Buschbeck Accessories: Which Ones You Actually Need (and Why)

If you've just wheeled a Buschbeck into your backyard, or you've had one for years and are wondering what else is worth buying, you've landed in the right spot. I get asked constantly which Buschbeck accessories are genuinely useful and which ones gather dust in the shed. So here's my honest answer, built from years of cooking almost every night on mine.

The short version: your Buschbeck arrives with a mortar joint and a chrome grill rack, and that alone will cook you a beautiful dinner. But the official Buschbeck accessories are what turn a simple fireplace into a whole outdoor kitchen, pizzeria on Friday, rotisserie on Sunday, pancakes for breakfast. I'm not affiliated with the brand, I just use this gear constantly and have strong opinions about what earns its keep.

Do you really need Buschbeck accessories?

Technically, no. The chrome rack that comes standard will sear a steak or grill some snags perfectly well. But if you want your fireplace to do more than one job, the accessories are where the magic happens. Think of the base unit as the kitchen, and the accessories as the appliances that go in it.

I don't use every single thing Buschbeck makes. Some items are genuinely transformative. Others are nice-to-haves you can live without for a while. Let's get into the gear that actually matters.

The Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Grill and Hotplate

This is the pair I reach for most. The porcelain-enamelled, reversible cast iron grill drops straight into any Buschbeck. One side has inverted "V" bars that give you proper sear lines on steak, lamb and haloumi. Flip it over and the grooved side channels fat and juices away, which is exactly what you want for pork belly, ribs and sausages.

My method is simple: preheat it over the coals for about 10 minutes, oil the food rather than the bars, and let the meat release on its own before you try to turn it. For a deeper dive into getting a proper crust, have a read of The Perfect Steak on a Buschbeck Outdoor Fireplace.

The hotplate has the same footprint as the grill but it's a solid, heavy enamelled plate, about 3kg of flat-top goodness. It's what I use for eggs and bacon, smash burgers, prawns and anything small enough to fall through a grill. Heat it slowly, then keep one end over the hottest coals and the other cooler, so you've got a sear zone and a holding zone in the same piece of cast iron. If breakfast by the fire is your thing, this is the accessory that makes it happen, and I've got a whole post on it at Fireside Breakfast on the Buschbeck Cast Iron Hotplate.

Run the grill and hotplate side by side across the firebox and you can sear steaks on one while onions, mushrooms and eggs cook on the other. If you're buying just one thing after your fireplace itself, make it this combination.

The Pizza Oven Insert: the accessory that changed everything

Of all the Buschbeck accessories, this is the one that started the whole wood fire kitchen obsession for me. It's a stainless steel insert with a soapstone pizza stone that slides into the firebox over hot coals and turns your Buschbeck into a proper backyard pizzeria. Soapstone copes with sudden temperature swings far better than an ordinary pizza stone, which matters enormously when you're sliding pizza after pizza in and out.

Build a strong fire, let it burn down to a deep bed of glowing embers, slide in the insert, and let the stone heat to around 350 to 400°C before your first pizza goes anywhere near it. I've written a full guide on getting this right without scorching your base, over at How to Use the Buschbeck Pizza Oven Insert (Without Burning the Base). Once you're set up, my go-to dough is in My Everyday Pizza Dough for the Buschbeck Pizza Oven Insert, and the classic result is the Margherita Pizza on the Buschbeck Pizza Stone.

It's not just for pizza, either. Naan, flatbreads, focaccia and even a skillet of cinnamon scrolls all come off that stone beautifully. Try the Wood-Fired Rosemary Focaccia in the Buschbeck if you want proof.

The small pizza tools that make a real difference

Once you've got the insert, a handful of small Buschbeck accessories make the whole process far less stressful:

• Wood Pizza Paddle, a bevelled timber peel for building and launching your pizza, then slicing and serving.
• Long-Handle Pizza Peel, a large stainless peel with a heat-free handle for retrieving pizzas without leaning over the fire.
• Short Handle Pizza Peel Turner, a small round peel for spinning the pizza mid-bake so it cooks evenly.
• Infrared Thermometer, point and read the stone temperature (rated to 550°C), so you know precisely when to launch.
• Pizza Rocking Cutter and Pizza Dough Cutter, one clean rock across the pizza, plus a stainless scraper for dividing dough and cleaning the bench.

Buschbeck also sells all of these together as a Pizza Oven Accessory Bundle, which makes a genuinely good gift if someone in your life already owns a Buschbeck.

If you only add one accessory beyond the grill and hotplate, make it the pizza oven insert. Everything else on this list is a nice-to-have. That one changes what your Buschbeck is capable of.

The Rotisserie: low, slow and hands-off

The rotisserie is a stainless steel insert with a battery motor that sits in the firebox and slowly turns chicken, lamb, porchetta or even a whole pineapple over the coals. It also fits common rotisserie drives if you've already got one.

Truss your food tightly and balance it properly on the spit so it turns evenly, rake the coals to the back and sides with a drip tray underneath, then let time and self-basting do the work. It's one of the most hands-off ways to cook on a Buschbeck, which sounds like a trap but genuinely isn't. For the full method, see How to Use the Buschbeck Rotisserie, Plus Low-and-Slow Smoking. Then put it to work with Buschbeck Rotisserie Chicken with Garlic Butter or Buschbeck Rotisserie Lamb with Lemon & Oregano.

The unglamorous accessories that still earn their place

Not every useful accessory is exciting. The 18in Fire Grate and Ash Pan is a 304-grade stainless grate and ash pan that lifts the fire so air flows underneath. Fires light faster, burn cleaner and hotter, and cleaning up is just a matter of lifting out the pan once the ash is completely cold. I would not be without mine.

Heat-Resistant BBQ and Pizza Oven Gloves are the other unglamorous essential. Long-cuffed, rated to 500°C, non-slip grip. You'll use them for lifting the grill and hotplate, moving the pizza insert, adjusting logs and grabbing hot cast iron handles. Cheap gloves simply don't cut it here.

Looking after the fireplace itself

A few Buschbeck accessories aren't about cooking at all, they're about protecting your investment. A PVC Fireplace and Grill Cover is a full-length, UV-resistant cover that keeps rain out of the firebox and protects the finish, though it may not fit if you've added a chimney extension. A Spark Arrestor Screen fits in the chimney to restrict sparks and embers, and comes in two sizes, so check which suits your model.

If you want more height, there's a Chimney Extension (34cm white quartz) and a Base Extension (20cm solid white quartz) that raises the cooking area to a more comfortable level, both available in standard and Rondo versions. And Mortar Adhesive is simply ready-to-use white mortar for the joints at installation, or for touching up later.

Where to buy Buschbeck accessories

You can find genuine Buschbeck accessories through your local Buschbeck retailer or at buschbeck.com.au. Always check that an accessory suits your specific model before buying, and follow Buschbeck's own instructions for fitting and use.

If you want to see exactly which accessory I use for every single recipe, that's something I map out across the whole book. I've also got more practical guides on the Journal, including How to Use a Buschbeck Outdoor Fireplace: Wood, Lighting and Your First Cook and Buschbeck Cleaning, Safety and Care: Keep Your Fireplace for Life, if you want to get the fundamentals right before you start adding gear.

Buschbeck recipes to try next

• Fireside Breakfast on the Buschbeck Cast Iron Hotplate
• Margherita Pizza on the Buschbeck Pizza Stone
• Buschbeck Rotisserie Chicken with Garlic Butter
• Lamb Chops with Rosemary & Garlic on the Buschbeck Grill

FAQs

What accessories come standard with a Buschbeck?

Every Buschbeck arrives with a mortar joint and a chrome grill rack, which is enough to cook a proper dinner straight away. Everything else, like the cast iron grill, hotplate, pizza oven insert and rotisserie, is sold separately.

What is the most useful Buschbeck accessory to buy first?

Most people get the most value from the Heavy-Duty Cast Iron Grill and Hotplate set, since it covers searing, flat-top cooking and everyday meals. If pizza is your main goal, the Pizza Oven Insert is the single biggest upgrade.

Can I use the Buschbeck pizza oven insert for things other than pizza?

Yes. The soapstone handles naan, flatbreads, focaccia and even baked goods like cinnamon scrolls, not just pizza.

Do Buschbeck accessories fit all Buschbeck models?

Most accessories are designed to fit the standard firebox size, but items like the Spark Arrestor Screen and chimney or base extensions come in different sizes or versions, so always check compatibility with your specific model first.

Where can I buy genuine Buschbeck accessories?

You can buy them through a local Buschbeck retailer or directly from buschbeck.com.au.

Get all 89 recipes in The Wood Fire Kitchen

This guide is one of 89 recipes in my cookbook, The Wood Fire Kitchen: Recipes for your Buschbeck outdoor fireplace. It covers everything from lighting and reading the fire to pizza, grilling, the rotisserie, camp-oven dinners and desserts baked in the embers, with a Buschbeck kit note on every recipe so you know exactly which accessory to reach for.

Get the paperback ($49 USD)

Want a look inside first? Grab the free sample on the book page, or browse more Buschbeck recipes.