if you want the best grill basket, we highly recommend you check this one out.
The Weber 6471 is an excellent option if you have a passion for grilling fish. The mesh grates will hold the fish in place and keep it from breaking apart when you flip it on the grill. It is also quite easy to clean and is quite durable.
The Outset 76182 is an excellent all-around grill basket. It can also be used as a deep-fry basket or a skillet. This makes it a versatile option that is good for lots of different kinds of food. As you would expect, it is also very durable and simple to clean.
