There’s something magical about the sounds and smells that fill the air during a backyard barbecue. Whether it’s a relaxed gathering with friends or a festive family celebration, firing up the grill is guaranteed to bring people together. However, as any seasoned grill master knows, the key to a successful barbecue isn’t just about the quality of the meat or the skillful flip of a spatula—it’s also about having a well-organized setup.
Whether you’re an experienced griller looking to enhance your outdoor cooking game or a beginner looking to impress your guests, these organization hacks will revolutionize the way you approach your next grill-out. Get ready to transform your BBQ into a well-oiled grilling machine where everything is in its place, and the focus remains on enjoying delicious food and memorable moments with loved ones.
Must have items from this post:
Magnetic paper towel holder
Paper plate dispenser
BBQ tool set
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This year we decided it was finally time to replace our rusty, non-lighting Webber grill that we have had for over 12 years. After some research, we decided to purchase a newer version of what we already had, and settled on a Webber Spirit E-310. So far we’ve grilled everything from fish to flank steak and have eaten outside on our deck more times than I can count.
However, a new grill meant a good excuse to re-examine our BBQ set up and organization. I started to ask myself, what could I do to make our grilling experience easier and more efficient? Is there anything I can do to make clean up quicker and easier?
After some brainstorming and product searching, I came up with a few BBQ organization hacks that I’ve found make my life better when grilling. These simple additions and tricks make it easier to get dinner on the table faster and make cleaning up the grill even faster.
Here are my favorite hacks for organizing a bbq grill:
#1: Add a magnetic paper towel rack
I don’t know about you, but when I grill, I need lots of paper towels. Maybe it’s my love of drippy BBQ sauce or the fact that I’m moving fast when it’s time to prepare dinner, but I often have spills and messes that need a quick wipe. Having paper towels close at hand make it easy to quickly clean up before it turns into a sticky mess.
These magnetic paper towel holders are brilliant. Super strong and easy to attach, they fit easily in tight places. I was able too tuck my paper towel roll on the underside of my grill’s stainless steel arm so it’s easy to grab a sheet while grilling. It’s also out of the way of wind and rain, so I haven’t had to worry about a soggy towel roll yet.
It’s worth noting that I first tried an adhesive bar style paper towel holder (like this!) but once stuck, I couldn’t get my paper towel roll on the rod. I found that a magnetic holder was much better because it could be removed fully to replace the towel roll and easily re-stuck on the grill.
#2 Add a paper plate dispenser
Ok, here’s a fun hack for you – a handy paper plate dispenser stuck to the underside of the other arm of my BBQ! We don’t use a lot of paper plates at our house, but we do use them quite a bit when entertaining or eating outside. And having them literally attached to BBQ makes it easy to serve up directly from the grill.
You simply fill this dispenser with 9″ paper plates and pull off one as you need it!
Now, these are not magnetic, so I found I needed to use strong adhesive dots (from Dollar Tree) to keep this attached to the BBQ. In order to make it easier to remove in the future, I may super glue on strong magnets to the back. We will see!
#3 Upgrade to matching tools
If your BBQ tools have seen better days, this is your PSA that it’s time to buy new, non-grimy tools. A matching set elevates the look of your BBQ and makes it easier for all tools to hang nicely on the side of the grill.
I purchased this set from Walmart for under $10 and it’s such a great price for all the tools included. Bonus points that I can run it through the dishwasher to get everything clean.
#4 Hang grill accessories
For grill accessories like grill brushes and grill baskets, look for pieces designed to hang like this grill basket. Hanging tools and accessories uses the vertical space on the side of the BBQ and makes it easy to grab just what you need when you need it.
#5 Invest in a good cover and actually use it
Ok, so I know this isn’t a hack, but a good cover will make or break your BBQ. Keeping the weather off your grill will help keep it looking nice and will make it last for many years. I usually buy the cover specifically designed for my grill (a Webber Spirit) since it fits the grill so well. Here’s a link to the Webber cover, but just know that any good waterproof cover will work! I’ve even found that I can cover my entire grill, accessories, tools, paper towel holder and all and the cover keeps everything nice and dry.
I hope these BBQ grill hacks have inspired you to get out and organize your grill so that you are prepared for your next summer party or even just your next weeknight dinner. Summer is too short to not take advantage of grilling and eating outside!
And if you want to see these hacks in action, be sure to check out this video:
@smallishhome BBQ organization hacks! Summer is in full swing and we have been grilling nearly every night. These additions to my grill have made it so easy to prep, cook and clean up! ❤️ #bbqtiktok #bbqhack #organization #grill #patioideas
Happy organizing (& grilling!)
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