Barbecue Advice

Barbecue Tools

To help you get the best out of your barbecue you need the right tools. There are lots of different tools and accessories available but the minimum we would suggest would be :

Tongs - probably the most important tool you can have, useful for turning the food as it cooks, and then serving it when ready.
Burger Flipper / Spatula - you will need a larger flatter surface to turn the more delicate food otherwise it will fall apart.
Fork - used for checking if meat is cooked and also to hold still when carving.

Some tools that you might find useful but that aren't essential would include :

Meat thermometer / probe - probably only required of cooking larger bits of meat, will help you ensure it's cooked all the way through.
Fish Basket - useful for holding together pieces of fish that might otherwise crumble.
Vegetable Basket - if you like the taste of vegetables cooked on the bbq, this makes it easier to keep them seperate from the rest of the food - ideal if you are catering for vegetarians.

Using your barbecue safely

There are some common sense rules to follow to ensure that you are safe when you use your barbecue :

Position your barbecue well away from fences, trees and other flamable materials.
Keep matches, firelighters, fuels well away from lit barbecues.
Do not operate a barbecue after consuming excessive alchohol.
Keep children and pets away from the barbecue, and do not leave the barbecue unattended.
Allow the barbecue to cool down before attempting to move it.

Grill Preparation

Obviously the barbecue should be clean prior to use - hopefull you remembered to clean it last time you used it!

It is worth oiling the grill before you begin to cook as this will help stop your food sticking. If you have a cast iron grill surface you should season the grill before first use, and at the beginning of every bbq season. This is achieved by using a little more oil than normal and then letting it sink in for a while before burning off any excess.