5 Blackstone Accessories You Really Don't Need To Waste Money On

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In the Blackstone community, it's commonly known that once you purchase your first griddle, you enter an entirely new culinary world. Owners regularly call the outdoor all-in-one cooking appliance life-changing, saying that they use it multiple times a week because it works for any meal. When you're inducted into this lifestyle, you might be tempted to buy every accessory on the market. However, experts who have owned theirs for years caution newbies against this, as an added disadvantage of Blackstone griddles is that some of the brand's accessories are gimmicks that are low-quality, unnecessary, or just a waste of money.

While some basic tools are must-haves from day one — like a heavy-duty spatula, scraper, scoop, tongs, wind guards, and cover — there are plenty of others you don't need to buy right away. As you get to know your grill and experiment with different recipes and cooking styles, you can always buy new utensils and gadgets as you find a use for them. Other Blackstone accessories aren't worth purchasing because they don't work properly, are low-quality, or cost more than those from other brands. Even the biggest Blackstone fans admit that there are plenty of affordable grilling tools that you can buy at Walmart or other retailers that work better than Blackstone products. 

If you're curious about which accessories are crucial for beginners and which you can live without, read on for the five Blackstone accessories you don't need to waste money on.

The accessories you'll need for your Blackstone depend on how you plan to use it. If you know you'll never make breakfast for five, you don't need to purchase the brand's Essential Breakfast Kit. However, you'll need basic tools no matter what you're cooking up, and Redditors have plenty of tips and tricks for using a Blackstone griddle and what to use on it. It might seem logical to buy an all-in-one, 20-item kit, but if you only end up needing three, it'll be a waste. Plus, customers complain that these kits contain low-quality items. They regularly recommend buying them separately from another retailer or a restaurant supply store where they're more affordable and durable.

In a Reddit post asking if a kit spotted at Costco is worth the price, a commenter said that "their spatulas are the worst quality I have ever had (super flimsy/bend at the handle), and one of the squeeze bottles broke the first day I used it. I have found the quality in Blackstone accessories to be very inconsistent." Ultimately, if a kit includes items you know you'll use right away and would cost more purchased separately, it's a good value. But huge sets that cost a lot of money aren't a great buy when you aren't sure which tools you'll need, and they may include flimsy items that will break quickly. Instead, buy high-quality individual accessories or get tools elsewhere.

A Blackstone griddle can last for decades or even a lifetime if it is properly cared for, and that includes cleaning it regularly. While Blackstone recommends using scouring pads to get the job done, and even sells branded ones, most users agree that they aren't really necessary. Although scouring pads can remove stuck-on debris from pots, pans, and dishes, your griddle more heavy-duty. According to users, the best cleaning tools are a griddle scraper, water, blue shop towels, and oil. If you are dealing with stubborn debris, loosen it with water, then use the metal scraper to get under and dislodge it. After cleaning, coat your griddle with oil or a cast iron conditioner.

On a Reddit post asking if the pads were worth buying, someone responded, "You don't need these. While [the grill is] hot scrape with a scraper, wipe with a wet towel (using [an] insulated glove), then [spray] with some water and wipe again, then add a little oil and wipe it around." This advice is repeated across Reddit. One person admitted, "I've never used a scrub pad or stone on my Blackstone. going on 2.5 [years]." Others say the pads melt if they're used on a hot griddle. One Redditor said, "These will melt right after cooking ... makes more of a mess." Another person agreed, adding, "they melt to the point where it's like rubbing smooth plastic on a greasy griddle."

You can and should cook eggs on your Blackstone griddle, as long as you know the right way to do it. You don't need a fancy gadget to make perfect fried eggs — if your griddle is preheated properly, all you need is a spatula to push the egg whites into a round shape. Molds are usually more trouble than they're worth, especially if you buy low-quality ones. You'll deal with leaking, sticking, and melting, and they will end up just taking up space in a drawer or being tossed out.

One Blackstone owner on Reddit said, "After going through 3 different types, I've given up on ring molds altogether. I now just make sure the griddle is up to temp and crack the eggs on slowly." Another said, "I have the silicone [egg molds] and I never use them. I'd rather just make the eggs right on the griddle top." Other customers admit they have only used them once due to issues like leaking, sticking, warping, and burnt eggs.

In a different Reddit post asking for help using the molds, a customer said, "The edge of the mold at the top doesn't lay flat. The contents leak outside." Although some customers recommend using nonstick cooking spray or raw egg to seal the mold to the griddle, and others say that the 4-inch single egg mold that Blackstone makes works better than the six-ring set, most agree that the tool is unnecessary unless you're intent on creating picture-perfect fried eggs.

If you've never heard of a butter roller, you aren't missing out on much. This small kitchen gadget consists of a perforated cylinder fixed over a pan or container that you can run your bread along to coat it with butter. If you're not buttering bread for a ton of people, this gadget probably isn't a must-have. Most Blackstone owners say that the best way to soften butter when grilling is in the microwave or on the griddle itself.

In a Reddit post, a commenter said, "The one I have has to have like 3-4 sticks worth of butter in it before there's enough for it to actually work. In a restaurant it would be great, but not at home." Another Redditor pointed out its pitfalls, explaining, "[You] need a couple sticks of butter to ensure [it's] coated well enough" and that the device is hard to store once used. On Facebook, another Blackstone fan said the gadget is "cool and does the job but a complete pain in the a**." 

Others called it a waste, saying that they only used it twice and that using cooking spray or microwaving the butter to soften it is a better option. On person even said, "It takes so much butter for the wheel to work and then if you're not going to butter 100 buns it doesn't seem worth it."

Squeeze bottles are a fixture of restaurant kitchens for a reason, and they're a must-have if you grill regularly. However, not all are created equal, and Blackstone customers think the brand's products lack. Customers call them overpriced and low-quality. In a post on Reddit asking for opinions on the bottles, hundreds of commenters soundly agreed that they, and many other Blackstone-branded accessories, were not worth buying. The biggest complaint about the bottles is that they leak. 

On a different Reddit post, a user asked for recommendations for different brands, saying, "The Blackstone brand ones are trash." One person recommended FIFO inverted plastic squeeze bottles from a restaurant supply store, and others suggested OXO squeeze bottles. You don't need to spend a lot of money; one person added, "I use the Expert Grill branded squirt bottles from Walmart. They were like $.97 each." Another mentioned squeeze bottles from Dollar Tree that worked just fine. 

Customers say they repurpose empty water, Sriracha, ketchup, mayo, or mustard bottles to use for oil. If you want to stick with Blackstone products, you can try the brand's square-shaped squeeze bottles. A few customers have said that those work well without leaking or dripping.