Beyond the grill itself, a handful of accessories make the difference between guessing your way through a cookout and actually controlling the result. Here’s what’s worth having before your next grilling season, not after you’ve already ruined a few dinners.
A real instant-read or probe thermometer
Cutting into meat to check if it’s done lets juices escape and still doesn’t tell you the actual internal temperature. An instant-read meat thermometer gives a reading in seconds without guesswork. For longer cooks — a whole chicken, a roast, low-and-slow ribs — a leave-in probe thermometer like the ThermoPro dual-probe wireless thermometer lets you monitor temperature from a distance without opening the lid repeatedly, which itself slows cooking by letting heat escape.
A complete tool set, not a loose collection
Long-handled tongs, a wide spatula, and a basting brush cover most of what you’ll reach for mid-cook. A stainless steel BBQ tool set bundles these with a case, which matters more than it sounds — loose grill tools tend to get scattered, rust in a drawer, or go missing exactly when you need them.
A grill cover sized to your model
A properly fitted waterproof grill cover is the single cheapest thing you can do to extend the life of a grill left outdoors — it keeps rain out of the firebox and prevents the control knobs and lid hinges from rusting, which are usually the first parts to fail on an uncovered grill.
A grill basket for vegetables and smaller foods
Standard grates have gaps wide enough to lose smaller vegetables, shrimp, or sliced items straight through onto the burner. A stainless steel grill basket solves this by containing smaller pieces while still letting them pick up real grill char, and it’s one of the most-used accessories for anyone who grills vegetables regularly rather than just meat.
A grill mat to protect your patio surface
Grease spatter and dropped coals or embers can stain or damage wood decking, pavers, and concrete over time. A grill splatter mat placed under the grill catches drips and makes end-of-season cleanup of the patio surface itself far easier than scrubbing grease stains out of decking or pavers after the fact.
A rotisserie kit, if you cook whole birds or roasts often
A rotisserie attachment kit rotates food continuously over the heat, which bastes it in its own juices as it turns and produces noticeably more even cooking and a crispier exterior on whole chickens, roasts, and large cuts than static grilling achieves. It’s a niche accessory, but for anyone who grills whole birds regularly, it’s a genuine upgrade rather than a gimmick.
Cleaning tools, kept separate from cooking tools
A dedicated bristle-free grill cleaning brush and a narrow burner-port brush (see our grill maintenance guide for the full routine) belong in a separate spot from your cooking utensils, since mixing degreaser-covered cleaning brushes with food-contact tools is both unsanitary and a good way to transfer cleaning chemical residue onto food.
Heat-resistant gloves
Oven mitts aren’t designed for the heat levels or open-flame proximity grilling involves. Heat-resistant grilling gloves rated for high temperatures let you handle hot grates, move a rotisserie spit, or adjust a charcoal chimney without the constant fear of a burn.
Priority order if you’re starting from scratch
- Instant-read thermometer (prevents the most common mistake: over- or undercooking)
- Basic tool set (tongs, spatula, brush)
- Grill cover (protects your biggest investment)
- Cleaning brush + burner-port brush
- Heat-resistant gloves
- Grill basket and splatter mat (quality-of-life upgrades once the basics are covered)
- Rotisserie kit, only if whole-bird/roast cooking is a regular thing for you
Buying Considerations: Material Quality Actually Matters Here
Grill accessories see repeated exposure to high heat, grease, and outdoor storage, so material quality affects lifespan more than with most kitchen tools. Stainless steel tools and baskets resist warping and rust far longer than chrome-plated or painted alternatives, which tend to chip or peel after a season or two of regular use and high-heat exposure. For thermometers specifically, check the probe cable’s heat rating if you plan to leave it in the grill with the lid closed — a cable rated only for ambient air temperature can degrade quickly inside a closed grill running at cooking temperature, while probes rated for oven-safe or grill-safe use handle sustained heat without the wiring breaking down.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I really need both an instant-read and a leave-in probe thermometer?
For quick weeknight grilling, an instant-read alone covers most needs. If you regularly do longer cooks — whole chickens, roasts, ribs — a leave-in probe saves you from repeatedly opening the lid to check progress, which measurably extends cook time by letting heat escape each time.
Are grill baskets only useful for vegetables?
No — grill baskets work well for anything prone to falling through standard grates, including shrimp, sliced fruit, smaller fish fillets, and diced potatoes, in addition to typical vegetables like peppers and onions.
Is a charcoal chimney starter worth buying if I mostly use a gas grill?
Only if you occasionally cook over charcoal for flavor on a separate charcoal grill or smoker — a chimney starter is specific to lighting charcoal quickly and safely without lighter fluid, and has no use on a pure gas setup. Gas grill owners generally don’t need one unless they also own charcoal equipment.
Storage and Organization
A drawer or small cart near the grill keeps tools, gloves, and cleaning brushes from migrating into kitchen drawers or getting left out in the weather. Many mid-range and premium grills include side shelves or small built-in drawers specifically for this, and using them consistently — rather than carrying tools back and forth from the kitchen each session — is a small habit that meaningfully reduces lost or rusted-out accessories over a season.
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