Barbecues

Advantages: Relatively portable, gas powered, economical
Disadvantages: Awkward to clean grill surface

Relatively portable so long as you buy the so called rolling cart, this bbq is an adequate size for a family. Robustly built,the fold down side work trays, provide an easy clean and convenient surface for cooking materials. Cleaning after use is made easier by simple removal of the foil drip tray beneath the grill. Cleaning the cat iron grill surface however, is a somewhat different matter and can be tedious and messy in the extreme. If you are looking ...
...since it is only really an outdoor cooker and not a charcoal burner. The control of cooking is therefore easier, with the ability to truly cook through food and not just char the outer surfaces. One small warning, it is possible to accidentally dislodge the grill form the 'rolling cart' and set the lot tumbling to your feet. Otherwise this is a cost effective and simple solution to outdoor cooking activities. ... Read review

Advantages: The best, works brilliantly, good selection of spares and accessories
Disadvantages: None

The Weber One touch is quit esimply the Daddy of charcoal BBQs! Ok, so let's start with quality. The Weber is very well made, fits together superbly and is really solid when assembled. There is a certain weight about the parts (except for those that are non coroding aluminium, obviously!) which just gives you a reassuring feeling. A real upside to the Weber though is the availability of spare parts and accessories. My dad has had one for over 10 ...
...key to cooking with the Weber is to remember that it's a kettle BBQ and you are supposed to cook with the lid on - a small central pile of charcoal is normally enough rather than a covering the entire bottom with coals. Using this method you cook the food well, and consistently throughout! Cleaning the charcoal out is pretty easy - there is a little handly that you move from side to side so the ash falls into a collecting try which you can then ... Read review

Advantages: very small, pretty light - does what it claims to do
Disadvantages: not suitable for normal campsites / back garden bbqing

great product indeed. obviously such a low metal structure (with or without food) can't 'blow over'. It's obviously for people for whom space (and to a lesser extent, weight) are at a premium. Such people (like me!) are going to be into light weight camping - bivvys, tarptents etc, so you're likely to be halfway up a mountain - making a fire is pretty easy and it's very easy to get stable with the right rocks around it. Cooking over a fire using ...
...on trees! Dragging out some good embers works very well. obvious tip this, but don't cook over 'naked flames'! - cook over hot embers! If you're car camping, this isn't the right product - not great for most campsites either. i'd of thought even with the fire bowl (i don't have that as it's clearly a 1970's steamer!), you'd get scorched grass. ... Read review

Advantages: Looks nice
Disadvantages: Poor quality and doesn't last

Outback BBQ's look amazing when you buy them but after a couple of years you realise they are made of impressively heavy but extremely cheap materials. Despite using a cover, regular cleaning and storage over winter rust set in and last week whilst having a BBQ the paint work around the cooking area caught fire - and we're talking major flames here - just to make it clear it wasn't fat but the paint which has now all been stripped off????? My burners ...
...is also starting to rust. I thought it was just me but have subsequently spoken with friends who have had similar problems. If you want something that's nice to look at buy one - if you want one that lasts - don't bother. I'm off to buy a new BBQ and it won't be an Outback. ... Read review

Advantages: No mess, no more lighter fluid, easy to use
Disadvantages: a bit dearer than normal charcoal but well worth it.

...again - untill I discovered Homebase instant lighting charcoal. Getting Dirty I suppose the main problem with a traditional bbq is the fact that when you come to set it up ready to light, you have to start stacking charcoal up neatly with strategically placed fire lighters or you have to pour lighter fluid all over the place and I think this tastes on the food. So all this normally results in you getting covered in black charcoal dust and ...
...I happened to be in Homebase and noticed their instant light charcoal. Loads of other people do it also but it seems to come in the same size packs and cost the same where ever you buy it. Basically it is a normal looking bag of charcoal but has four further bags inside all filled with charcoal. How Does It Work Then? All you have to do when you come to light your bbq is take one of the bags out and lay it in your bbq, you can use two if ... Read review