Published: May 23, 2023 · Updated: Dec 28, 2023 by Laura Fuentes · This post may contain affiliate links

It’s true. Food on a stick is a lot more fun to eat. So we poked veggies, fruit, meat, and everything in between, to test a bunch of kebabs on the grill.

The result: the best skewers for your grilling needs!

Choosing the Best Skewers for Grilling Kabobs

While all skewers can technically do the job, choosing a skewer will ultimately depend on two things: are you willing to take the time to soak the wooden skewer or, you’d rather deal with washing the skewers after? 

While grilling kabobs is a simple thing to do, ultimately the best skewer will be the one that fits your grill and is the right size for the food you’re trying to hold.

Skewers are one of the many grilling accessories and most people benefit from having a couple of different types of skewers on hand.

Are Metal or Wooden Skewers Better?

Since wooden skewers are a single-use item, they’re great if you’d rather not deal with the cleanup and are willing to take the 30 minutes required to soak them in water so they don’t burn. 

Metal skewers do not require soaking, will last a long time, tend to wash easily, and come in various girths for different types of skewers. 

Best Overall Skewers

They must clean easily, can be held after grilling, must be reusable, hold thick pieces of meat, and be able to poke shrimp and veggies without them falling off into the grill.

The longer length holds enough food for one person so you won't need as many skewers. The food went on easily and with the built-in slider onto the plate with minimal effort. They're also easy to hold, washed well, and affordable.

Stainless Steel Skewers

While most reusable skewers are made of stainless steel, it’s their shape, size, and overall design that determines whether it’s worth buying or not. Cheaper ones tend to aggravate the most seasoned grillers so consider spending a little more to invest in stress-free meals.

The double-pronged design holds more ingredients and larger pieces of steak and chicken. Their design prevents food from rotating when you flip so your food cooks evenly. They have a push bar that slides your food off the skewer and onto your plate with ease. They cleaned with minimal effort.

Budget Friendly

If you’re on a budget you have two options: use inexpensive wooden skewers or buy a starter stainless steel set that will last several grilling seasons.

These basic stainless steel skewers are reusable, durable, and you get 12 of them at an unbeatable price point. They come in 12, 14, and 17-inch long so you decide how much food you want to serve poked on a stick! Cleanup is the only downside with the twist design and smaller veggies and shrimp might fall off. Perfect for meat + larger veggies.

Flat Metal Skewers

Flat metal skewers are the best for holding larger pieces of proteins and vegetables without them falling off and down the grill. They come in several widths so the one downside is preventing smaller veggies and shrimp from splitting. Don’t worry, the ones below keep everything on!

These cover all the bases: they hold various types of food well, reusable, durable, and they're dishwasher-safe! The latter is the main reason they've become my go-to when grilling!

Re-useable Skewers

Reusable skewers need to last, hold your food well, wash easily, and be stored away. Whether you’re hosting smaller gatherings or groups, long-term reusable is the way to go.

When you want reusable but are skewing food for a crowd, these do the job well enough and have a storage case. Their slim design holds smaller veggies and shrimp very well, and their longer handle makes them a good choice for marshmallows too!

These cover all the bases: they hold various types of food well, reusable, durable, and they're dishwasher-safe! Plus, they have a storage case to keep them for years to come.

Wooden Skewers

You either love them or hate them but the truth is that wooden skewers often become a top pick for prepping ahead and eliminating cleanup. They come in various thicknesses and lengths, and that will determine what they’ll hold best.

Made from 100% bamboo, these skewers are thicker than most. They can hold everything from steak to veggies, chicken, and shrimp! They also come in different lengths, making them the perfect choice for your grilling needs. I recommend the 12 or 14-inch size for most.

Best for Shrimp

The best wooden skewers for shrimp are smaller and thinner but can still your food on the skewer while grilling.

Their higher-end design allows shrimp, and everything else we tested, to glide easily onto the skewer before grilling and with the built-in slider disk, off after grilling. They're flat so bigger protein pieces stay on as well as thin, making them ideal for smaller ingredients like veggies and shrimp. 

Best for Veggies

When it comes to grilling veggies you can poke them or place them on a tray. Want the most suitable of both worlds? get a skewer basket and hold your items inside without the need to poke!

Whether you have small veggies, a crowded grill, or are simply tired of veggies falling off your skewers, a skewer-turned-basket solves the problem. No poking required!

Best so Meat Doesn’t Fall Off

For meat eaters and larger skewers, the biggest issue is the ability to hold all the weight on the skewer, especially when flipping.

The extra large length and width make these the ideal skewers for steak and large pieces of meat. Veggies like mushrooms, peppers, onions, and zucchini hold on without a glitch. The wider base makes cleanup a breeze and it comes with a case for easy storage.

Best for Marshmallows

There’s a reason there are skewers designed for marshmallows: longer length for safety and a slim end that will fit both regular and jumbo-sized marshmallows. You also don’t want to use your meat skewers for marshmallows since cleanup is stickier.

No more metal clothing hangers! These pronged sticks are THE best option to roast marshmallows and hot dogs to your preferred char level.

No Skewer Method

Want to skip the hassle of poking food through a stick? You have two options, throw all your food on a grilling tray or the skewer-cage method. 

Best Skewer & Kabob Recipes

Need some recipes to get you cooking on your new skewers? I’ve got you covered with one of these kabob recipes. 

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