BBQ Buyer’s Guide
Finding the perfect BBQ
When the British summer rolls around, nothing is better than cooking up a storm in the great outdoors. If you’re ready to dust off the forks and tongs but find yourself asking ‘which is the best BBQ to buy?’ then our handy guide has got you covered. We discuss how to choose a BBQ based on your available space and the number of people you will be cooking for. We then look at the pros of the different fuel types on the market, from charcoal BBQs to smokers, and the best BBQ accessories to add to (or start) your collection.
Table of Contents
How Will You Use your Grill?
When choosing your best barbecue you will need to give a lot of thought to where you will be using your BBQ and how many people you will be cooking for.
If you will be cooking al fresco on a balcony your space is going to be limited so the best option is an electric BBQ. Electric barbecues are a relatively new arrival to the BBQ scene, and so are ideal for smaller spaces. They are a compact (sometimes portable) size, plug straight into your mains supply, heat up quickly, and are more eco-friendly.
If your outdoor kitchen will be on a patio or in a garden, then you will be more suited to a gas or charcoal BBQ. These BBQs come in a wide variety of sizes, so you’ll also need to consider the number of people you are likely to be cooking for. A charcoal BBQ will often have the traditional drum or kettle shape, such as the classic Weber Master-Touch range.
Gas BBQs are generally larger and standalone, requiring a bottle of propane to get fired up. As such they are also well suited to gardens and are ideal for families and larger gatherings. They have a fairly rapid warm up time, more grill space, and, often, multiple burners.
BBQ Prices
Whatever your budget we have a premium range of the best BBQs for sale, both online and in-store, and prices starting at under £100.
With our own in-house dedicated BBQ experts, you can be assured that our stock is top of the range and includes brands such as Weber, Grillstream, and Traeger.
Plus, we are proud to be one of the cheapest places to buy Weber grills as Weber World Store so we always have at least 5% off Weber BBQ RRPs.
Size of BBQs
The size of the BBQ you choose will need to consider multiple factors, namely:
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- How many people will I be cooking for?
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- Where will I be keeping my BBQ?
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- How often will I be using it?
Primarily though, it is the number of people you are feeding that is your starting point for determining the appropriate grill size:
| Number of People | Grill Size |
|---|---|
| 1-2 | Small Barbecues |
| 2-4 | Medium Barbecues |
| 4-8 | Large Barbecues |
| 8+ | Extra Large Barbecues |
Types of BBQ Fuel
Charcoal: Arguably the ‘traditional’ BBQ fuel source, you can use either lump wood or briquettes to heat up your grill. Charcoal briquettes take longer to heat up but have a slower burning time, making them ideal for grilling and roasting. Lump wood, which is a mixture of hardwoods that have been burnt very slowly, lights and burns faster and hotter than charcoal. This means it is a great choice for foods that have a shorter cooking time, such as steaks and burgers.
Gas: Gas BBQs are easy to use as you simply hook up a gas bottle to your barbecue, and then use the ignition switch to start the flame. These also have the benefit of being able to control the temperature of the grill a lot more easily as they have multiple burners and dials. Some models even have additional features such as side burners and griddles.
Wood Pellets: Wood pellets are used in pellet grills, whereby the pellets are placed in a hopper and then moved to the firepot by an auger. These grills allow you to control temperature, and cook your food to perfection with the heat dispersed evenly across the chamber. This provides a delightful wood-fired flavour, efficient burning, and minimal waste.
Electric: If you’ve got an electric BBQ, you have the ultimate convenience. You can use it anywhere you can connect it to a mains supply, they heat up quickly, and it’s a safe bet if your outdoor space is somewhere like a balcony. Electric grills are also good for taste, as they can help lock in flavour to juicy meats such as steaks and burgers with infrared heat.
BBQ Buying Guide
Gas BBQs for sale
Gas BBQs work at the push of an ignition button and are hooked up to a (usually) propane or butane gas bottle. This takes around ten minutes to reach ideal temperature, but with control dials like on a kitchen hob you can adjust the grill temperature as you need – great for getting an even cook. There is a huge selection of gas BBQs for sale, with prices from ranging around £170 to £1,800 so take your time to ensure you choose the right gas barbecue for you. Many cooking grates will be porcelain enamelled, which is better for retaining heat, faster recovery time, and gives you those picture-perfect sear marks. Some gas barbecues might also come with additional hobs or grill space to allow you to mix up the items menu you serve up.
Charcoal BBQs for sale
Charcoal BBQs require you to burn the coals for a time before they reach the necessary heat for you to start grilling, but are most capable of giving your food that traditional, barbecued look. The most popular style of charcoal BBQ is the kettle design, with Weber charcoal grills combining the classic design with a wide range of accessories and high quality finish. For easy cleaning, you will want your charcoal BBQ to have a porcelain enamelled bowl and lid for the best heat retention and a steel cooking grate for easy cleaning.
Smokers for sale
An increasingly popular option, smokers are a great choice for getting perfectly tender meat on the bone that just falls away with ease. The Smokey Mountain is an ideal smoker for beginners, with a built in thermometer and porcelain enameled bowl to get that barbecue taste. Depending on how many people you cook for will guide the capacity you need, which is how much meat can fit on the grate – for family and friends then you won’t need a huge capacity. At Ruxley, we offer Weber charcoal smokers
Wood Pellet BBQs for sale
If you want to buy a wood pellet BBQ then there is an increasing range of grills for you to buy and accessible to more budgets. They generally are similar sizes to a gas barbecue and may suit you if you are looking to replace a traditional gas or charcoal grill. As you would expect, your budget will define the size of the grill, but also the materials of the BBQ, as well as other features.
Some pellet BBQs, such as the Ironwood D2 885 with WiFire, even include the ability to control the temperature via the Traeger app, which is ideal for those with less experience or who might prefer a more hands-off experience.
Electric BBQs for sale
One of the newer innovations in the world of barbecuing, electric barbecues are incredibly simple to use as the fuel source is your mains electricity supply – just plug and go. They heat up quickly, are easy to clean, and are normally a smaller size, so can even be portable and used indoors as well as outdoors. You will normally find they are of a smaller size due to their compact nature, so are suited to parties of around four people. Whilst some feel they don’t necessarily provide an as authentic experience as charcoal, the ease of use and flavours are still fantastic. The grill surface will normally be porcelain enameled or non-stick, which is excellent for easy cleaning and heat distribution.
Portable BBQs for sale
If you like a hike, a bike ride and/or a picnic – a portable gas BBQ or portable charcoal BBQ could be the perfect option for you!
Lightweight and designed for easy portability, these barbecues allow you the freedom of movement with all the flavour of a regular barbecue.
Must Have Accessories
To make the most of your new grill and achieve the best results then you will want to make sure you have a selection of the best BBQ accessories to hand. These must-have tools and gadgets will really set you apart and step your grilling game up to the next level.
Essentials
We have a wide range of the best BBQ utensils for you to choose from whether you need to flip a burger, cut a steak, or stoke the coals, we’ve got you covered.
- Utensils: Regular kitchen utensils won’t be of use when dealing with a hot grill, so make sure to pick up a spatula, pair of tongs, and fork so that no food is unmastered. Made of stainless steel with a non-slip grip and dishwasher safe, these heavy duty tools will make you seem like a pro.
- Apron: Look the part and keep your summer wardrobe intact with a Weber apron, which has an adjustable neck and deep pockets for your BBQ tools.
- Gloves: This may not be something that immediately comes to mind, but with Weber’s Premium Grill Mitt you can handle not only food but your tools, racks, pans, and even hot coals.
- Thermometer: If you want to be absolutely certain that you’ve cooked your food to perfection in terms of taste and safety then ensure you’ve got an Instant Read Thermometer or a Smart Grilling Hub to hand. You can even treat yourself to a smart BBQ, such as the Weber Spirit EPX-325S GBS Smart BBQ which takes the stress out of grilling by guiding you on when to turn your food, view the temperature, and when cooking is done – all from the comfort of your internet-connected smartphone.
- Basting brush: Ensure you don’t let any of your sauce or marinade go to waste with a brush that will allow you to cover all of your meat with flavour.
Racks, pans and stones
Your barbecue can cook more than just burgers, sausages and steaks, and we can help you make that so with these cool grill accessories.
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- Grilling rack: Elevate your possibilities by adding a above your grate. This allows you to warm toppings, prepare starters, or toast bread without impacting the main event. Make sure you choose a rack compatible with your grill!
- BBQ rack: If you want to cook ribs or a roast on your grill then look no further than a so you can get the tender, fall-off-the-bone meat that’s guaranteed to be a winner.
- Grilling basket: If you’re cooking something that could fall through the gaps in the grates, then a grilling pan will take care of the likes of prawns and vegetables so you can get that barbecue taste without sacrificing the al fresco experience.
- Grilling/pizza stone: Bring a taste of the sun-kissed Mediterranean to you with a grilling or pizza stone. With the stone spreading heat evenly and allowing you to get that crispy, restaurant-style crust, who says a barbecue has to only be for burgers.
Rotisseries
A rotisserie on a BBQ works in the same way as in a rotisserie oven. With a motor attached to it, you can set your meat to the long skewer, place it in the barbecue, and it will be turned and cooked to perfection, with the meat’s own juices basting it and ensuring it remains moist and tender. If you want to take the opportunity to use your grill with minimal stress but optimal results, the is for you.
Covers & Care
There is no getting away from it: your barbecue will need to be protected from the elements, particularly in winter, and if you haven’t got a garage or shed to keep it in for the winter months then you will at the very least want to invest in a cover for your grilling machine to avoid the onset of rust and decay. Remember to make sure it has strong ties to attach it to the BBQ so it doesn’t get blown away in strong winds.
BBQ Maintenance overview
Basic barbecue care tips
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- The better care you take of your BBQ, the longer it will last (this is arguably even truer for gas BBQs as the gas burners can be the first part to be affected by rust)
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- Read the manual that comes with your new barbecue so that you know the appropriate cleaning equipment to use so as not to invalidate your warranty
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- Warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge should help with removing stains
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- Before attempting to clean the grill, put the heat on with the lid down to carbonise food remnants from your last cook – this should take around 15 minutes
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- Use a good quality brush with stainless steel bristles so that you can easily remove baked on and carbonised food
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- Use a metal pin or barbecue skewer to unblock gas outlets that might be blocked (when cool and not switched on, of course)
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- Use Enamel Cleaner spray and Grate Cleaner spray to keep your barbecue in tip-top shape
