Gas or charcoal
It’s a good idea to decide whether you’re going to go for a gas or charcoal barbecue before anything else as this will inform the rest of the buying process. Gas models can’t be rivalled in terms of consistency, while charcoal barbecues are the traditional grills which use charcoal, fire, and nothing else.
It’s generally agreed that food cooked over charcoal gives that authentic flame-grilled taste that’s hard to beat. The food is allowed more time to cook, retaining more moisture as a result.
The flipside of the argument is that gas barbecues are far more consistent. You fire them up and then you cook. Because they are so reliable, gas barbecues tend to be more expensive, so it may be that your budget determines this decision for you.
In the end, choosing between charcoal and gas is simply down to which you value more: convenience, or authentic taste. Fortunately, there are fantastic barbecues of both kinds so whichever type you go for, you’ll find the right one for you.
Barbecue budget
Barbecues range in price from just over £50 right the way up to £2500, meaning you can opt for a choice within a modest budget or spare no expense and go for one with all the bells and whistles. The amount of quality you can get for your money is substantial, so work out your budget and then stick to it.
It’s worth considering the running costs of a barbecue too. With gas you often “rent” the cylinder, and companies charge you for the gas you purchase each time. A typical cost for gas-only is around £30 for 5kg, which should give around 8 hours of cooking time.
A typical 4kg bag of charcoal should cost between £7 and £10.
Barbecue size
Every barbecue has a specified cooking area i.e. the size of the metal grill. For up to four people, a smaller cooking area of around 1800cm2 will be fine. For up to six people, 2000cm2 to 2500cm2 should suffice. Beyond that, you’re looking at a much larger surface of over 2500cm2. If you’re the neighbourhood barbecue master and regularly host garden parties then it’s wise to look at a unit that has griddles and warming racks. These will allow you to keep already cooked food at a warm temperature.
Barbecue materials
Barbecue are usually made from one of four main materials. Naturally, these materials vary in cost, but all of them are perfectly adequate to the task so don’t worry if one of them is out of your price range. They all have their own characteristics:
- Chrome plated barbecues look great when they haven’t been used, but you’ll need to clean them thoroughly after every use, otherwise they’ll start looking quite tired and worn.
- Stainless steel barbecues are easy to clean and maintain, and are a bit more durable than the chrome models.
- Cast iron barbecues are a great heat source and they definitely look stylish. However, it’s important to remember to wipe the grill with cooking oil both before and after use; cast iron can rust.
- Porcelain-coated barbecues are the luxury choice, as the coating is a rust-preventative. On some occasions, these models will come complete with ‘flavouriser’ bars designed to create a smoky taste using juices and fats that drop down from the grill. If you’ve got the funds, porcelain is worth the investment.
Barbecue griddles
Barbecues have evolved and that includes the range of food you can cook on them too. Kebabs with peppers, mushrooms and halloumi (or other variations) can now happily sit alongside sausages and burgers as a tantalising meat-free option or as a tasty way of getting veg into your barbecue meal.
As a result, it’s useful to have a griddle for cooking those things that could easily slide through the bars on the main grill such as vegetables, potatoes and cheese. Griddles also mean that you can cook eggs on your grill. You could even go for a barbecued full English breakfast.
Barbecue hoods and lids
Not all barbecues come with a cover but it’s usually worth getting one that does. A hood can act as a windbreak (invaluable for charcoal barbecues) and a complete cover can be used to maintain heat within the unit, almost like a pressure cooker. This is great for cooking large joints of meat.
Other features
There are a number of other features available on or with barbecues that you may wish to consider adding.
- Side burners, which are ideal for heating sauces and side dishes.
- Fat collectors and drip trays which collect fat run off.
- Warming racks for keeping food warm but still away from direct heat.
- Thermometers, ideal for measuring temperature when the lid is on the barbecue.
It’s worth taking the time to work out which barbecue offers the features you really want at the best price. You can purchase some of the above features as accessories later on, should you want to.
Barbecue accessories
Finally, cooking on barbecues is a unique skill and one that requires its own set of tools. If you don’t have them already, you may consider purchasing the following:
- Tongs
- Spatula
- Skewers
- Brushes
- Thermometer
- Fire lighters (if you’ve got a charcoal barbecue)
- Gloves
- Apron