7 BBQ Accessories Worth Adding to Your Grill Kit
ThermoPro TP20 changes results more than any other grill tool, since two probes track meat and chamber heat at once. Kona 360 Clean scrubs grates without wire bristles. Cuisinart CGS-134 supplies tongs, spatula and fork in one stainless kit. Start with the thermometer if you buy only one.
ThermoPro TP20 leads here because temperature control fixes more grilling mistakes than any gadget. Kona 360 Clean handles grate cleaning without wire bristles in the food. For basic tools, Cuisinart CGS-134 covers tongs, spatula and fork in one purchase.
Grill aisles fill up with single purpose gadgets that come out once and then sit in a drawer for years. We compared current listings on materials, heat tolerance, storage size and cleaning effort, then asked whether an ordinary kitchen tool already does the same job. Owner feedback about durability across several seasons settled the close calls.
The shortlist, ranked
ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Meat Thermometer
Two probes run together, so meat temperature and chamber temperature appear on one receiver. Wireless range lets you stay indoors while a pork shoulder climbs toward target. Presets for beef, poultry and lamb save beginners from guessing at doneness.
Pros
- Reads food and chamber heat on one screen
- Receiver works from inside the house
- Presets remove guesswork for new cooks
Cons
- Probe cables need routing away from hot lids
- Two units to keep batteries in
Kona 360 Clean Grill Brush
Coiled stainless replaces bristles, so no wire strand can break loose into food. Each pass wraps the bar rather than skimming its top face. Heat does half the work: scrub while the grate is still hot and residue lifts quickly.
Pros
- No loose bristles to end up in food
- Cleans the sides of bars, not just the top
- Handle length keeps knuckles clear of flame
Cons
- Works poorly on a cold grate
- Coils flatten under heavy scrubbing
Cuisinart CGS-134 Deluxe Grill Set
Stainless tongs, spatula and fork arrive in a carry case that keeps them together between cookouts. Handle length puts your wrist well back from the coals. Build is lighter than forged single tools, though every piece goes in the dishwasher.
Pros
- Three core tools in one purchase
- Reach keeps hands away from the fire
- Dishwasher safe stainless
Cons
- Lighter build than forged single tools
- Fork pierces meat and lets juice escape
Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Grill Griddle
One face carries ribs for sear marks, the other stays flat for eggs, onions and smash burgers. Cast iron stores heat, so a cold batch of vegetables does not stall the surface. Weight and seasoning are what that heat retention costs you.
Pros
- Holds foods that drop between grate bars
- Retains heat for a genuine sear
- Doubles as a stovetop pan indoors
Cons
- Heavy and awkward to move while hot
- Needs drying and oiling after each wash
Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket
Hinged sides close over asparagus or a salmon fillet, so one motion flips the whole batch. Perforations let smoke reach the food, which a solid pan blocks entirely. Cleaning means working a brush through those same holes.
Pros
- Turns a full batch in one movement
- Perforations keep smoke on the food
- Stainless survives repeated seasons
Cons
- Perforations trap marinade and char
- Occupies a large share of the grate
Grillaholics Grill Mat Set
Coated mats lie flat across the bars and stop shrimp, sliced peppers and sticky glazes from dropping into the fire. Cleanup is a wipe or a dishwasher cycle. Moderate heat only: sustained searing temperatures break the coating down.
Pros
- Adds a solid cooking surface with no extra weight
- Nothing falls through the grate
- Rolls up small for storage
Cons
- Not suited to high heat searing
- Blocks grate marks and direct char
Blackstone 5060 Griddle Accessory Kit
Flat top cooking needs wide spatulas, a scraper and squeeze bottles, and none of those ship with a grate style grill. This kit bundles them in stainless so you order once. Owners of kettle and gas grate grills gain nothing from it.
Pros
- Blade shapes match a flat cooking surface
- Scraper pushes grease toward the tray
- Covers griddle tools in one purchase
Cons
- No use on a grate style grill
- Handles feel basic beside forged tools
How to pick the right one
What to look for in BBQ accessories Four jobs cover almost everything sold in the grill aisle: measuring heat, handling food, cleaning grates and adding a cooking surface. Buy in that order and the drawer stays useful. Length is the spec that separates grill tools from kitchen tools, and 16 inches is a sensible floor for tongs and spatulas. Stainless shafts hold their shape beside flame where plastic softens and wood splits.
Which thermometer should you buy for grilling? Instant read probes suit burgers, chops and chicken breasts that cook in minutes. Leave in probes with a receiver earn their place on brisket, pork shoulder and any cook running past two hours. Dual probe models add chamber temperature, which is the number you steer with vents or a burner dial. Owners report that second reading is what turns a kettle into a predictable smoker.
Is a bristle free grill brush safer? Loose strands from worn wire brushes have reached food and caused documented injuries. Coiled stainless heads, wooden scrapers and pumice grill stones avoid the failure mode by design. Whichever you pick, scrub a hot grate, then look along the bars before food goes down. Retire any brush whose head has started to splay or shed.
Best BBQ accessories for vegetables, fish and small food Grate bars sit far enough apart for steak, so shrimp, sliced peppers and flaky fish drop straight through. Cast iron griddles solve that and give the strongest sear, at roughly twice the weight of a basket. Hinged baskets keep smoke on the food and flip a batch in one move. Coated mats clean up fastest but cannot take searing heat, so reserve them for chicken pieces and vegetables.
The lineup, side by side
| # | Model | Probes | Best for | Score | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ThermoPro TP20 Wireless Meat Thermometer | Two stainless probes included | Best overall | 9.4 | Check price |
| 2 | Kona 360 Clean Grill Brush | Bristle free coiled stainless | Best grill cleaner | 9.2 | Check price |
| 3 | Cuisinart CGS-134 Deluxe Grill Set | Tongs, spatula and fork | Best value tool set | 9.0 | Check price |
| 4 | Lodge Cast Iron Reversible Grill Griddle | Seasoned cast iron | Best for small foods | 8.7 | Check price |
| 5 | Weber Deluxe Grilling Basket | Stainless steel | Best for vegetables and fish | 8.5 | Check price |
| 6 | Grillaholics Grill Mat Set | Coated non stick mat | Best budget | 8.2 | Check price |
| 7 | Blackstone 5060 Griddle Accessory Kit | Spatulas, scraper and bottles | Best for flat top grills | 8.0 | Check price |
Good to know
What BBQ accessory should a beginner buy first?
A probe thermometer. Cooking to temperature rather than to a timer fixes dry chicken and undercooked pork in one step. Tongs from the kitchen drawer will do until you replace them.
Are wire bristle grill brushes dangerous?
There is a documented risk of strands breaking off and sticking to the grate, then ending up in food. Bristle free coils and scrapers remove that risk. If you keep a wire brush, replace it as soon as bristles loosen and inspect the bars before cooking.
How do you clean a cast iron griddle after grilling?
Scrape it while still warm, rinse briefly and dry it fully over heat. Wipe a thin film of oil across the surface to protect the seasoning. Long soaking and harsh detergent strip that layer and invite rust.
Do grill mats change the flavour?
Direct contact with the bars disappears, so grate marks and some char go with it. Smoke still circulates around the edges and over the top. For shrimp and vegetables that trade makes sense, for a ribeye it does not.
Can you use kitchen tongs on a grill?
They work in a pinch, but the short arms put your hand close to the coals. Silicone tips also soften and scorch over direct flame. Long stainless tongs remove both problems.
Which is better, a grill basket or skewers?
Baskets load faster and turn everything at once, which suits loose vegetables and shrimp. Skewers portion by person and present better at the table. Plenty of cooks keep both and choose by the meal.
Do flat top griddles need different tools?
Yes. Wide spatulas, a bench scraper and squeeze bottles do the work there, while tongs and a wire brush sit unused. Griddle surfaces are also cleaned with water and a scraper rather than a brush.
How should grill tools be stored over winter?
Indoors and dry. Stainless still spots in a damp shed, and wooden handles crack through freeze cycles. Hanging tools keeps handles straight and spatula edges from bending against each other.
Is a dual probe thermometer worth it on a gas grill?
It helps whenever you cook with the lid down. The chamber probe shows real grate level heat, which often differs from the lid mounted gauge by a wide margin. For quick open lid searing, one instant read probe is enough.
The verdict
Buy the ThermoPro TP20 first, because knowing the internal temperature fixes more meals than anything else on this list. Kona 360 Clean keeps grates safe to cook on, and Cuisinart CGS-134 covers the three tools you reach for every session. Add the Lodge reversible griddle once you want shrimp, eggs and vegetables on the grill alongside steak.
Sierra Daniels
Sierra's background is in landscape design and nursery retail. She focuses on lawn and garden equipment, outdoor furniture and gear durability, weighing published specs against how materials actually hold up outside.
