Eating Outdoors

If convenience is a major factor, a gas barbecue is the best choice. If you like to get home from work and dine al fresco in the evening, a gas bbq is ready at the flick of a switch. But you will sacrifice some of that authentic smoky flavour. However, if you only tend to barbie at weekends, when you have plenty of time to get the fire started, and wait for the coals to be ready, a charcoal barbie is the one to choose.

Firstly, you need to consider the type of BBQ you want. There are two main options to choose from charcoal or gas:

The Charcoal BBQ - The charcoal barbecue provides that unique charcoal BBQ taste to food which many people love. However to achieve this tantalising taste involves a lot of work. First you have to layer the charcoal correctly to ensure it'll burn uniformly and cook the food evenly. The next challenge is to actually get the BBQ lit, which is often a real challenge if there's the slightest of breezes. Once lit, it's a case of fanning the flames and obtaining the correct cooking temperature to ensure food is cooked all the way though - after all you don't want to give your friends and family food poisoning.

The Stainless Steel Gas BBQ - For those who are looking for a simpler and less time-consuming method of outdoor cooking, there is the stainless steel Gas BBQ. The main advantages of gas over charcoal are that the barbecue is easier to light and offers a more consistent and controllable way of cooking which gives you more time to enjoy with family and friends. Plus by buying a gas BBQ, you aren't necessarily sacrificing flavour. The renowned barbecue flavour is achieved by the meat residues dripping into the flames and then vaporising on the cooking food.

After choosing the type of barbecue to meet your needs, you need to consider the size of barbecue you will need. The first thing to consider is what type of foods you will be cooking on a regular basis. For example if you are looking to regularly have a traditional family BBQ for four people, you are most likely going to want to cook burgers and sausages and maybe also toast marshmallows for dessert. However if you enjoy entertaining and will be regularly holding large alfresco dinner parties, you may be looking to cook slightly more adventurous food such as joints of meat and fish, followed by banana splits for dessert.

The size of a stainless steel BBQ can be determined in two specific ways - the grilling area and the number of burners. Generally barbecue retailers in the UK sell gas BBQs based on the number of burners they have for example 3 burner, 4 burner or 5 burner. Generally the more burners a BBQ has, the bigger it is. However some manufacturers put the burners very close together making the BBQ smaller in size. Your therefore need to also consider the grilling area which is the actual space available for cooking your food.

What type of accessories are available for the BBQ you choose is also important when looking to purchase one. Generally on a charcoal BBQ, the only accessories available from the manufacturer are possibly different shapes of grill. However for a stainless steel gas BBQ, accessories include rotisseries for large joints of meat, racks for chickens, grill baskets for cooking fish or vegetables and special grill holders for corn on the cob.

Another consideration when choosing a barbecue is how durable it is. Although many people tend to store their BBQs in the shed or garage during the winter, it is often not practical to keep getting the BBQ out and putting it away every time you use it - especially in the height of summer. You can therefore expect your BBQ to be exposed to the elements at some point. The most durable material for your BBQ to be made from is Stainless Steel as it is less likely to rust and is also reasonably lightweight for when you are moving it to and from its storage area. You can also buy covers for most makes of barbecue which offers further protection.

You also need to consider the practicalities of looking after your BBQ and one of these factors is cleaning it. With traditional charcoal BBQs you have to wait for the charcoal to cool down and then dispose of it, before you can actually clean it, by which time, the meat residues will have also cooled and will be stuck firmly to the grill. The advantage of a stainless steel gas BBQ is that it can be cleaned straight after it has been turned off. This makes it much easier to clean as the meat residues are still warm making them easier to remove.

There are many types, brands and sizes of barbecue on the market in the UK today and it's possible to find a suitable option no matter how big or small your budget.


Copyright (c) 2010 Filton Kingswood