Barbeque purchase advice please £0-150

[SpeedMattersNot]

Hi guys and girls, I know there have been several topics here and there regarding the purchasing of barbeques, but I'm ginger and thus naturally, an attention we.

I've only used a barbeque a handful of times and never owned my own. I know I would like a coal barbeque but no idea about what size I would like or anything else I need to know! Eeek!

What I do know is, my girlfriend loves meat (giggity) and she loves it raw so I can experiment until my hearts content on her first, before enjoying it for myself.

Also, if there's other costs I need to consider, like cleaning items, or the stock levels of coal etc then advice regarding this would also be muchly appreciated!

Thanks, Ian

[Zaxxon]

Weber, the best BBQ, you can grill, change the heat, use it as an oven etc. They are excellent bits of kit.

My advice is to buy the real weber BBQ (sturdy with 10 year guarantee, but any accesories you should buy copies if possible, such as quick coal chimney, tong rack etc) A lid holder is a must.

http://www.bbqworld.co.uk/bbqworld/products.asp?pr...


I got mine from here by mail order

Hope this helps.

[GWC]

I agree regards Weber. I suspect the consensus on here will be one of these, I have one myself and they really are very good.

[Shaolin]

And another vote for Weber - there's really no contest. We've also taken to using it as a slow-oven (christmas dinner and other big festive joints are done on it) the only problem is charcoal isn't always easy to get hold of in the winter,

[itsnotarace]

Bought a Weber last year after all the recommendations on here and I am not disappointed in the slightest. It's awesome. Also recommend the chimney starter

[calibrax]

Weber all the way. I have the 47cm version which is great, but I usualy find myself wishing I'd got the slightly bigger 57cm version. But whichever one you get, they are fantastic.

Edited by calibrax on Tuesday 22 March 07:48

[NDA]

I know some will disagree, but after years of either raw meat, carbon cubes (that were once steak) nd other assorted culinary cockups, I went gas....!

I have to say it's the easiest way to BBQ by a country mile. My family has never had quite so many BBQ's since getting a gas one - our food is always perfectly cooked and it's zero hassle and easy to light.

There will follow, of course, the usual 'oh, it's not a proper BBQ' etc - but I'm just passing on our happy switch!

£150 would get you a gas one.

I have a hardly used Weber if you're interested!

[f13ldy]

NDA said:

I know some will disagree, but after years of either raw meat, carbon cubes (that were once steak) nd other assorted culinary cockups, I went gas....!

I have to say it's the easiest way to BBQ by a country mile. My family has never had quite so many BBQ's since getting a gas one - our food is always perfectly cooked and it's zero hassle and easy to light.

There will follow, of course, the usual 'oh, it's not a proper BBQ' etc - but I'm just passing on our happy switch!

£150 would get you a gas one.

I have a hardly used Weber if you're interested!

I'd guess you'd be hard pushed to tell the difference between a bit of meat cooked on gas or a coal bbq. However, using indirect heat after 10 minutes of direct heat is a simple way not to burn anything that needs decent cooking time (primarily bone-in chicken).

OT - I've got a Weber, it's one touch premium which I think is a tad over £150, but it has a thermometer and one touch cleaning system.

[Stu R]

Weber are about the best you'll find in the UK unless you make your own. There's certainly way better out there but you've got to look at the US to get them, I'm trying to do something about that at the minute as it happens. Gas grills have no place in a BBQ thread.

Not that there's anything wrong with Weber stuff

[NDA]

Stu R said:

. Gas grills have no place in a BBQ thread.

I was talking about a gas BBQ, not a gas grill.

Google 'gas BBQ'. 21m results says it's a BBQ.

[escargot]

I'm with the rest of them here (except NDA, but he's not to be trusted generally). Weber mate. Don't be shy, go for the biggest you can afford. You won't use any more coal as they come with dividers for indirect cooking. It does give you more flexibility to feed a lot more people though.

[Zaxxon]

NDA said:

but after years of either raw meat, carbon cubes (that were once steak) nd other assorted culinary cockups, I went gas....!

I have to say it's the easiest way to BBQ by a country mile.

You need to meet a Braai Master, once you have given him offerings of Castle Lager and once he has taken you under your wing, you will never spoil meat with overcooking or by using Gas


Agchh Bru, but the sun will be shining soon.....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq2SOmwzjUU

[calibrax]

NDA said:

I was talking about a gas BBQ, not a gas grill.

Google 'gas BBQ'. 21m results says it's a BBQ.

And Googling 'Americans intelligent' you get 33m results... doesn't make it correct

It's not a proper BBQ without charcoal.

[GTiR Al]

Another recommendation for Weber stuff here. Kingsford is also a very good alternative - I bought one of their bullet smokers a couple of years ago and it turns out some excellent ribs/brisket etc. Can also be used as a standard kettle BBQ (a la traditional Weber style) when you're not using the smoker function.

Linky

[drivin_me_nuts]

The best little bbq i've found was one of those £20 pot/stove charcoal bbq's got from homebase that sits outside all year long. The thing with BBQ's isn't so much the make or style, it's the coal you burn. If you get decent charcoal then it makes a world of difference - and cook when the coals are cooler so stuff does not burn.

[RVVUNM]

Another one for the Weber here. I've got two, a 580mm for 10+ gatherings and a 400mm for camping or just the family, in fact I've had the small one for 15 years and it's still in great condition dispite the fact it lives outside under cover.

[Zaxxon]

Don't buy the weber on sale in Homebase.

It's £99.00 but it is not the One Touch, you need the One Touch minimum to get enough temprature control of the BBQ.

Also look up recipes for Beer Can chicken. It's awesome.

[Cotty]

NDA said:

I know some will disagree, but after years of either raw meat, carbon cubes (that were once steak) nd other assorted culinary cockups, I went gas....!

The heat source is pretty irrelevant. You should be able to tell if something is burning. I know someone who always overcooks the food regardless of heat source.

PS another vote for Webber, even from just using my Smokey Joe

[illmonkey]

Weber all the way. I bought the coal starter too, easy to do I know, but meant I could load it up, light it and leave it for 20 minutes. Perfect every time.

[dmitsi]

I bought a fire pit bbq last year; it's amazing. Very large grill so you can get the cooking done quick, then chuck a load of logs on and you get a massive fire going. I don't have a garden now, just live on the beach so it's perfect for carrying down there and keeping warm after the foods done.

Only cost about £50.