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Dec 07, 2023

27 Useful Items For Summer BBQs, Picnics, And Potlucks

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation

We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed collects a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page.

These things will help you out after you vowed to never repeat the Great BBQ Disaster of 2022.

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Don't forget the propane tank!

Promising review: "This is my third gas grill and this is the best one so far. To me, the biggest issue is 'even heat' across the surface and this one is very even. My last grill had one super hot area, a couple of them just hot, and a couple of cooler areas. Was a pain, you had to stand there switching positions of the food so none got overcooked too fast. This grill doesn't have that issue. Very pleased with this purchase." —Ron

Get it from Amazon for $358.45.

Promising review: "Affordable and reliable. Perfect for our backyard. We prefer charcoal to gas, and we've cooked about everything under the sun on this bad boy. Easy to assemble. Easy to clean. Exactly what we wanted." —Marci Manley

Get it from Amazon for $139+ (available with or without a cover).

Promising review: "Life-changing. The best seasoning I’ve ever used. Definitely leveled up my cooking with this! Will order again — but the biggest size this time!" —Josie

Get a two-pack of the original and spicy seasonings on Amazon for $20.

Promising review: "I bought these folding tables since they had high reviews. They were durable, easy to fold, and easy to set up. I got two of them and use them for backyards parties/BBQs. I would definitely recommend this product!" —jewelsjyx

Get a six-foot table from Amazon for $55+ (available in two colors and in two other sizes).

Promising review: "These popped up in seconds. Zero assembly required and didn't blow away. Folded back to almost flat and easily stored in their original box once we were finished. These are a must for outside picnics and parties." —Professor X

Get a set of three from Amazon for $9.99 (also available in sets of six or 12).

Promising review: "I bought these napkins to style up my camping picnic basket. I love them. They wash super well and come out wavy from the dryer, but I don't care. They look natural, not wrinkled. The happy orange color is the best. I bought two more sets in other colors as presents after my purchase. No complaints! I recommend these napkins. Oh, they are quite large by the way. 20" x 20". Very nice." —Allison B.

Get a set of 12 from Amazon for $24.99 (available in 26 colors).

The set comes with three slotted spoons and three serving spoons.

Promising review: "The price averages about $2 a piece, so if someone takes it or 'borrows' it, you are not out big money. These spoons are well designed and will last a lifetime for most of us. And face it folks, everyone needs extra serving spoons!" —Kindle Customer

Get them from Amazon for $11.98+ (available in two colors).

Promising review: "If you like to entertain, these are a must. For ice cubes, potlucks, etc. Very durable." —Glenda Hill

Get it from Amazon for $9.89 (also available in gold).

Promising review: "In Georgia, you're the buffet for hordes of mosquitoes. This stuff is amazing. I can spray it on, go out for half a day and not get an itch! It smells nice, doesn't leave any residue. This little bottle packs a punch. Small enough to slip in your pocket to go to the park. The only thing I have to warn is that if you get any in your mouth you get a weird taste for a few minutes, like menthol cool but not exactly menthol-y taste. So if you have a picnic after you put this on, I suggest rinsing your hands first! But I will be buying this again when the weather warms!" —Mae

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.87.

Promising review: "These gloves are exactly what I needed. I cook on a BBQ outdoors a lot and I cook with cast iron in my kitchen. These gloves allow me to handle hot pans and grates more easily than with potholders. These will become an integral part of my cooking routine from here on out." —Amazon Customer

Get a pair from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three sizes).

Promising review: "I honestly LOVE these two trays. I use the red for the 'raw' meat when I'm taking it to the grill and the black one for the cooked meat to put on it. It's only my husband and me, however when we cook we cook enough to have leftovers for a few meals apiece so we cook a good amount of food at a time, and when going to the grill these are a great size to take out the meat on and bring it back after cooking. Absolutely love them and would be willing to pick up again if we decide to get more!!" —B. White

Get a set of two from Amazon for $22.49.

Promising review: "Perfect size and so lightweight! We use this for summer evening concerts in the park. Because it has the soft sides, it holds a TON! And still fits in the sports car! The top is flat, so I can even attach my portable wine cooler/bag to the top and it maneuvers like a dream! LOVE it!" —Tamara A Ranville

Get it from Amazon for $54.99 (available in three colors).

Promising review: "This is the best cooler I have ever owned! It's quite expensive but well worth the price. I have used it for beach days and camping multiple times and I love it!" —Gruber

Get it from Amazon for $275 (available in seven colors).

Each stone is good for up to two deep cleanings or 6–8 maintenance cleanings.

Promising review: "Completely restored my 3-year-old grill grates. Used to clean them with a box of Brillo pads and a headache but this product did the job so efficiently. Will definitely be keeping on hand for as needed cleaning. Would recommend cleaning in a deep sink so you can rinse stone residue off as you go, cannot use this at the grill without rinsing as the stone gets smaller as you go. Worth the price!" —hbinoc

Get it from Amazon for $6.99.

Promising review: "This is the absolute best thermometer out there, I've had one for over a year now and use it nearly every weekend with great results. It's extremely fast, and always accurate and consistent. I had tried cheaper thermometers from retail stores and they were wildly inconsistent — probing the same spot would swing in a 30-degree difference! Once I got a Thermapen I threw all of those other thermometers away, there's just no comparison. Now that I have a fast and accurate way to check my temps, food off the grill, or smoker is cooked to perfection. Well worth the money!" —Matt

Get it from Thermapen for $85 (available in six colors).

Promising review: "I used to use wooden kabob skewers that would always burn. These fixed that. Would highly recommend them. They work great." —Youcef

Get a 12-pack of 14" skewers for $13.99 (available in two other sizes).

Promising review: "I have purchased several sets of tongs for my husband for grilling over the past few years. It is difficult to find tongs that are long enough and sturdy enough for grilling a lot. These are the best I’ve found. The longer ones are very good for grilling on a large grill when you need to reach across the heat. The grips are good and the locking mechanism works well. I think best of all is the gripping end of the tongs. They grip very well for food pieces large and small. They also clean up very well. I will be buying more of these as Christmas gifts." —CAgrios

Get a set of two from Amazon for $18.99.

Promising review: "Absolutely LOVED this product. I purchased them as a gift for my brother when we were all using cell phones to see the grill one night. They are sturdy, provide sufficient lighting, and are high temperature resistant. Be careful, because when they are on the grill they do get hot on the outside, so take them off with some protection (gloves, towel, etc). I loved them so much I ended up purchasing a pair for my grill as well." —MVega

Get a two-pack from Amazon for $11.99+ (available in black or silver).

Promising review: "We are a household that loves our condiments! They are perfect for separating sauces, and also for portion control while sharing. I like that they are different colors too! Definitely comes in handy when you are separating sauces for wings and need to be able to tell the difference. They stay on all of my plates great, including medium saucers. I highly recommend!" —Rebecca H.

Get a set of eight from Amazon for $9.99.

Promising review: "The extension cord is very bright orange for ease of detection while its length is perfect for working in a yard. The ends are solid while the cord itself is slightly stiff. It seems that the cord will last for some time. The price was a good find compared to other brands/lengths/gauges." —Nicholas Burns

Get it from Amazon for $34.06.

Promising review: "Exactly what I wanted and it is very sturdy. Perfect for grilling veggies or other loose things on the grill without losing them in between the grates." —Aaron Sholl

Get it from Amazon for $24.49+ (available in two sizes).

Promising review: "Very happy with this apron! The adjustable fit is exceedingly comfortable and its fabric has a nice thickness, which makes it feel sturdy without being cumbersome. I especially dig those roomy pockets! Plenty of storage capacity to hold whatever you'd want to keep handy. All of the stitching and riveting is noticeably solid, and overall everything has a very quality feel. I expect to get many years of use out of this awesome apron! Labeled as a 'chef apron,' though will also be perfect in any variety of crafting/building/tinkering activities. Definitely a great value for its price." —Randy Butler

Get it from Amazon for $17.99+ (available in eight colors, and adjustable up to a unisex size XXL).

Promising review: "Used this for the first time today at the park. The ground was still wet from last night’s rain, but the blanket kept all dampness out. It’s a big blanket and two adults, two children, and a large picnic basket fit easily on it with room to spare. It was easy to shake clean and folded right back up into its little bag (and fit into the bottom of our mostly empty picnic basket). Can’t wait to try it at the beach." —Lauren

Get it from Amazon for $26.99+ (available in seven sizes and six designs).

The Rumpl blanket is also machine-washable and dryer-safe!

Promising review: "We took this king-size blanket with us on our camping trip to New Zealand. At first I thought it might have been too overkill since it took up a lot of space in my luggage and a duvet was included in our camper van rental. But we ended up using this every night, enjoying the warmth and breathable comfort even on fairly warm evenings. It was definitely large enough for two even with tossing and turning, we both had enough Rumpl to sleep well throughout the night. Great purchase, totally worth it." —becca606

Get it from Amazon for $125+ (available in 38 colors and designs).

Check out my full Rumpl blanket review for more deets on why I'm all-in on these insulated beauts.

The Crock-Pot's stoneware insert and lid are dishwasher-safe, but even when I've lived in apartments without a dishwasher, I haven't had much trouble getting stuck-on food out of there. As for the shiny exterior, a simple wipe-down should suffice!

Promising review: ""Best product I ever bought. Easy to use and clean. I would highly recommend this product to anyone. Food comes out soft and tender, meat falls of the bone. Great for soups, too." —Amazon Customer

Get it from Amazon for $25.49+ (available in three sizes).

It folds flat, and has a little handle for easy carrying!

Promising review: "The perfect addition to any picnic! It held our wine bottle, glasses, and food. We opened the legs when we had wine glasses, and dropped the legs when we just needed it set up as a charcuterie board on a picnic table. We got so many compliments, and recommended it to everyone! This would make a great gift for a wine lover." —Kristin

Get it from Amazon for $29.99+ (available in three styles).

Promising review: "Absolutely love! We bought this for our camping trips and I can't express how much this pop-up trash can made a difference. It has clips in the inside to hold open the trash bag, it zips to keep the bugs and critters out, super easy setup and takedown, and it stakes to the ground to keep from blowing away! Best camping purchase ever!" —Ariel Butler

Get it from Amazon for $14.99 (available in one other style).

The reviews for this post have been edited for length and clarity.