Tips for best BBQ grill for a beginner?

[blackcloud]

Hi all
I would love to learn how to do a BBQ
But have never used one before.
Please can some folk give me a recommendation on a good bbq to start. Something simple. Really want that bbq flavour with charcoal for burgers and chicken
Also any links to particular recommendation BBQs would be great too.
I googled beginners UK guide to BBQs but not much comes up.
Any other tips would be great. Thanks all

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

Kinda depends what you want really but as a starter for say a family of four you can't really go wrong with something like a Weber Compact Kettle 47cm, get a chimney starter from Lidl (the Weber one is v expensive compared to the Lidl one) which makes lighting it a doddle and a rain cover for when not in use and store it in the shed out of season. Get some proper charcoal that's a cut above the supermarket really cheap stuff (avoid briquettes or quick starting crap) though supermarkets do sell proper stuff sometimes. Something like Big K. BBQWorld are a pretty reliable online outlet.

 

[StephenStephen]

I would get an old oven grill and an oven tray from a local reclaim shop, prop it up on bricks, and try it out, or, if you can get hold of one, an old washing machine drum.

My experience is that it is worth spending money on locally produced charcoal if you can get hold of it - lights easily, holds heat well, and hasn't been stripped out of a forest half way round the world.

 

[Mottie]

Let the coals burn out before cooking on them. Turn the food regularly. Don’t cook on flames. Move the food about if the dripping fat catches fire. Put out any flames with beer!

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

You don't get any flames with decent charcoal and using a chimney starter.

 

[Murdochcat]

Don’t underestimate hour long it takes for a bbq to get burning and heating properly

 

[blackcloud]

Thanks
In terms of tools. Like tongs? Etc what do I need? How do I start the fire? A lighter?

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

There are so many sizes and types of BBQ, your question is almost impossible to answer. Some build their own, using bricks, you can buy charcoal BBQ, and instant gas BBQ's. You can even buy self-contained, throwaway, self lighting BBQ's - which you use once. The cost £2 to £5, from the poundshops.

 

[Mottie]

If it’s just for two of you, one of these are great. Some friends of ours have one like this and it’s great.

Tower Portable Barrel Grill

Buy the Tower Portable Barrel Grill at Robert Dyas online. Free Click & Collect on this product or Free Standard Home Delivery when you spend over £40

www.robertdyas.co.uk

 

[mcprinter]

Probably a cheap one to get started and see how you get on.
The higher end gas BBQs are very good, give good flavour and easy to use for a quick mid-week meal, I have a Weber. Not cheap mind!

 

[blackcloud]

Just saw this in Aldi? What are peoples thoughts?

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

My experience of portable barbecues is that they're only really useful if you must have a portable one, they tend to be super flimsy and awkward to use and fiddly to clean, they're a compromise to use at home. Lidl do a cheap kettle one for about £35, I imagine Aldi do an equivalent.

But as mentioned you're really spoiled for choice, depends how you're going to use it. Everyone's different, I have a simple kettle type and use a chimney to get it going, I fill the chimney with charcoal in the garage then place it on the grid with a fire lighter or two in the bottom and set fire to the lighters, once the flames/smoke stops after about 20mins you lift the chimney off and empty it onto your grid and you're left with charcoal ready to cook with. It's super convienient, you set it up and then sit down with a beer, no faffing about.

 

[freddiemercurystwin]

There are so many sizes and types of BBQ, your question is almost impossible to answer.

Agreed.

 

[ETAF]

i have had a few BBQ's , two of the best accessory things i got
1. a temp guage , so you know when the food is cooked -
loads of palces sell them

https://www.johnlewis.com/weber-instant-read-bbq-thermometer/p231801614?srsltid=AfmBOoqvnyTQaUkE6wgpGFFhITpFTeqftBrmV62Mb5YiRvUd6moF_zrxauI

I would not cook without it now , So much difference - we even use it indoors when cooking on a hob -
Th eshop in sidcup gave me a Tempreture guide for all sorts of different meats and things like , rare/medium/welldone
I have a BBQ monitor to for the BBQ smoking and use that in the Oven for a joint of meat
and
2. starter firelighter

https://www.johnlewis.com/weber-rapidfire-chimney-starter/p230196998?s_ppc=2dx_mixed_home_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwo6GyBhBwEiwAzQTmc4eb4nVX52RY_7fwM9sKpc2qlVF-Nlcu7oz9LWTf64doclJauh7SmBoCwXQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

another best thing i purchased , they do 2 sizes

as to the BBQ itself , it maybe a case of dont buy cheap and then twice!!!!!!!

I went to a specialist shop in Sidcup , kent

BBQ Barn

We are the UKs BBQ Specialists with thousands of products available on this website from a host of the best manufacturers, and we'd love you to shop here, but we'd like it even more if you'd visit us. We have stores in Sidcup and Leigh on Sea. Open 7 days a week and staffed with highly trained...

www.bbq-barn.co.uk

Huge range, great advice - they suggested the above 2 items , and i had been BBQ for about 30years before getting the above

I have a barral smoker , as my daughter is vegi and often had 2 BBQ - but this means the 1 unit solves that

This type of unit

Char-Griller Smokin Pro Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker

Char-Griller Super Pro & smoker box is the ultimate offset smoker. The Char-Griller Smokin Pro Charcoal Grill and Offset Smoker combo offers a good side smoke box which can also be used as a separate table top charcoal bbq. The Super Pro has one of the largest grilling spaces in the range and...

www.bbq-barn.co.uk

was much cheaper in 2017 when i purchased

but I have smoked legs of lamb on it , all day and brilliant results

Also dont underestimate the coal/charcoal

I now buy the cooking grade lump charcoal , the difference in how long it lasts, how long the heat lasts and the cooking/taste results , is quite significant
again , only found out when i went to the shop and sidcup

people now look forward to a BBQ at my place

 

[aveatry]

As a beginner I would not recommend the portable ones because my biggest tip for BBQing would be control.
Get one that you can adjust the cooking height and also one with a higher "keep warm rack.
I never put sausages or burgers on mine as unless they are home made or quality butcher ones then they give out too much fat and cause flame ups which burns the food and gives it a bad taste.
Stick to cuts of meat, if cooking drumsticks try and buy small ones - same with thys. Brest can be cut in chunks and but on skewers