Cooking on the BBQ and enjoying your meals in the fresh air – weather permitting – is the perfect way to make the most of outdoor living. Deciding which BBQ is best to buy will depend on your own individual needs and outside space. To arm you with everything you need to know, we’ve put together this BBQ buying guide.
No matter the size of your garden or party, our BBQ range at Homebase will ensure you can keep on grilling all year round. To keep you and your guests safe, read your BBQ’s instructions manual before setting it up. Remember BBQs can get very hot, take care not to make direct contact with your skin and keep children well away.
Now, onto our BBQ buying guide…
What to consider…
Each BBQ will differ depending on its fuel, grill, size, and features. To ensure you’re choosing the best BBQ for you, here are several factors to think about:
- Is your priority a traditional feel or quick cooking time?
- How many people do you cook for most often?
- What’s your storage space like?
- Are there any BBQ features you particularly want included?
Choosing between charcoal and gas barbecues
Although many believe a charcoal BBQ produces a more authentic, smoky flavour – you can achieve the same taste using smoking chips on a gas BBQ.
Do you think you will prefer a traditional charcoal BBQ for the ritual of firing it up? Then it’s also important to remember that this process usually takes around 30-45 minutes – as the embers need to be burning hot.
Charcoal BBQs use either lump wood or briquettes to cook food evenly and give it that mouth-wateringly good, flame-grilled appearance. Often more budget-friendly than gas powered BBQs, many charcoal models are also portable and easier to store away.
If convenience is a priority, the best BBQ for you will likely be a gas model – these do an equally brilliant job of letting you cook al-fresco, without the hassle of the waiting time at the start.
Their burners are like those on oven hobs, so they also have the added benefit of heat control. This allows you to adjust the temperature accordingly – giving you greater flexibility over the type of food you cook and for how long.
Some models also come with side burners, warming racks and griddles.
Top tip: When making your decision, don’t forget you’ll need a gas cylinder to power your gas BBQ.