Braai accessories worth buying, and ones to skip

The 18-piece gift-box braai set has a tool nobody can identify. The five braai accessories that earn their place, what to look for in each, and what to skip.

Every December, someone gets the braai set. It comes in an aluminium case with foam cut-outs, and it has 18 pieces. Four are skewers, two are the same spatula in different sizes, and one is a tool nobody at the braai can identify. By February the tongs have bent and the case is in the garage.

Braai accessories are sold by the piece count, and that's the trap. The few tools that actually make braaiing easier are worth buying properly, one at a time. Below: the five that earn their place at a South African braai, what to look for in each and what to leave on the shelf.

What to decide first

Which braai you have: charcoal or wood, gas or kamado. That decides whether you need a chimney starter, what size cover fits and which grids work. Then think about what you braai most. A lot of boerewors and chops calls for a good hinged grid; a lot of thick steaks and roasts calls for a thermometer first. Still choosing the braai itself? Start with kettle, gas or kamado.

A hinged grid

The toeklaprooster, the grid that closes over the meat so you can turn everything at once. For chops, wors and sosaties it's the most useful thing on this list. Look for stainless steel, close-set bars so wors doesn't slip through, a clasp that holds, and handles long enough to keep your knuckles away from the coals. Measure your fire before you buy, so it fits the space.

Long, sturdy tongs

Tongs that don't bend under a full grid of chops and keep your hand out of the heat. Look for stainless steel, a length of about 40 cm or more, a solid spring or locking mechanism, and grips that won't melt. One good pair outlasts several cheap ones, and it's the tool you'll hold every single braai.

An instant-read thermometer

It means you stop guessing. A digital probe tells you when the chicken is cooked through and when the steak is still pink, and it takes the arguments out of the braai. Look for a quick reading, a clear display, and a probe long enough for a thick cut. A leave-in probe with a wireless display suits roasts and slow cooks on a kettle or kamado.

A fitted cover

The cheapest way to make a braai last longer. Rain, dew and coastal air rust steel and dull enamel; a good cover keeps most of that off. Buy one made for your braai's shape and size (most kettles are the 57 cm size, but check), in a heavy, UV-resistant fabric with a drawstring or fasteners so it doesn't blow off in the wind. Let the braai cool fully before you put it on.

On a cheaper kettle with thinner enamel, a cover matters even more (more on that in Weber against the rest).

A chimney starter

For charcoal and briquettes, a chimney starter gets the coals going evenly with a firelighter or newspaper, and no lighter fluid taste on the meat. Fill it, light it, wait until the top coals are grey, and tip them in. Look for sturdy steel, a heat shield on the handle, and a size that fills your kettle in one go.

Braai accessories to skip

The boxed tool set with the high piece count. A grill-cleaning gadget that does what a good brush does. Single-purpose racks for things you'll cook once a year. Very cheap wire brushes, which shed bristles that can end up on the grid. If an accessory is mainly there to make a gift box look full, it'll mainly end up in a drawer.

Where the deals are

Accessories are often promoted as add-ons to a braai purchase, or bundled into gift packs before Father's Day and December. A bundle is only a deal if you'd have bought most of what's in it. Price the pieces you actually want separately before deciding. The Braai Shop ranks live braai deals from the shops we track by REALRANK™, which reads the discount, the rand saving, how the price compares to other shops, the brand, how recently the price dropped and stock.

Before you pay

Check sizes against your braai: grid dimensions, cover fit, chimney capacity. Check the material, since "stainless" on a cheap tool can mean a thin coating. Keep the receipt; a thermometer that dies in month three is covered by the Consumer Protection Act's six-month defect right.

Before you buy, Check The Deal. Shop great braai deals, verified and ranked by REALRANK™.

Frequently asked questions

What braai accessories do I actually need?

A hinged grid, long sturdy tongs, an instant-read thermometer, a fitted cover and, for charcoal, a chimney starter.

Are braai tool sets worth buying?

Usually not. Most of the pieces go unused, and the ones you do use tend to be lighter than tools bought on their own.

Do I need a meat thermometer for braaiing?

A thermometer earns its keep on chicken, thick steaks and roasts. It tells you when the meat is done instead of guessing.

Is a chimney starter better than firelighters?

A chimney still uses firelighters or paper, but lights the coals more evenly and quickly, with no fluid taste on the meat.

Where are the best braai accessory deals in South Africa?

The Braai Shop on THE REAL DEAL ranks live braai deals from the shops we track, accessories included, by REALRANK™.

Sources

Written by Dean. Reviewed 27 October 2026. The live deals show today's prices. Some links earn THE REAL DEAL a commission. Placement buys visibility, it never touches REALRANK™.