Barbeque crew

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:30

I wanna start cooking more often and im fed up with having to wait 30 mins for the charcoal bbq to heat up..so im thinking about a gas burner..

Can anyone reccomend a decent unit? I know nothing about gas bbqs...is one of the small 2 burner things gonna be good enough to cook fast?

Raikiri · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:32

Don't bother, may as well use the cooker indoors. We have a gas one and it's rubbish, completely misses the point of a BBQ.

dannyjo22 · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:34

I have an outback 3 burner, which I'm just about to upgrade for a 6 burner from....

http://www.flamingbarbecues.co.uk/

Find one with a propane regulator, do not use one that uses Butane only.

Find one with Lava Rock.

Obviously a lot depends on your budget. My first outback cost me £300 and has been worth every penny.

No doubt this thread will now be spoilt with loads of people claiming wrongly that food tastes better on charcoal.

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:38

Raikiri said:
Don't bother, may as well use the cooker indoors. We have a gas one and it's rubbish, completely misses the point of a BBQ.

Rubbish in what sense? The taste? Charcoal is great for once a week but when you wanna bbq a couple of times a day, it gets a hassle..

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:41

dannyjo22 said:
I have an outback 3 burner, which I'm just about to upgrade for a 6 burner from....

http://www.flamingbarbecues.co.uk/

Find one with a propane regulator, do not use one that uses Butane only.

Find one with Lava Rock.

Obviously a lot depends on your budget. My first outback cost me £300 and has been worth every penny.

No doubt this thread will now be spoilt with loads of people claiming wrongly that food tastes better on charcoal.

Lava rock?

whats that?
Is there a big difference in heat and cooking speed between the big burners and the small ones? or is it just a matter of cooking area?

dannyjo22 · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:47

Balddog said:
Lava rock? whats that?
Is there a big difference in heat and cooking speed between the big burners and the small ones? or is it just a matter of cooking area?

Lava rock is what the fat drips onto to create the smoke.

Cooking area mainly, you can look at the heat output as a guide. You will not really want to cook at a faster speed on a high heat anyway. You will just burn everything and not cook it through properly. On propane I use mine at a low heat and it's still fast. Unless I'm doing a leg of lamb when I whack the heat right up for 15 minutes to get the heat all the way through to the bone and then turn it down.

I've always liked the versatility of mine. I've done BBQ's, Roast pototoes, Roast dinner and even crumbles on mine. I use it atleast once or twice a week 52 weeks a year.

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:49

dannyjo22 said:
Lava rock is what the fat drips onto to create the smoke.

Cooking area mainly, you can look at the heat output as a guide. You will not really want to cook at a faster speed on a high heat anyway. You will just burn everything and not cook it through properly. On propane I use mine at a low heat and it's still fast. Unless I'm doing a leg of lamb when I whack the heat right up for 15 minutes to get the heat all the way through to the bone and then turn it down.

I've always liked the versatility of mine. I've done BBQ's, Roast pototoes, Roast dinner and even crumbles on mine. I use it atleast once or twice a week 52 weeks a year.

Sounds good.
So would you recommend a 3 burner as a good start for a newb?
Which outback did you start with?

Raikiri · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:53

dannyjo22 said:
No doubt this thread will now be spoilt with loads of people claiming wrongly that food tastes better on charcoal.

How can an opinion on something completely subjective possibly be wrong?

Balddog said:
Rubbish in what sense? The taste? Charcoal is great for once a week but when you wanna bbq a couple of times a day, it gets a hassle..

Well, in that case a gas may be better suited however... who cooks breakfast/lunch/dinner on a BBQ?

Particularly with the weather of late, it may be better where you are but it's just been wind and rain here.

Glaucus · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:54

Don't see the point, half the fun is charcoal and it's just as easy. Light the charcoal. Then go prep the meat/veg or what ever. By the time you have prepped the coals will be hot.

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:57

AcidHell2 said:
Don't see the point, half the fun is charcoal and it's just as easy. Light the charcoal. Then go prep the meat/veg or what ever. By the time you have prepped the coals will be hot.

As I said, this is for regular use...charcoal is fun if youre doing it once in a while..Its not fun twice a day

Glaucus · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:57

Balddog said:
As I said, this is for regular use...charcoal is fun if youre doing it once in a while..Its not fun twice a day

why twice a day?

Use to cook most evenings a couple of summers ago on charcoal.

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:58

Raikiri said:
Well, in that case a gas may be better suited however... who cooks breakfast/lunch/dinner on a BBQ?

Particularly with the weather of late, it may be better where you are but it's just been wind and rain here.

I eat about 6 meals a day and also wanting to practice and learn..and it will be in a covered area.

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 18:59

AcidHell2 said:
why twice a day?

Use to cook most evenings a couple of summers ago on charcoal.

because thats what i want to do

ive been cooking on charcoal of late but it really is annoying

Wicksta · 18 Jul 2009 at 19:02

Balddog said:
I eat about 6 meals a day and also wanting to practice and learn..and it will be in a covered area.

Who's that gutlord marching, you should cut down on your porklife mate, get some exercise!

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 19:07

Wicksta said:
Who's that gutlord marching, you should cut down on your porklife mate, get some exercise!

I also go to the gym twice a day..I dont eat huge meals 6 times a day..They are smaller but obviously a lot of cooking is involved.

Alex*TLR · 18 Jul 2009 at 19:35

Gas bbqs amazing, I didn't know what I'd been missing out on till I got mine, tis only a little 2 burner but is really good n not too bad on the ole gas

theleg · 18 Jul 2009 at 19:42

Alex*TLR said:
Gas bbqs amazing, I didn't know what I'd been missing out on till I got mine, tis only a little 2 burner but is really good n not too bad on the ole gas

Which one did you get mate?

Furton · 18 Jul 2009 at 19:45

Best advice is to get a Stainless steel one. Any BBQ with paint on it will look tatty after a year or two

Zenith · 18 Jul 2009 at 20:02

They're not particually cheap but I'd recommend a Weber Q, really well built and gives very good results.