A barbecue alone just won’t do. Whatever way you look at it, when you buy your first barbecue you are going to need some accessories to get you started.
Before we hit the hot list, here are our two recommendations on buying accessories. And we tell you this because I have made mistakes here on both counts, so this truly is from experience.
First off, you get what you pay for. You are far better off spending a touch more for quality that will last you for years vs a cheap option you have to replace every year. Think of the price as the ‘cost per year of ownership’. If something costs you $100 but lasts a decade, that’s much better than a $30 item that lasts 1 year.
Second, there are many many barbecue accessories on the market. The contrast between every accessory we’ve ever bought vs what we use on a regular basis is vast. Get the essentials. Gimmicks can come later.
Ok, as every tattooer has uttered just before sticking a needle in me…..here we go
- Instant read thermometer
These are digital handheld thermometers and if we had to choose only one accessory, this would be it. There is the obvious fact it tells you the internal temperature of whatever you’re barbecuing, but it’s also a great probing tool that gives you a feel for ‘doneness’ as you cook. There are several options on the market, all with various pros and cons. Do a little research and get an instant read early.
- Chimney starter
A chimney starter is a cylindrical chimney with a handle and a small internal shelf about a quarter of the way up the cylinder. It’s used to light charcoal quickly and safely. Pour unlit charcoal in the top and light from underneath. Chimneys have cutouts all the way around which allow for maximum airflow to get the charcoal lit quickly. Starting charcoal is key, so this is definitely an essential accessory.
We’ll briefly mention butane and gas torches. These are a quick and effective way to light charcoal and pre-heat a barbecue. They are a great option, but we’d still recommend having a chimney starter on hand.
- Gloves
I’ve bundled gloves together here because there are several types of gloves worth having. First up, a pair of heavy-duty hot gloves is a great addition. These allow you to handle hot surfaces, and even in some cases lit charcoal or wood, without fear of losing skin. There are several options on the market, or a good pair of welding gloves works just as well. Second up are cotton gloves. These are great to wear underneath nitrile gloves so you can handle hot meat or surfaces. And finally, nitrile gloves. These provide an easy food safe option to avoid you getting your hands dirty when handling food or greasy surfaces.
- Knives
You’re going to need to trim your meat precook and slice it post cook. Buying knives can be a rabbit hole and you can drop some serious coin on some serious knives if you wish. But in terms of pure functionality, there are two knives I use more than any others for barbecue. A boning knife and a slicer.
The boning knife is a great trimming knife. It’s small and easy to handle and a real work horse. You don’t need to break the bank. $50 will get you a solid boning knife that, provided you look after it, will last for a long time. Second is a slicing/brisket knife. The long blade allows for slicing of any protein, and while it only has one function, I use it a lot. If you do want a couple more knives, I’d recommend a good chef’s knife (santoku is my favourite) and butchers’ knife or scimitar.
- Barbecue tools
Barbecue tools are a must have. There are four tools we use, and I think you should too. Number one and two are tongs. A good pair set aside for food and a good pair set aside for charcoal. There are times you’ll need to move or reposition hot charcoal and a decent pair of long handle tongs is ideal. My advice is to avoid the folded tongs often found in barbecue tool kits and go for the traditional kitchen style options as they are a lot easier to use. Third is a good burger turner. They are a better size than a classic fish slice and can be used for anything from flipping burgers to frying eggs. And last, but not least is a burger press. Great for burger patties or to prevent a steak from folding up during searing,
- A hot plate
Charcoal and wood fueled barbecues generally don’t come with a hotplate. Having one on hand is very convenient for pan searing, smash burgers, onions, eggs and more. I recommend a good hotplate.
- Barbecue cover
Bit of a boring one, but if you are planning on keeping your barbecue outdoors then a cover will increase its life. You may find that a cover comes with your barbecue, but a lot of times it’s an added extra.
- Cleaning gear
Not a glamorous accessory but it does pay to keep your barbecue clean for food safety and to avoid fat fires. A good tool for cleaning grates is extremely handy. Do be careful choosing though, a wire brush is great, but depending on the design the wires can come loose. You certainly don’t want to have someone find a piece of wire in their meal. A pack of heavy-duty barbecue wipes is always good to have as well.
So that’s our list. We know there are many other accessories on the market. Some good, some not so good. But these are the items we use most and ones we’d recommend to anyone starting out in barbecue.
