How to Use a Grill Basket to Cook Smaller Cuts of Meat and Vegetables

It's a game-changing tool for grilling.

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Published on May 15, 2024

Grill basket with vegetables — Photo:
Olga Gagarova / Getty Images

Our passion for cooking outdoors is at an all-time high, according to the Hearth, Patio & Barbecue Association. They report that 70 percent of all households in the U.S. own a grill or smoker—but there are no details on how many households have a grill basket! Throwing a burger or a steak on the grill is fine, but according to grilling experts, for cooking smaller or delicate items a grill basket is a must-have accessory. Ahead, chefs share how to use a grill basket—and why this simple tool is a game-changer for successfully grilling everything from green beans and shrimp to steak tips.

Sylvia Fountaine, professional chef, former restaurateur and caterer, and creator of the blog Feasting at Home
Britt Rescigno, chef and frequent Food Network competitor
Bonnie Morales, chef and co-owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon

What Is a Grill Basket?

A grill basket is a metal basket that is placed on a grill and allows heat and smoke to reach the food, without the food falling through the grill's grates.

There are several different types of grill baskets, including open square, round, or rectangular versions with handles, as well as hinged and lidded baskets in a selection of sizes. The baskets are made of various metals, including stainless steel and cast iron, some are nonstick. Which one you should use will depend on what you're grilling and your desired outcome, says Sylvia Fountaine, professional chef and former restaurateur, caterer, and creator of the blog Feasting at Home. Her favorite is the Weber small stainless steel vegetable basket.

Chef Britt Rescigno, a frequent Food Network competitor, says she uses two different kinds while grilling. One is a basic basket made of metal that you put on your grill. Much as she likes that, her favorite is the two-sided basket with a hinge that folds in on itself. The handle on the hinged basket makes flipping food a breeze.

"I find using a grill basket very useful. One of my fiancée’s favorite vegetables on the grill is asparagus. Without a grill basket, I always seemed to lose a couple through the grates, or they don’t cook evenly," says Rescigno. She also uses the basket to grill her signature "Sexy Meatballs."

How to Use a Grill Basket

Our experts offer these pro tips for using a grill basket.

Season Your Basket: Just like you'd season a cast-iron pan, Rescigno likes to season the grill basket. You can do this over moderate heat for about 10 minutes; then rub it down with some neutral oil, put it back over the heat, turn the grill off, and allow it to come to room temp.

Grease the Basket Lightly: When using a grill basket, be sure to lightly grease it first for the easiest cleanup, says Fountaine.

Preheat the Grill Before Adding the Basket to the Grate: The grill basket creates an extra barrier between the grates and the food you are grilling. All our experts emphasize the importance of making sure the grill is preheated and you place the basket directly on the grate so that the food grills rather than steams and has no char says Morales.

Don't Overfill the basket: Morales also emphasizes the importance of not overfilling the grill basket, which can also lead to limp steamed vegetables.

When to Use a Grill Basket

If the only foods that hit your grates are steaks and chicken, then you might want to pass—but if you cook foods that tend to stick to the grates or smaller items, a grill basket is for you.

A grill basket can also be a great time saver, says chef Bonnie Morales, co-owner of Kachka in Portland, Oregon. She likes that using a grill basket means you do not need to babysit each individual stalk of asparagus or plank of zucchini.