I want to get my dad a set of barbecue tools for Father’s Day. What are the essential tools?

There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of really cool grilling accessories, but you really need only three.

1.A long-handled stiff wire brush for cleaning the grill grate

2.Long-handled, spring-loaded tongs for oiling the grate and turning food

3.An instant-read meat thermometer for checking meat for doneness

That said, here are the near essentials and the not-so-essential-but-usefuls. A couple of good mail-order sources for grilling accessories: