Whether you already own an outdoor griddle or you’re thinking about purchasing one… at one point or another, you’ll turn your attention to griddle accessories.
And, more specifically: “What are the best griddle accessories?”
It’s a great question, and of course… everyone seems to have an opinion about it! As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer that often sells griddles to our customers, we’ve learned what accessories are most commonly used.
In this article, you’ll learn about the best griddle accessories and the best way to improve your griddle cooking experience.
1. Griddle Spatula
Griddle spatulas are an essential griddle accessory… it’s right in the name! These long, metal spatulas are the easiest way to flip pancakes, bacon, scramble eggs, or even make a stir fry.
There’s a wide variety of griddle spatulas out there, and ultimately, you’ll need to try out a few to determine which style you like best. There’s rounded edges, square edges, wood handles, plastic handles, angled edges, and more.
2. Griddle Scraper
When it comes to cleaning your Blackstone griddle, a griddle scraper will be your best friend. The format of a wide metal scraper with a handle makes it easy to chip off debris from your most recent cook. Burned cheese, sugars, and the like can be removed much easier with the help of a griddle scraper. Use it right after every cook, and season your griddle like normal.
Considering Building a Griddle into an Outdoor Kitchen?
3. Melting Dome
While not an absolute essential, melting domes are incredibly useful for most dishes you cook on your griddle. Need your cheese to melt faster? Want to generate steam for your vegetables? Need a more even cook on your sausages? A melting dome handles all these needs perfectly and without complaint.
4. Squirt Bottle
Most griddle enthusiasts benefit from having 2+ squirt bottles on hand. At minimum, you’ll likely want a squirt bottle to hold oil, and one to hold water. The oil can be used during cooking, and the water can be used for cleaning or to generate steam in a melting dome (like we just mentioned). You may want a third or fourth bottle to hold oil for seasoning, soy sauce, or any other liquid sauces you use frequently.
5. Burger Press
If you’re a smash burger fanatic, a burger press will be a must-have griddle accessory. Bar none, it’s the easiest way to get a delicious caramelized sear on your patties. Similar to griddle spatulas, there are many different burger press designs. Try out a few and decide what style you prefer!
6. Infrared Thermometer
If you’ve been using a flat top griddle for any length of time… you’ll know that consistent temperatures across the surface are always a constant battle. So to keep proper tabs on your griddle’s heat zones, infrared thermometers are an indispensable tool. Infrared thermometers will help you ensure your griddle is properly preheated and is maintaining the correct temperature throughout your cook.
7. Instant Read Thermometer
If you cook a lot of thicker proteins where proper doneness is an important factor, you’ll also want to ensure you have an instant read thermometer on hand. With proteins like steaks and chicken breasts, it’s critical to cook these meats to the desired temperature… otherwise, they’re inedible! An instant read thermometer will help you make sure your proteins come out perfectly every time.
Bonus: Griddle Cover & Wind Guard
Griddle covers and wind guards are considered “bonus” griddle accessories, because many griddles come with these features right out of the box. If your griddle doesn’t come with these features, it’s well worth considering purchasing each one.
Griddle covers will help keep your griddle top clean when you’re not using it, and also keep moisture off the surface. Most griddle surfaces are rust-prone, so this will significantly reduce your maintenance burden!
Wind guards will help keep your griddle flames from blowing out on a gusty day. If you’ve ever had this happen to you… you know how annoying it is, and it’s well-worth investing in a wind guard for your griddle if you don’t already have one!
What’s the Best Way to Improve Your Griddle Cooking Experience?
Now that you’ve seen the best griddle accessories that provide you with the best value… you might still be wondering if there’s a better way to improve your griddle cooking experience overall.
There is, in fact! If you truly want to take your outdoor cooking experience to the next level… investing in an outdoor kitchen is the next logical project to take on.
Building a griddle into an outdoor kitchen will afford you plenty of countertop space, an area to store all your newfangled griddle accessories… and give you the opportunity to add additional upgrades like a refrigerator, smoker, or even a kegerator!
If you’d like to get an idea of what building a griddle into an outdoor kitchen might look like, this article is a great place to start.
