Tell you what, the older I get, the more I feel like Hank Hill from the TV show King of the Hill:  living in the ‘burbs and inordinately excited about propane grilling. I recently got a Weber gas grill and have been using it daily, rain be darned. And while I love its wide cooktop, easy-ignite burners, and spacious side tables, a few things slip through the cracks—literally. I’ve lost chunks of charred zucchini and bits of bell pepper and had quite the flare-up when a bunch of corn silk fell through the grates. As Hank Hill would say: “Bwahhhh!” 

Thankfully, people have been using grills longer than I’ve been living, and the commitment to propane and charcoal cookery has inspired many innovative grill gadgets. Here, I’m focusing on the grill basket. It can expand your grilling repertoire with nary a cherry tomato or slice of summer squash lost to the flames. But what makes a good one? I fired up the grill and tested eight of them to find out. 

The Winners, at a Glance

This carbon steel basket has large holes (though they’re still small enough to keep food contained) that let hot, smoky air through. The detachable handle let me set it on the grill and close the lid, capturing heat and cooking foods more efficiently. 

I liked the removable handle on this basket even though it took some grip strength to maneuver it on and off. The basket’s also nice and wide, and it comes with dividers should you want to cook protein at the same time as veggies.  

This no-frills lightweight basket is made of crosshatched mesh propped up by sturdy wires. It exposed the food inside directly to the heat and smoke from the grill, making it an excellent option for the charcoal-inclined. It’s also quite spacious, so if you wanted to grill a whole lotta asparagus, you could do it in one go. 

I was skeptical of the slat-style holes in this basket: Would they let enough heat through to char vegetables? But my fears were unfounded and as long as the basket wasn’t overloaded, chopped zucchini and summer squash emerged blistered and beautiful. The curved metal handles were easy to grip even while wearing grill mitts. I recommend getting the larger basket, as the smaller one gets easily crowded.

The Tests

• Grilled Vegetables Test: I grilled diced zucchini and summer squash in the grill baskets on a gas grill. This test examined how well the baskets charred the vegetables, and how easy they were to maneuver on and off the grill using grill gloves. 
• Grilled Seafood Test: I grilled small black bass in the clamp-style grill baskets over a gas grill, and grilled shrimp and scallops in the pan-style baskets. 
• Cleaning and Use Tests: Throughout testing, I noted if the grill baskets were easy to maneuver and if they cleaned up with minimal effort. 

What We Learned

What’s a Grill Basket?

Grill baskets have gaps or holes so air and heat (and in the case of charcoal, smoky flavor) can reach what’s inside without losing food to the flames. This makes them ideal for cooking chopped vegetables or smaller pieces of protein, like scallops or shrimp. They come in three styles: a piece of metal with perforated holes called a pan grill basket, a wire mesh basket, or a metal wire basket with a clamping lid that kinda looks like a flattened lobster trap. Some grill baskets are nonstick, but we generally don’t recommend using nonstick over high heat. Instead, just wipe down the basket with oil first (or toss whatever you’re cooking with some oil) and that’ll do the trick. 

Clamping Grill Baskets Were No Good

I started my testing with visions of leisurely flipping over a clamped grill basket with a whole fish inside, revealing crispy skin tinged with char. But the reality of using this style of basket was hot, sweaty, and entirely un-idyllic. 

The fish-shaped Grill Mark Black & Silver Steel Fish Basket was the worst of the three clamping grill baskets I tried. The sides were loosely attached by a wound wire and flopped all over. Wrangling a small black bass inside was difficult: The fish squelched, slipped, and slid as I tried to close the basket over it. Not to mention the handle melted halfway through cooking. When the fish was finally done (and my nerves were frayed), I tried to open the basket only to find that the fish had stuck to both sides. Suffice it to say, dinner that night was a black bass that looked like a coyote had gotten into it. Cleaning the basket was another herculean task, and I had to let it soak for a few hours before attempting to scrub the sticky skin away. Overall, using this thing took far more sweat, scales, and patience than I had to give. 

The Char-Broil clamping basket seemed more promising—no handle, no chance of melted plastic—but it too faltered in the heat of battle. The clasps were difficult to undo while wearing grill gloves and the nonstick coating made the basket slippery; I dropped it a few times while trying to get a good grip. This also meant it was nearly impossible to open it and flip whatever was inside. Instead, I had to grip it hard and give it a shake—not ideal. 

The moral of my tirade is that none of the clamping baskets I tested hit the mark. Instead, they resulted in mangled food, singed fingers, and melted plastic. 

Removable Handles Were a Boon

As I mentioned, handles were often the bane of my tests—they either melted or stuck out and prevented me from closing the grill lid. So when I finally tested the two grill pans with removable handles, the OXO and Proud Grill, I was delighted.

The OXO was particularly easy to use even with my hand swimming in a grill mitt (I have small paws). Just push the tab, lift, and the handle pops off. Go in reverse to reattach it. 

The Proud Grill handle was trickier to remove and attach. I had to give it a sturdy squeeze while trying to maintain pressure as I wiggled the metal prongs out of the holes. It took more effort, but once I got in the swing of it, it wasn’t too terrible a task. 

Pan Grill Baskets Were the Easiest to Use

Pan grill baskets are super simple: They’re just rectangular, square, or round open-top pans with holes or slots to let heat through. There are no clasps to fiddle with and, since they’re uncovered, I could easily reach in with a pair of grill tongs and flip chopped veggies or shrimp. The only downside with pan-style grill baskets is they don’t get as much contact with the grill as a wire basket. Sure, you’ll get some char, and a smokier flavor if you’re using charcoal, but not quite as much as if it were made of crosshatched wire. However, these baskets are still fantastic for cooking chopped vegetables, shrimp, or even whole clams. Look for a grill basket with bigger holes and a large surface area, like the one from OXO, so you get maximum grill surface contact and less chance of food steaming. 

The Criteria: What to Look for in a Grill Basket 

I preferred non-lidded baskets since many of the clamping ones were difficult to turn and open. Pan-style grill baskets were the easiest to use since I could reach inside with tongs to flip or turn foods. Look for larger grill baskets, as they allow food to spread out and prevent it from steaming. I recommend finding a grill basket with larger holes because they allow more contact with the grill grates and result in better charring. I also liked removable handles, which made it easy to shut the lid and get grilling.

Our Favorite Grill Baskets 

What we liked: This skillet’s removable handle was SO nice: It detached with a click and I was on my way. I could take it off and close the lid, or slip it back on to give ingredients a shake and a toss—real chef-like. The carbon steel surface heated up quickly, and the numerous holes allowed smoky flavor through, nicely charring vegetables and shrimp.  

What we didn’t like: It was heavier than other baskets I tested at a little over three pounds. The factory seasoning on the skillet emitted a plasticky smell when I first used it. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Carbon steel
• Dimensions: 12 x 2.5 inches
• Handle length: 8.5 inches
• Weight: 3 pounds, 1.2 ounces

What we liked: This grill basket heated up quickly and charred bits of zucchini and squash while still letting them cook down and get silky. The removable handle was a great touch; it allowed me to easily pop it off and close the grill lid. The pan also comes with two removable dividers so I could cook protein alongside produce. Talk about a one-pan meal! 

What we didn’t like: While the detachable handle was a nice feature, it was tough to remove and reattach—it required good grip strength to squeeze the prongs together. The handle’s also quite wide, which made moving the basket feel unwieldy. If you’re cooking, say, chicken or fish, it’s best to oil the surface and let it heat up so the protein doesn’t stick. The whole thing is a bit jangly.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 14.75 x 10.25 x 2.5 inches
• Handle length: 10.25 inches
• Weight: 2 pounds, 10.3 ounces

What we liked: This stainless steel mesh grill basket lets heat and smoke through while keeping smaller foods safe from the flames. It’s also quite spacious—I could spread out chunks of zucchini and leave ample room around each piece of shrimp. Everything emerged nicely charred. The wide looped handles were easy to grip, even with a bulky oven mitt, and it’s fairly lightweight at a little over one pound. 

What we didn’t like: Criss-cross mesh is a pain to clean. I had to let the basket soak before scrubbing and even then remnants of grilled zucchini still hung on for dear life. It’s a larger basket, too, so it might not fit on a small grill.

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 15 x 11 x 3 inches
• Handle length: N/A
• Weight: 1 pound, 11.3 ounces

What we liked: This simple, lightweight basket was just plain great. The slatted cutouts let heat and flame through, resulting in blackened zucchini and squash, and the curved handles were easy to grip. It’s great for cooking smaller pieces of food or thin vegetables, like green beans, since nothing can slip through the cracks. 

What we didn’t like: I tested the 7-inch basket, which was a tad too small and increased the likelihood of crowding and steaming. I recommend buying the larger size, which is 13.8 by 12 inches. 

Key Specs

• Materials: Stainless steel
• Dimensions: 6 x 7.5 x 2.25 inches
• Handle length: N/A
• Weight: 14.8 ounces

The Competition

• Lodge 12″ Cast Iron Dual Handle Grill Basket: This basket performed well, but the holes were rather small and since it’s made of cast iron, it’s quite heavy. 
• AIZOAM Grill Basket: The locking clasp looked nothing like the image on Amazon, though it was easy to open and close. While it let vegetables inside get nicely charred, the gaps were too large and I lost a few slices of squash to the flames.
• Char-Broil Non-Stick Grill Basket: This nonstick basket was slippery and difficult to unlatch, especially when wearing a grill glove or oven mitt. 
• Grill Mark Black & Silver Steel Fish Basket: The two sides were loosely attached and flopped all around, which was a burn risk after it’d been on the grill. The fish stuck to the basket, and the handle melted. 

FAQs

Are grilling baskets worth it?

If you like to grill vegetables, fish, or other foods prone to breaking apart and falling through the grates, then yes, a grill basket is worth it. They keep food contained while still letting it rest atop the grill and get nicely charred and smoky. 

What should I look for in a grill basket?

A grill basket should securely hold pieces of food, be easy to use and handle, and allow whatever’s inside to get nicely charred and browned. If it has a handle, it’s best if it’s detachable. 

What can I use instead of a grill basket?

You could use a heat-safe baking rack, though the edges are exposed, which means food could fall off the sides. 

Which style of grill basket should I buy?

Pan-style grill baskets were the most versatile and easiest to use. They have small (but not too small) perforations, making them great for grilling petite items like chopped peppers and onions, or chunks of potato or zucchini. To ensure proper char distribution, give ‘em a good shake (while wearing a grill glove or using a kitchen towel to keep your hands safe). 

Why We’re the Experts

• Grace Kelly is a commerce editor at Serious Eats, where she’s been testing gear for over two years.
• She’s an avid griller and loves using a grill basket to char food. 
• For this review, Grace tested eight grill baskets. She used them to cook diced zucchini and summer squash, as well as black bass, shrimp, and scallops.
• We’ve extensively reviewed grilling gear, including tongs, charcoal chimney starters, and grill brushes.