I love grilling, but there are certain foods that make me question why I bothered firing up the grill in the first place. Vegetables, shrimp, mushrooms and other small pieces are especially annoying because they either need constant attention or have a habit of disappearing through the grates.
That is why I was interested in the BRYN Rolling Grill Basket. The idea is simple: put the smaller foods inside the basket, close it, and roll the whole thing across the grill instead of standing there flipping individual pieces one by one. After using it, I can definitely see the appeal.
Key Takeaways
- Makes grilling vegetables and other small foods much easier.
- The rolling design means I can turn a whole batch at once.
- The mesh keeps smaller pieces from falling through the grates.
- Food still gets direct heat and smoke instead of being trapped in foil.
- The removable handle is useful, especially when the basket is hot.
- Cleaning is easier than dealing with food stuck directly to the grill grates.
- It is most useful for smaller foods rather than replacing a normal grill grate.
- I think it is a genuinely useful grill accessory rather than just another gadget taking up space.
What Is the BRYN Rolling Grill Basket?
The BRYN Rolling Grill Basket is a cylindrical stainless-steel basket designed for grilling smaller foods that would normally be difficult to cook directly on the grates.
The basket has a locking lid and a removable handle, allowing me to roll it across the grill as the food cooks. It is made from 304 stainless steel and is designed for gas, charcoal and pellet grills. The basket is also dishwasher safe, which is one of those features I appreciate much more after actually cooking with something than I do when reading the product description.
Why I Bought It
My main reason for getting the BRYN was convenience. I already enjoy grilling, but not every food is equally pleasant to cook on a normal grill. If I am making larger pieces of meat, steaks or anything that can sit comfortably on the grates, I have no problem.
It is the smaller stuff that gets irritating. Trying to grill vegetables means constantly moving them around so they cook evenly without burning. Smaller pieces can fall through the grates, and if I am cooking something like shrimp or chopped vegetables, I end up paying far more attention to the grill than I actually want to.
I wanted something that would let me throw everything together, keep it contained and still get that proper grilled flavour.
My Experience Using the BRYN Rolling Grill Basket
The first thing I liked about the BRYN was how straightforward it was. I could put the vegetables or smaller food into the basket, close it and place it directly on the grill. Once it was cooking, I could roll the basket instead of standing there trying to flip every individual piece.
That sounds like a small difference, but it actually makes grilling small foods much less tedious. Normally, if I have vegetables spread across the grill, I have to keep checking them and moving them around because some pieces will be closer to the hotter areas than others. With the basket, I can simply give it a roll and turn a whole batch at once.
I also like that the basket is open rather than completely enclosed. The whole reason I grill is because I want that direct heat and smoky flavour, and I didn’t want something that essentially turns the food into steamed vegetables sitting inside a metal container.
The open mesh lets the heat and smoke reach the food, while the basket keeps everything where it is supposed to be. That makes much more sense to me than putting small foods into foil and losing that direct contact with the grill environment.
The basket is particularly useful for vegetables. I can load it up with things like peppers, onions, mushrooms or smaller pieces that would otherwise be annoying to manage individually. It also works well for other small foods that I would normally worry about losing through the grates.
The rolling part is probably my favourite feature because it eliminates so much of the fiddling around. Instead of grabbing tongs and trying to turn twenty individual pieces, I just roll the basket. It is one of those things that seems almost too simple to make much difference until you actually use it.
I did have to get used to handling the basket when it was hot. The removable handle helps with that, and I like being able to take the handle off when I want to close the grill lid. The included hook is also useful for handling the hot basket without getting my hands too close to it.
The other thing I appreciated was cleanup. I would much rather wash one basket than scrape a bunch of little pieces of burnt vegetables off my grill grates. Since the basket is stainless steel and dishwasher-safe, cleaning it afterwards is relatively straightforward.
Does the BRYN Actually Cook Food Evenly?
For the type of food it is designed for, yes, and that is really the point. The rolling motion means I can rotate the food without having to individually turn everything. It does not magically make every piece identical, because food is food and some pieces will always cook faster than others, but it makes the process much more manageable.
I also like being able to move the entire basket to a different part of the grill if one area is getting too hot. That gives me considerably more control than having a pile of vegetables spread directly across the grates.
What I Loved
The rolling design is genuinely useful. I also love that the basket doesn’t completely isolate the food from the grill. I still get the direct heat and smoke that I actually want when grilling, while the mesh keeps smaller pieces contained.
The stainless-steel construction feels appropriate for something that is going to spend its life sitting over a hot grill, and the fact that it can go into the dishwasher makes it much more practical for regular use.
Most importantly, it solves an actual grilling annoyance for me. It isn’t trying to replace my grill or turn grilling into some complicated new technique. It simply makes certain foods easier to cook.
What I Didn’t Love
- It is not something I would use for every type of food.
- The basket takes up some grill space.
- You still need to pay attention to cooking times because smaller pieces can cook quickly.
- Handling a hot basket requires some care.
- If you mostly grill steaks, burgers and other large foods, you probably won’t get nearly as much use out of it.
Is the BRYN Rolling Grill Basket Worth It?
For me, yes. I think the value comes down to how often you grill smaller foods. If you rarely make grilled vegetables, shrimp or other small pieces, this might end up sitting in a cupboard most of the time.
But if you grill those things regularly, I can see this becoming one of those accessories that you reach for without thinking about it. I also prefer it to some of the more disposable grilling solutions because this is something I can keep using rather than throwing away after every cookout.
Who I Think Will Love It
I think the BRYN is particularly useful if you:
- Grill vegetables frequently.
- Cook shrimp or other small foods.
- Hate losing food through the grill grates.
- Don’t enjoy flipping lots of individual pieces.
- Want to keep using direct heat and smoke.
- Want an easier cleanup after grilling.
Who Should Skip It
I would skip it if your grilling routine mostly consists of steaks, burgers, chicken breasts and other larger foods that already sit comfortably on the grill.
You could still use it, but you probably wouldn’t get enough benefit from it to make it worth adding another piece of equipment to your grill setup.
Alternatives
- Traditional flat grill basket
- Cast-iron grill pan
- Vegetable grilling tray
Conclusion
The BRYN Rolling Grill Basket ended up being one of those grilling accessories that actually solves a problem I have. I don’t need it every time I use the grill, but when I’m cooking vegetables, shrimp or other smaller foods, it makes the whole process easier. I can keep everything together, roll the basket instead of individually flipping every piece and still get the direct heat and smoky flavour that made me want to grill in the first place.
The fact that it is stainless steel and dishwasher safe is also a big plus because I don’t want a grill accessory that creates another annoying cleanup job.
Would I buy it again?
Yes. It is not an essential piece of grilling equipment, but I find myself seeing the point of it now that I’ve used it. For smaller foods especially, it makes grilling noticeably less fiddly.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, particularly if you already grill vegetables, shrimp or other small foods regularly. It isn’t going to revolutionise the grill, but it doesn’t need to. It takes one of the more annoying parts of grilling small foods and makes it considerably easier.
Also read my similar review of the Rocket Chef Grill