Welcome!

**LegoMySearwood** · April 13, 2026, 07:47 AM

I bought a small insert for my Searwood and I need to know this too!

**Panhead John** · April 13, 2026, 07:49 AM

Definitely a good metal spatula or two, a couple of squirt bottles for cooking oil and water, a press for your smash burgers and a spare propane tank if you don’t have one. Nothing worse than running out of gas in the middle of a cook. I bought one of those propane tank fuel gauges off Amazon that lets me know how much propane is left in my tank, it works pretty well. Cooking outside if it’s windy can be a challenge for some griddles. If your griddle doesn’t have them, you might want to look into some wind shields for it. My Pit Boss doesn’t have them and I have to use it in my garage.

**Brian_M** · April 13, 2026, 07:52 AM

Rolls and rolls of blue paper towels for clean up. Once they’re soaked with cooking oil they make pretty good charcoal starters also.

**Richard Chrz** · April 13, 2026, 07:59 AM

Hmmm best tools for a flat top…

i’d say a santa maria, and a 26 kettle and you should have a good start on the tools…

**dpearce** · April 13, 2026, 08:03 AM

What Panhead John said. And don't forget a steam cover or two!

**Alan Brice** · April 13, 2026, 08:07 AM

I'll start, a Large domed lid , glass is preferred. Helps to steam the stir fry an the brussels. Also to be used to keep the food closer to doneness, hot.
A green Scotchbrite with a plastic driver and handle. Helps with finishing touches and distribution of oils and cleanup.
Five inch spatula, can be plastic or flexible metal. Tongs. A coupla squeeze bottles, for water and or sauces commonly used.
I have a "kitchen caddie" nearby that holds silver/plastic eating utensils, said squeeze bottles and typically a roll of paper towels.
Salt n Pepper in the Caddie. A spare LP gas bottle. When you run out it will always be in the middle of an important cook.
A decent yard furniture cover to keep out critters and heavy dew. Cooler or fridge with opener to quench that inevitable thirst you will encounter. Last but not least a pound of bacon to start every cook. Nothing does bacon like a flat top.

**barelfly** · April 13, 2026, 08:17 AM

Here’s a link to the Flat Top King - he lists a few things that are mentioned above, but this includes pics so you see some differences. To start, two long pancake style spatulas. They are great for all flat top cooking - the thinness of them allows you to get under the food really easy.

The MUST-HAVE Griddle Accessories - and what you DON'T NEED!

https://theflattopking.com/flat-top-grill-accessories/

Need help figuring out the best griddle accessories that are available to new flat top grill owners? We'll tell you the 5 flat top grill accessories that are absolutely essential for the best griddle cooking experience, and the tools that you can skip to save some money!

For a scraper - I’ve gone through a few, one that looks like a pastry or board scraper, but the one I really like is this one - the angle and handle keeps your hand and fingers further away from the cooking surface and just seems to work better for me. Not just scraping but as a tool to move food around along with the long spatulas.

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/OXO-Good-Grips-Griddle-Scraper/dp/B0DZ348DYR

I also like these spatulas with an edge - I have a narrow spatula along with one similar to this wide spatula - great for smash burgers as well, to get under the entire thing burger you just worked hard at getting a great crust on.

Amazon.com

https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Spatula-Large-Stainless-Cutting/dp/B095LD3DMD

and one other item to find, if you don’t have it, is a heavy press of some sort for smash burgers!!!

I have a lodge cast iron press that I use with parchment paper and it works great. You can use two spatulas, but I like a press because it’s even pressure.

I think those are the essentials. And I agree with PJ on the side wind shields. block the wind but also help retain heat, especially near the edges so you are cooking on a more consistent heated flat top. They work pretty well in my opinion.

**Panhead John** · April 13, 2026, 08:20 AM

One more thing, I don’t have one of these because my griddle stays in the garage, but a good griddle cover like this can keep it clean, especially if you have critters around, and dust free.

https://griddlebuddy.com/products/griddle-buddy?variant=44471357997375&country=US&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&tw_source=google&tw_adid=&tw_campaign=22218511659&tw_kwdid=&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22218515745&gbraid=0AAAAApZCAfWniW9BKsnOw-DIxtBs1OIpp

**Huskee** · April 13, 2026, 09:29 AM

I like the thin & long spatula, (this is the set I have but I rarely use the shorter thicker one) for me this tool works for everything I do, from eggs to burgers, and the little veggie & shrimp bits in between. The thin blade is flexible and quite handy IMO. And I have both the no-handle and angled-handle scraper (similar to this one), and I prefer the angled scraper for scraping & cleanup, and the no-handle for chopping meats.

But for <$30 you can get a full set of tools on Amazon, or browse around and they have better, pricier sets. Which, unless (or until) you know which particular tools you're after, might be the better & less expensive option.

**Panhead John** · April 13, 2026, 09:46 AM

I’ve posted about this before but I thought this might be a good place to mention it again. For smash burgers, I quit dealing with parchment paper after I found out about aluminum foil on my hamburger press. This is much easier and works just as well. All you do is take a piece of foil, shiny side down, and wrap the bottom of your press with it and you’re done. It’ll last no matter how many burgers you’re smashing……will not stick to the meat. You could actually wrap whatever you’re using to smash the burger with, spatulas included.

P.S. If you’re using non-stick foil it doesn’t matter which side you use.