Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Outdoor living

HappySprout may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The best cooking grates for outdoor and campfire cooking

HappySprout Contributor
By

Cooking grates make for an easier clean-up as well as preventing food from sticking to the sheet pan. Not to mention, it’ll leave your food with beautiful grill marks left behind after a nice, even cook.

A good grate won’t cave in, even with the heaviest steaks rested on top of it. This will allow the best circulation of heat and even cooking. Roast everything from burgers, hot dogs, and kebabs on these efficient cooking grates. Great for your at-home outdoor grill or indoor oven, these grates also serve their purpose on the road for use over a campfire. We’ve found the best grates for grill, oven, and fire-pit cooking.

Weber Cooking Grate

Best Grate Overall

Our pick for the best grate overall is the Weber Cooking Grate, which measures 13.5 " in diameter. This circular grate fits 14-inch grills. Alternately, you can set it over a campfire for outdoor grilling. The grate is also designed for use of briquettes to adjust height, resulting in a more indirect cook.

Ultra Cuisine 100% Stainless-Steel Wire Cooling Rack

Best Value

The strong wire grid of the Ultra Cuisine 100% Stainless-Steel Wire Cooling Rack is made from durable stainless steel, so you won’t have to worry about rusting or flaking. These cooling racks fit snugly inside 13 " x 18 " half sheet pans. The crossbar design ensures stability and a level, even cook.

Checkered Chef Cooling Racks

Best for Baking

The Checkered Chef Cooling Racks are the best suited racks for baking, they’ll prevent cookies from falling through the cracks and make cleanup easier. These racks come in a set of two and can fit perfectly into a standard 9½ " x 13 " quarter sheet pan. These dishwasher-safe, stainless-steel cooling racks won’t twist or warp, ensuring long-lasting use. The ideal size for small kitchens, RVs, and compact ovens.

Stromberg Carlson Stake and Grille

Best with Stake

For added security and support, try a cooking grate with a stake. The Stromberg Carlson Stake and Grille is 15-inches wide and 22-inches long, with the stake measuring 36-inches long. Slide the grate up and down on the stake to adjust your food’s proximity to the heat below, then lock it in place to assure it stays secured. This stake and grill come with a nylon bag for storage.

With the use of cooking grates, you’ll notice a perfectly even cook on all of your grilled meats and baked desserts. Additionally, cleanup after each meal won’t be a pain. So, whether you’re cooking over a fire, your own outdoor grill, or conventional oven, ensure the perfect cook each time with one of these cooking grates.

HappySprout Contributor
HappySprout Contributor
Add a fire pit to your garden to take advantage of cool spring nights
How to build a DIY fire pit in your garden
Fire pit made of wall blocks with a lit fire

As winter turns into spring, the nights are finally warm enough to start going outside again, but still a little too cool to fully enjoy. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a fire pit that you and your friends could sit around? We certainly think so! If you’d like to get outside and enjoy your garden after dark, here’s how to create your own DIY fire pit.

Read more
How to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget and create the ideal cooking space
Building the outdoor kitchen of your dreams without breaking the bank
An outdoor built-in kitchen deck

There are many fantastic ways to enjoy your yard, especially during spring and summer. If the idea of inviting your friends and family over to sit outside and enjoy a nice home-cooked meal sounds appealing, then an outdoor kitchen should be at the top of your wishlist. The only caveat? They can be quite costly. For some, knowing how to build an outdoor kitchen on a budget is a must—thankfully, that's entirely possible! All you need is some careful planning and some creativity.

Keep reading to get our tips on designing and building your dream outdoor kitchen without breaking the bank.

Read more
Is it safe to cut string lights hanging over your deck?
Your guide to choosing and cutting outdoor string lights safely
Hanging outdoor string lights

The many outdoor lighting options out there have the capacity to transform any backyard, deck, or patio into something remarkably beautiful. But have you ever bought a string of lights only to have it be slightly too long for where you want to hang it? And then you have to decide where to put the excess portion because you don’t want to leave it dangling, but you might not want it to look off-balance from the other end. If you don’t mind a little asymmetry, then don’t sweat it! But if you do, you’re probably wondering, “Can you cut string lights?” The short answer is yes.

Read more