So I ordered a few of what I considered HB "essential" items: foil drip pans, grill scraper, silicone grill handle, and a side table. After watching a couple HB videos, I'm wondering if the fire strangler and the starter gel (I have used Weber cubes or a chimney up 'til now) might be worthwhile, plus any other things y'all would recommend to help me spend my money?--LOL Are their grill covers worthwhile; I've read a few reviews that said the covers were flimsy, plus the grill will live in AZ under a patio cover.
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StartsMarch 14, 2026EndsMarch 15, 2026 -
Did you get the regular Hasty Bake or the Corten steel model? Might not need a cover with Corten.
Just Google Hasty Bake accessories and buy everything that comes up. You'll be happier.
>Well, maybe Hasty Bake will be happier....< -
Blow torch & BBQ Dragon is what I use to start the coals. The dragon is a bit of a gadget but I clamp it to the grill and return in a bit and it gets the job done. Battery operated so a little easier than using one of my wife’s old hair dryers.Comment
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I've never used the fire strangler or fire starter gel, so can't comment on that. I'm a chimney and fire starter kinda guy. I have a HB cover for my Gourmet, but I bought it when I bought the grill. No idea what their covers are like now. I will just say that my cover and grill are 15 years old and both are in great shape. In AZ, under a patio cover, your biggest issue is probably wind and dust, not rain.
A griddle or Grill Grates are an awesome add. I can get my Grill Grates to 900F for the best damn sear on a steak ever. I also use them to cook bacon and French toast :-)Comment
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No dust here in the high desert of SE AZ at the foot of two 9,000+ peaks (the Huachuca range), but wind fer sure, plus some fairly intense rains during summer monsoons, but, yeah, the patio cover helps. I love my GGs, which are on my Weber Genesis gasser and were used for my recent tri tip sear. I have watched a couple HB instructional videos, which were quite helpful in understanding the various HB parts and their use. -
I was 1 year old when I lived near where you are now, my dad was stationed at Fort Huachuca before his second trip to Vietnam. Anyhow, I do really like the cover that I bought with my Gourmet 15 years ago and it has stood the test of time, for what that is worth. I LOVE the grill grates and use ‘em a lot, probably the best accessory. I also have a rotisserie and do chicken and rib roasts on it.
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Hey Willy, I really like my HB Legacy. I've done a dozen or so test burns & cooks on it and I think I'm getting the hang of it.
Regarding accessories, personally I don't think the HB Starter Gel is necessary. I use a Tumbleweed or two in the fire basket. Those work well for me and if you're having good success with the starter cubes, I don't think you'll see much benefit from the gel.
I use the Strangler since I sometimes like to cool the cooker down fairly soon after finishing a cook, and just closing all the vents isn't always sufficient to snuff out the fire.
I live in Oklahoma where, between the constant dust and rain that seems to come from all directions, I do use the HB cover. It is pretty well made and fits nice. I've had a bunch of Weber covers in the past for other grills & smokers I've owned, and I think the HB cover is on par with the quality of those, maybe a little better.
If you have any trouble managing the fire, you might consider getting some gasket material like Lavalock and sealing up the firebox door. I found that my temp control got better after I did that.
+1 on the Grill Grates! I have the same experience with them as ecowper . I think they're a great add for any make & model of charcoal cooker.
I hope you are having as much fun with your Hasty Bake as I'm having with mine!Comment
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I have the strangler, and it works. I like having the saved charcoal as a base when I pour new charcoal for grilling, or pushed to the back of the basket on a smoke as a reserve.
I use the cubes, never tried the gel. I find starting 10 briquettes in a chimney then putting in the right hand corner on top of a few other briquettes gets the fire going quicker.
I tried the cube under the briquettes in the basket, but it starts slower coming to temp.Comment
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Cryptidbbq might as well start to instill MCS…… or MCAS, as it were….
More Cooker Accessrories Syndrome
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Haha, acquiring accessories is a lifelong endeavor!Originally posted by SheilaAnn View PostComment
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I'm pretty much in line with SmithsOK and Duanessmokedmeats. I have the cover (seems to be high quality) and it keeps my 357-Pro dry. Similar to you my grill is under the cover of my grill gazebo, so that helps too. I have used the fire strangler and it works as advertised. Like you I picked up some of the HB fire gel, but haven't used it because I have a bunch of other fire starters and they work fine.
I also purchased the "Hasty Snake" coal divider and the rotisserie, but haven't tried either yet. I passed on the coal rake/grill scraper combo in favor of a less expensive version I found on Amazon that will work with my offset as well. My son in-law has the griddle and the press & loves them both.
If you're into making pizza, a lot of HB owners rave about the pizza oven accessory.Comment
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Willy On the 357 the side table sits on top of the push/pull handle, I suspect the 131 works the same way. My grill uses the (Gourmet) cover and it goes over that handle, but I remove the shelf to prevent the sharpish corners of the shelf from damaging the cover.
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I have the Hasty Bake ( thought it was the 121 ? ) that I won here and love it. The stainless shelf that slips onto the front ledge has to be removed for my HB cover to go on. I just store that shelf under the lid and it's ready when I need to use it.
I bought the cover on line.Comment
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