Summer is made for grilling. And while you can certainly just throw some steaks on the grill, those who want a bit more excitement will turn to skewers. The best skewers for grilling will allow you to pack on a variety of meat and vegetables without running the risk of suddenly bursting into flames.
We’ll look at some BBQ skewers to choose from and explain all their features, pros, and cons. Among our list is a whole range of options, including simple bamboo skewers to sets of pristine, stainless steel skewers. No matter what you plan on cooking this summer, we’ll explain what the different types of skewers are and which one will get your summer of to the right start.
More features: rust-resistant, sliding push bar, dishwasher safe, 1-year free replacement, storage bag included
With eight pieces to meet all your grilling needs, FLAFSTER KITCHEN Skewers for Grilling are a great choice if you want a bit of pizazz. These are stylized as “sword skewers” in that they have a small handle at the top and a pointy end at the bottom to place your food. The handle is a nice touch as it actually can be moved along the skewer to push your food off. Simply push the handle down and it will move along the skewer, allowing you to dive into your grilled food.
FLAFSTER KITCHEN Skewers for Grilling measure 16 inches long, which allows you to create a bold pattern of colors and food. As a bonus, the whole package comes with a storage bag so these thin skewers won’t be lost in the kitchen shuffle.
More features: wood handle, 5/8-in wide blade, storage bag included
Metal gets hot so what if there were a solution? Enter Goutime Shish Kabob Barbecue BBQ Skewers. With a revolutionary wooden handle, you’ll wonder where these have been the whole time. With your purchase you receive seven skewers as well as a storage bag. The skewers have 18.5-inch blades along with 5-inch handles.
As for the blades, they are a bit wider than other skewers, as they measure 5/8th of an inch. However, the skewers still have a pointy edge so you can grill all manner of meats and vegetables. The handles are made from solid oak wood so once you are done grilling you can easily pick the skewer and dive in without worrying about burns.
More features: grill rack included, 0.35-in wide blade, storage bag included, dishwasher safe
When style and purpose collide, you get BearMoo Barbecue Skewers. This set of six stainless steel skewers also include a grill rack. You can place the skewers in the rack, put the whole tray on the grill, and then expertly turn the skewers for an even cook. It’s so simple yet so revolutionary.
The skewers measure 17 inches in length and they have a larger width so you can expertly place large pieces of meat and vegetables on them. Also included in your purchase is a pouch with slots to house your skewers. You can easily pack up your set, store it in your kitchen, or safely transport it on your next camping trip.
More features: dishwasher safe, 0.16-in wide blade, storage bag and silicone tips included
One of the issues when purchasing grill skewers is that what can seem like a bargain is actually incredibly expensive. This happens if you regularly grill for multiple people and need to purchase two or three packs to accommodate your guests. The solution is to look at a larger pack, such as LANNEY Kabob Skewers. With 12 stainless steel skewers, it is affordable and convenient.
Each skewer is 14 inches long, and although this is shorter than other options, still long enough to pack on quite a bit of food. At the end of each skewer is a circle handle which allows the chef to expertly rotate the food for an even cook. Then, you can pick up the handle later for an enjoyable dinner.
More features: 0.16-in diameter, 3 lbs weight capacity
While all of the grill skewers on our list are stainless steel options, we thought we’d introduce a bamboo option, just in case you like to go a bit old-school. DecorRack Natural Bamboo Skewer Sticks work great for all types of food, including meat, seafood, and vegetables. For best results, it’s recommended you soak the skewers in water for up to an hour in order to prevent them from burning.
Once package of DecorRack Natural Bamboo Skewer Sticks comes with an impressive 400 pieces. The package we’re highlighting has length of 12 inches but you can also purchase 8-inch and 6-inch options. Bamboo is a fast-growing type of wood so even though these skewers are only meant for single use, they aren’t a huge detriment to the environment.
More features: 1/5-in thickness, 2-year limited warranty, dishwasher safe
When it comes to quantity, Blue Donuts Kabob Skewers really delivers. A whopping 24 stainless steel skewers are included in just one package. They feature a simple but effective circle holder on one and the tips are broad but pointed. We’re featuring the 12-inch long set but you can buy a petite version at 8 inches or a mammoth version at 17 inches.
The flat design of the skewers means your food won’t accidentally rotate on the grill. Instead, you can be in charge so you can maintain those gorgeous grill marks as well as ensure a nice, even cook. The stainless steel design also means the skewers are dishwasher safe. Simply pop them in the machine when you’re done and there is no unnecessary cleaning involved.
More features: 50 12.5-in long bamboo skewers included, grill rack included
This all-in-one set really delivers if you need a sturdier way to grill. Included in your purchase of the Unicook Barbecue Skewer Shish Kabob Set are six stainless steel grills and an expandable rack to hold everything together. As a bonus, you also get a 50-piece set of bamboo skewers. The thin skewers fit through the ridges and you can better control when you flip your skewers.
The skewers themselves have a hooped end so you can easily grip on to them to turn them. They measure 13 inches in length which is good but not as long as other options. One of the most frustrating parts of grilling skewers is that they can accidentally turn while on the grill, leading to burnt edges. This grill rack prevents this from happening.
Get ready to impress your guests with grilling skewers. For more information about these useful tools, check out our Buying Guide. Here we will explain what features to consider and answer any important questions.
Grill skewers are meant for small pieces of meat and vegetables. You do not want to use meat that is too large, especially when it comes to chicken or pork. If the meat pieces are too large, they won’t reach the desired internal temperature on your BBQ and the outsides can burn in the meantime. Check out this cooking video to see how kebabs are cooked using skewers for grilling:
There are many factors to consider with grill skewers, and here we’ll dive into them.
Bamboo skewers are definitely the cheapest option and they go for a mere few dollars, even for a larger pack. However, stainless steel skewers are still a good investment because they are reusable. Because each package comes with a different amount of skewers, you want to look for a price per unit, instead of comparing the overall price. Generally, though, the more skewers you want, the more expensive it will be.
With the exception of the DecorRack Natural Bamboo Skewer Sticks, all the other products on our list are made from stainless steel. The biggest issue with bamboo skewers is that while they aren’t as terrible as single-use plastics, they all end up in the garbage.
Not only is stainless steel material durable but it is rust-proof. Stainless steel skewers are also dishwasher safe, with the exception of a product like Goutime Shish Kabob Barbecue BBQ Skewers. In this case, the wooden handle prevents it from being able to go through a dishwasher. Instead, you will need to hand wash them.
There are two types of skewer blades, flat ones and circular ones. Circular blades are thinner while flat blades have a thicker width. If you are grilling larger chunks of food, you will want to go with flat blades as they will hold the food better.
During the grilling process and during the eating process, you will need a handle to hold on to. Skewer handles really vary but do remember that stainless steel will heat up so you still need to use tongs when turning your skewers on a grill.
Basic handles include a circular design, such as the Unicook Barbecue Skewer Shish Kabob Set and Blue Donuts Kabob Skewers. If you’re looking for more sophistication, Goutime Shish Kabob Barbecue BBQ Skewers deliver. They have a solid oak wooden handle that allows you to turn the skewers right on the grill without worrying about burning your hands.
How many people are coming to your next BBQ? That number will greatly affect which grilling skewers you aim to purchase. Packs of stainless steel skewers range from six to 12 pieces, so you may be fine with one package, but may want to purchase two, which will increase your costs.
Blue Donuts Kabob Skewers offer a nice pack of 24, LANNEY Kabob Skewers has a 12-pack. However, if you want to go old-school with wooden skewers, DecorRack Natural Bamboo Skewer Sticks offer an amazing package of 400. This is more than enough to service the needs of your grilling endeavors for years to come.
One of the hardest pars of using skewers is getting the food off them. There are many techniques and most of them involve a fork roughly pushing the food off. A food pusher, however, does the work for you. It slides down the skewer, gently pushing each piece of food off.
On our list, the only option with a food pusher is the FLAFSTER KITCHEN Skewers for Grilling. At first it acts as a handle but if you squeeze it slightly, it will move down the skewer, helping you get to enjoying your food a lot easier.
The use of grilling skewers is a real game changer. You can create beautiful, healthy food and there is very little clean up. Our Editor’s Choice is the FLAFSTER KITCHEN Skewers for Grilling. Measuring 16 inches in length, they also have a revolutionary food pusher to help you get your food onto your plate a lot faster. As for our premium pick, you will want to consider Goutime Shish Kabob Barbecue BBQ Skewers. This pack of seven skewers has an elegant wooden handle for ease of use. Finally, if you are looking for a value pick for the best skewers for grilling, then you can’t go wrong with LANNEY Kabob Skewers. This set has an amazing 12 stainless steel skewers, which is perfect for large crowds. If you’re ready to elevate your grilling game, then BBQ skewers are the way to go.
