Best Smoker Accessories (2026)
The smoker accessories worth buying first, from a leave-in thermometer and chimney starter to butcher paper, gloves and a slicing knife.
A new smoker is only half the setup. The right handful of tools makes your fire easier to start, your temperatures easier to trust and your brisket easier to slice. These are the accessories reviewers and pitmasters most often call essential, in rough order of what to buy first.
Our picks at a glance
- Buy this first: ThermoWorks Smoke 2-Channel Thermometer
- Best instant-read: ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
- Best fire starter: Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
- Best smoke booster: A-MAZE-N 12-Inch Tube Smoker
- Best wrap: Bryco Goods Pink Butcher Paper Roll
- Best heat gloves: Grill Heat Aid Extreme Heat Resistant BBQ Gloves
- Best slicing knife: Mercer Culinary Millennia 11-Inch Granton Slicer
- Best cutting board: SoulFino Bamboo Butcher Block
1. ThermoWorks Smoke 2-Channel Thermometer
Best for: Anyone who smokes low and slow
The Smoke tracks two probes at once, usually one in the meat and one at the grate, and sends readings to a handheld receiver you can carry around the house. Built-in smoker thermometers are often off by a lot, so this is the single biggest upgrade most people can make. Owners praise its accuracy and simple setup. ThermoWorks is one of the most trusted names in food thermometers.
What we like
- Tracks meat and smoker temperature together
- Wireless receiver with alarms
- Simple to set up and use
Keep in mind
- Only two probes on the base model
2. ThermoWorks Thermapen ONE
Best for: Checking doneness in several spots
The Thermapen ONE gives a reading in about one second, which makes it easy to probe a brisket or a whole chicken in several places before you pull it. It has an auto-rotating backlit screen and is water resistant. It's expensive for a handheld thermometer, but owners often say it's the one tool they'd replace first if it broke.
What we like
- Very fast, accurate reads
- Backlit, auto-rotating display
- Long warranty
Keep in mind
- Pricey for an instant-read
3. Weber Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Best for: Kettle, kamado and offset owners
A chimney starter lights a full load of charcoal in about 15 to 20 minutes with no lighter fluid. Weber's version is sturdy, holds enough for a 22-inch kettle and has a heat shield on the handle. It's cheap and lasts for years. Pair it with a couple of fire starter cubes or a sheet of newspaper.
What we like
- No lighter fluid needed
- Big capacity
- Sturdy build
Keep in mind
- Gets very hot, so use gloves
4. A-MAZE-N 12-Inch Tube Smoker
Best for: Pellet, gas and electric smoker owners
This stainless tube holds wood pellets and smolders for hours, adding extra smoke to a pellet grill, gas grill or electric smoker. It's also how many people cold-smoke cheese and nuts. Owners say it adds real smoke flavor for very little money. Keep it away from wind so it doesn't go out.
What we like
- Adds smoke to any grill
- Works for cold smoking
- Cheap and simple
Keep in mind
- Can go out in windy weather
5. Bryco Goods Pink Butcher Paper Roll
Best for: Wrapping brisket and ribs
Unwaxed, food-grade pink butcher paper lets a brisket breathe while it pushes through the stall, so the bark stays firmer than it would in foil. Bryco's 18-inch roll is one of the most popular on Amazon and owners say it holds up when it gets wet. One roll lasts many cooks. Our butcher paper roundup covers more options.
What we like
- Unwaxed and food grade
- Holds up when wet
- Made in the USA
Keep in mind
- 18-inch width is tight for very large briskets
6. Grill Heat Aid Extreme Heat Resistant BBQ Gloves
Best for: Handling hot grates and charcoal
These aramid fiber gloves let you move a hot grate, adjust a chimney or shift a hot water pan without grabbing a towel. They're flexible enough to grip tongs. They are not waterproof, so wear food-safe nitrile gloves over cotton liners when you handle juicy meat. Our BBQ gloves roundup covers both kinds.
What we like
- Good dexterity for heat gloves
- Long cuffs protect wrists
Keep in mind
- Not for handling wet, greasy meat
7. Mercer Culinary Millennia 11-Inch Granton Slicer
Best for: Slicing brisket and big roasts
A long, thin slicing knife cuts brisket in one smooth stroke instead of sawing and tearing the bark. The Mercer Millennia is a favorite in restaurant kitchens and BBQ joints because it holds an edge and costs far less than premium brands. The scalloped Granton edge helps slices fall away from the blade. It's a big upgrade over a chef's knife for BBQ.
What we like
- Long blade for clean slices
- Low price for the quality
- Comfortable grippy handle
Keep in mind
- Hand wash only
8. SoulFino Bamboo Butcher Block
Best for: Resting and slicing large cuts
Brisket and pork butt need a big board with a deep groove to catch the juices. This bamboo board is large enough for a full packer brisket and has a groove around the edge. Owners like that it's heavy and doesn't slide around while you slice. Oil it now and then to keep it from drying out.
What we like
- Big enough for a whole brisket
- Deep juice groove
Keep in mind
- Needs occasional oiling
- Heavy to wash
What to buy first
If you only buy one thing, make it a leave-in thermometer. Most built-in smoker gauges sit high in the lid and can read 25°F or more off from what's happening at the grate. A two-probe thermometer tells you both the cooker and meat temperature, which is how you know when food is done. Our meat thermometer roundup has more choices.
After that, the order depends on your smoker:
| If you have… | Buy next |
|---|---|
| Charcoal kettle, kamado or offset | Chimney starter, heat gloves, good charcoal |
| Pellet grill | Tube smoker for extra smoke, butcher paper |
| Electric smoker | Tube smoker, quality wood chips |
| Any smoker | Thermometer, slicing knife, big cutting board |
Nice-to-have extras
Rib rack. Holds racks of ribs on edge so you can fit more on a small grate.
Spray bottle. Fill with apple juice or water and spritz the meat to keep the surface from drying out.
Gasket kit. If you own an offset smoker, a high-temp gasket seals the doors and helps hold temperature.
Food-safe disposable gloves. Nitrile gloves keep rubs off your hands and make pulling pork much easier. See our best BBQ gloves for both heat and food gloves.
Butcher paper. Compare rolls and widths in our best butcher paper for smoking guide.
Gear you can skip
Grill gadget kits. Big tool sets with a dozen pieces often include flimsy tongs and spatulas you won't use. Buy a single good pair of long tongs instead.
Wire bristle brushes. Loose bristles can stick in food. Use a bristle-free brush or a scraper.
Fancy injectors and mops at first. These are fun later, but they don't fix a fire that won't hold temperature. Start with a thermometer and solid fuel.
Cheap single-probe thermometers. Many go out of calibration fast. A trusted brand pays off over years of cooks.
Keeping it simple
Most great barbecue comes from a steady fire, a good thermometer and patience. Buy the basics first, cook a few times, then add extras as you learn what you need. That way you spend money on tools that solve your real problems.
Fuel matters too
Accessories only help if the fire is steady. Pick a good bag from our best charcoal for smoking list. For a gift-friendly version of this list, see our best gifts for BBQ lovers.
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