I’m a little old-fashioned when it comes to cooking outside. I don’t own a gas grill and only ever use charcoal or an open fire to sear and grill meats. Each year, I tell myself that I’ll buy a gas grill simply for the ease of use, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. I do, however, own a pellet grill, and it has started to grow on me a little bit. That said, there is something about plugging a grill into an electrical outlet that almost takes the fun out of cooking outside.

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Despite my slow warm-up to grilling progress, there are some gadgets that I’ve come to really appreciate. For example, one of the most important items you need for slow-smoking meat is a digital thermometer. Luckily, in 2024, there are plenty of options to choose from, with some featuring more bells and whistles than others. I’ve actually been amazed at many of the new grill accessories that have hit the market in recent years, and I think a few are definitely game changers. Here are five new grill gadgets that you can use this grilling season:

1 – ‘Grill Whisperer’

According to Pickin’ Grillin Competition BBQ, the first item you should consider this grilling season is the Signals BBQ Alarm Thermometer. This probe stays in the item you are cooking and will send you a text message when it reaches your desired temperature. As someone who cooks with fire, I think this is a great idea so you don’t have to open the chamber and ruin a steady temperature when checking on your food. That said, it’s a bit pricy, sporting a price tag of $239.00. I’ll be sticking with my handheld probe for now.

2 – ‘Midnight Griller’

The next item on the list is a simple solar light that will help illuminate your grill for those late-night cookouts. Pickin’ Grillin Competition BBQ notes that the eco-friendly gadget will help keep you from grilling your fingers in the dark, but honestly, any light will work for this purpose. Pit Boss and Webber even have their own grill lights on the market.

3 – ‘Grill Master’s Oracle’

The Grill Master’s Oracle is similar to the Signals BBQ Alarm Thermometer but takes grill monitoring to a whole new level. Better known as the Meatrix System, this device uses advanced sensors to precisely track the internal temperature of your meat, ensuring a perfect end result. In addition to that, this state-of-the-art system advises you when to flip and provides information on different meat types and their ideal cooking temperatures. It’s also much cheaper than some of the other wireless temperature probes, with a sticker price of $139.95.

4 – ‘Lazy Pitmaster’

Number four on the Pickin’ Grillin Competition BBQ’s list of new grill gadgets is yet another thermometer, and it looks like it does the same thing as the previous one’s mentioned. Perhaps it’s just a matter of preference? If you’re interested in another state-of-the-art option, the BBQ Guru’s UltraQ Bluetooth/Wi-Fi BBQ Temperature Controller looks like a good choice, but it will cost you. This machine checks in with a price tag of $412.99.

5 –  ‘Grill The Future’

Like the other grilling accessories on this list, our final item also uses WI-FI and Bluetooth. However, this one is much more accessible because it is in the form of a single mobile app. According to Pickin’ Grillin Competition BBQ, an augmented reality grilling app is in the works that will tell you where to place your meat on the grill for optimal heat distribution. In essence, you will just have to open the app and point your phone at your grill. I honestly have no idea how this could even work, and it’s probably not something I would use. If you’ve used your grill long enough, you probably know where the hot spots are, but if you’re a grilling newbie, I could see how this could help.

There is clearly a lot of cool technology at your disposal when it comes to backyard cooking. However, some of these gadgets might come at a higher cost than your actual grill. If you’re someone who likes to go all in, then maybe some of these items could be for you. I’m definitely interested in trying out some of the wireless probes myself. Would you use any of these new gadgets?