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10 Essential Pellet Grill & Smoker Accessories
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On their own, pellet smokers are capable of just about any kind of cooking style you want. They burn wood pellets for smoking, can maintain stable temperatures in the baking range, and some are even built with designs that allow for direct-flame searing. It’s clear that pellet smokers are naturally among the most versatile cooking machines out there, and that’s a big reason why they’re the fastest-growing category of grills in the outdoor industry today. But a pellet grill with all the right accessories? Now you’re really cooking.
From fuel storage to grilling tools to add-ons that increase a pellet smoker’s performance and longevity, there are hundreds of pellet grill accessories on the market. Using a pellet grill is simple enough as it is thanks to dialed-in temperatures and smartphone apps that walk you through each step of recipes, but having a dependable set of accessories can make it even easier to create consistently delicious dishes. To help you identify which add-ons can elevate your grill game, we’ve picked 10 of our favorite pellet smoker accessories.
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Wood Pellets
It doesn’t get any more essential than the fuel your grill uses. Pellet cookers are powered by electricity but create combustion with all-natural, hardwood pellets, which are made of compressed sawdust and contain no additives. Most pellets blend the flavor species (apple, hickory, mesquite, etc.) with alder or oak, 2 flavorless woods that are also readily available and safe to cook with. Be aware that you should never use heating pellets in a pellet smoker because they’re often made of woods with unpleasant flavors and binders that might be altogether unsafe to consume.
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Remote BBQ Thermometers (Wi-Fi/Bluetooth)
While higher-end pellet cookers tend to come with multiple probes that can be synced to smartphone apps, it’s never a bad idea to have extra remote thermometers on hand. They’ll allow you to monitor more pieces of meat than you could with the built-in controller alone, paving the way for bigger cooks and added peace of mind when you step away from the grill to have a few beers with your buddies. Entry-Level pellet grills may not even have a controller capable of monitoring individual temperature probes, in which case you’ll absolutely need a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth thermometer.
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Pellet Storage
Remember how pellets are just compressed sawdust with no adhesives or other binders? That means they should never get wet, or else they’ll turn back into sawdust and become unusable in your pellet grill. Rather than leaving pellets in an ordinary bucket or in the bag — which can get wet when left on the ground — it’s wise to invest in a waterproof container so they’ll stay dry until it’s time to throw them in the pellet hopper. More than one container will likely be necessary if you want to keep extra fuel on hand for longer cooks or just prefer to buy in bulk.
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Grilling & Smoking Racks
When you’ve got flavorful smoke circulating through your pellet cooker, wouldn’t you want to expose as much food to it as possible? Grilling racks enable you to fit extra slabs of brisket, racks of ribs, and whole pork butts inside the uniformly heated barrel of your pellet smoker. Some racks can even be placed vertically within the grill, opening the door for massive cook sessions capable of feeding huge crowds. Maximizing cooking space is the mark of a true grill master, so you should experiment with different types of grill racks until you find the best possible setup for you.
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Grilling & Smoking Tools
With so many awesome pellet grill accessories out there, it’s easy to forget about the basics. Tools like a spatula and tongs are essential no matter what kind of grill you have, while meat forks are borderline necessary when handling giant meats like pork loin or a rack of ribs on a pellet smoker. Leather gloves and a good apron also come in handy when dealing with briskets that need to be wrapped, unwrapped, and moved into a cooler to rest. You’ll be doing a lot of BBQ smoking in your pellet cooker, so make sure to grab a basting brush to coat your meat in mouthwatering sauces.
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Pellet Grill Covers
We strongly recommend grill covers for every type of grill, but they’re especially important for pellet smokers. These grills contain electrical components that are essential to operation, and if they were to become wet, your pellet cooker would basically become an expensive paperweight. The only way to be totally confident that excess water won’t creep into the guts of our grill is to use a grill cover that fits your specific model. While shielding electrical connections is crucial, having the right cover will also protect the exterior of the grill from the elements.
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Brisket-Slicing Knives
Is there anything more beautiful than a clean knife cut right through a dripping brisket? That glistening perfection can be yours with expertly crafted brisket-slicing knives, which were forged to cut through even the toughest cuts of meat. We suspect you’ll be tempted to use these blades on much more than briskets, and you’ll be rewarded with easy slices through other meats, grilled veggies, and even freshly baked bread. Our selection of brisket knives comes from both Japanese and European manufacturers, allowing you to choose the style that works best in your kitchen.
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Marinades & Rubs
To enhance the delicious, smoky flavors you get with a pellet cooker, it’s best to have a variety of marinades and dry rubs on hand. Good seasonings can make all the difference, especially when it comes to slow cooks where they have more time to bind to your ribs, brisket, or whole chicken. Sauces in particular can be a real game-changer in pellet smokers because smoke sticks to wet surfaces better than dry surfaces. Basting meat with a great BBQ sauce both before and during your smoke session is a sure-fire way to bring the best out of your pellet cooker and delight guests hungry for competition-level BBQ.
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Ash Vacuums for Pellet Grills
Keeping a clean pellet grill is the key to repeated smoking success, and it’s often as easy as clearing out leftover ash inside the grill body. But when the time comes to get your hands dirty, you don’t actually have to get your hands dirty! Using an ash vacuum is the simplest and quickest way to keep your smoker in peak condition — just plug in your battery and get to work. Ash vacuums come with fire-safe filters in the event you pick up still-lit embers, along with a variety of nozzle attachments for customizable cleanup. Never clean out your pellet grill by hand again!
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Cast Iron Cookware
Though many modern pellet grills are equipped with designs and accessories for searing, some models still struggle to reach the high temperatures necessary for this popular cooking technique. Cast iron cookware is a great solution to this problem because cast iron is excellent at conducting and retaining high heat. Just place a cast iron skillet on your pellet cooker while grilling your steak, then give your meat a reserve-sear in the skillet for a deliciously caramelized crust. Additionally, cast iron pans can heat veggies while bigger cuts of meat cook on the grill grates.
