Post your best BBQ tips here!

**parkejm** · 28-05-2012, 09:23pm

We had a BBQ last night and whilst it was all yummy, DH feels he has lost his touch. So we have decided that this year we will practise a lot until we can do the perfect BBQ.

So please share your best tips, whether it's for for lighting, cooking, recipes, or cleaning etc etc

***Holly*** · 28-05-2012, 09:24pm

We have got one of these, its brilliant, really helps get the bbq nice and hot quickly!

http://www.johnlewis.com/230196998/P...&sku=230196998

**Damsella** · 28-05-2012, 09:26pm

We have a chimney too, they are brilliant for getting the heat going.

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***Holly*** · 28-05-2012, 09:28pm

This is one of my fave bbq recipes

http://bbq.about.com/od/chicken/ss/aa072807a.htm

We have got a little stand from amazon to secure the beer can in as iit can get a bit messy otherwise!

We also do pulled pork on the bbq, my OH like slow cooking and smoking things on the bbq. We dont ever really have sausages or anything like that, burgers very rarely. Last night we had a whole chorizo!

**noo noo** · 28-05-2012, 09:29pm

Asparagus wrapped in Parma ham and mushrooms stuffed with blue cheese two of my favourite BBQ foods

**Mrs B** · 28-05-2012, 09:29pm

Atm we're loving Lidl for their meat - some fresh, some frozen. Tonight we did some frozen mozarella things on it too, and whilst they fell apart a little they were more than edible.

I love marinading meat in stuff beforehand; got a jar of nasi goreng sauce that needs eating up so will do turkey steaks in that on Friday; pesto is another one that we've used recently with great success.

This year we've also done a lot of veg that we've not tried before; best ones are courgette and aubergine (both sliced longwise and brushed with olive oil) and asparagus - on offer in Lidl atm.

Best tip though is get a good gas BBQ; I much prefer the wood taste but frankly it's a pita to light for just a few burgers. Since we've had the gas one we've used it loads; we don't bother to wash the grill every day so long as it's covered overnight, and it's dead easy to light it up for just half an hour so we use it much more.

**Damsella** · 28-05-2012, 09:31pm

I bought one of these too, and it was incredibly useful yesterday -

http://www.robertdyas.co.uk/P~155564...Barbecue-Sheet

Also, we have this Weber barbecue and in the instructions it says not to press the meat, and to put the lid on so things cook properly. It's not as much fun but it really works!

***Holly*** · 28-05-2012, 09:34pm

Originally Posted by Mrs B

Best tip though is get a good gas BBQ; I much prefer the wood taste but frankly it's a pita to light for just a few burgers. Since we've had the gas one we've used it loads; we don't bother to wash the grill every day so long as it's covered overnight, and it's dead easy to light it up for just half an hour so we use it much more.

Ahhh now we have just ordered a beast of a bbq and have gone for charcoal over gas, mainly for the smoking and taste element. I said on the other thread that im not really mad on bbqs, and especially not gas ones, i'd soon as just do it in the oven and take it outside!!

**cheeky_biscuit** · 28-05-2012, 09:42pm

I just posted on the other BBQ thread, breakfast barbecue is.a great start to the weekend.
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egg_in_the_basket

If you've got a lot of people over don't do too much BBQ cooking, prep a few alternative dishes in advance.
If you're making your own burgers or koftas re-mince the mince in a blender it holds together better.
The only time I eat haloumi is bbq'ed on a stick with veggies.
Onions chopped, wrapped in foil with a knob of butter, chuck them on.

**Damsella** · 28-05-2012, 09:45pm

I always make our burgers (lamb and beef) with chopped onion and garlic, and find they hold together fine! But that new thing I bought did help. I usually use a Lakeland burger press but yesterday just shaped them with my hands which was nice too.

Also marinade the chicken in oil and garlic beforehand.

**Anne** · 28-05-2012, 09:55pm

Daft question, but can you do mini chicken fillets on the BBQ and if so how long for?

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**ellabella** · 28-05-2012, 09:58pm

Stay clear of the chicken drumsticks.

**Mrs B** · 28-05-2012, 10:00pm

Originally Posted by Anne

Daft question, but can you do mini chicken fillets on the BBQ and if so how long for?

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Yep, won't take long at all - 10 minutes or so.

**nickimacrae** · 28-05-2012, 10:01pm

Originally Posted by ellabella

Stay clear of the chicken drumsticks.

People always seem to eat far more oof my (homemade) potato salad than the bbq'd stuff, so I think I really need this thread!

Oh my best tip? My friend always swears that you should never call it a BBQ lest you goad the rath of the weather gods, it's "outdoor cooking"

***Holly*** · 28-05-2012, 10:02pm

Originally Posted by Anne

Daft question, but can you do mini chicken fillets on the BBQ and if so how long for?

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Would have thought so, we have chicken breasts. You can use a meat thermometer if you arent sure, but just do them until they are cooked like you would in the oven, you can always slice them a bit to make it easier

**Rosa** · 28-05-2012, 10:02pm

We use a meat thermometer which is great to remove any doubt!

We've been watching barbecue university which us pretty dreadful but good tips, Stephen raichman has done loads of fab BBQ books.

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**parkejm** · 29-05-2012, 03:40pm

Originally Posted by *Holly*

We have got one of these, its brilliant, really helps get the bbq nice and hot quickly!

http://www.johnlewis.com/230196998/P...&sku=230196998

Holly/Damz I don't get how that works, can you explain please? Do you light that then pour the coals into the BBQ when they are ready? We have a Weber BBQ but have never seen one of those. I could get DH one for Fathers day...

**parkejm** · 29-05-2012, 03:42pm

Originally Posted by nickimacrae

People always seem to eat far more oof my (homemade) potato salad than the bbq'd stuff, so I think I really need this thread!

Oh my best tip? My friend always swears that you should never call it a BBQ lest you goad the rath of the weather gods, it's "outdoor cooking"

Is your potato salad recipe very special? *hint hint*

**Rosa** · 29-05-2012, 03:45pm

We have a chimney as well, yes you load the coals in and light them, then lift it up and off once they're going. My DH swears by his.

**parkejm** · 29-05-2012, 03:46pm

Originally Posted by Mrs B

This year we've also done a lot of veg that we've not tried before; best ones are courgette and aubergine (both sliced longwise and brushed with olive oil) and asparagus - on offer in Lidl atm.

Thanks for the Lidl tip, I might have to go and have a look

Courgettes and Asparagus are a must here. Also we get big field mushrooms, grille them face down then turn them over and put a lump of garlic butter on until they are all juicy and dripping with garlicky goodness.