BBQ Tools

Lets kick the 2011 BBQ Season off with some back to basics information on how to make sure you have a successful BBQ by having the right equipment.

Before I start, I want to make it clear, BBQ’ing does and should not be expensive. Essentially, all you need is fire and meat. That being said, if you want to make sure that you don’t accidentally food poison friends and family then you need some basics.

I have grouped the below into catagories of “Essential” and “Nice to Have”

Essential:

A BBQ! Up to you whether or not you want gas or charcoal. Whilst I am charcoal all the way I can see the benefits of gas, especially if you have a large young family and you need to grill fast and hard. If you can though, always go for charcoal.

You then have the choice of a Kettle BBQ or a normal open top BBQ, usually a half barrel style. We use a Weber Kettle BBQ. Brilliant for cooking a wider range of BBQ Recipes. For example, the beer can up the bum chicken recipe and pizza recipe can only be done in a kettle BBQ. They enable you to reach a higher temperature.

Charcoal… there are heaps of ethical charcoal companies around, even the big stores like Tesco and B&Q source ethical and greener charcoals.

Long BBQ Fork. Essential for moving your meats around

Nice to Have

BBQ Baskets. I swear by these, no more need to hassle with tossing burgers and steaks. We whack everything in these, fish, burgers, steak, chops etc. Absolutely essential for us.

Heat Beads: Essential for pizza and hot temp BBQ recipes. (available from Waitrose)

Small Coal Shovel: (we actually need a new one of these). Great for moving coals around, positioning at the edge of the BBQ etc for the higher temp BBQ recipes. (try B&Q)

BBQ Mitt: We have gone through a few of the weber mitts and they are essential. I am trying a new brand this year, so I shall report back once we have given it the once over.

Foil trays: Great for catching the juices and stopping the coals setting on fire again during the longer BBQ recipes.

Pizza Stone: Another essential if you are wondering how to cook pizza on a BBQ.

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Rainbow Trout BBQ Recipe

What a fantastic day we had today. The weather was amazingly hot, the food was awesome and the company ace (as ever).

Before I carry on with today’s BBQ Recipe, a quick reminder, don’t forget that this week is national BBQ Week. Wooooo!

We went for an old classic BBQ Recipe Today, BBQ Trout with Citrus Fruit Stuffing. To make this you will need the following:

Trout for as many as you are feeding (one each)

Loads of citrus fruits (oranges, lemon, lime etc)

Lemon Thyme (optional)

Fish baskets (makes it a whole load easier)

All you need to do is finely slice your citrus fruit and stuff them into the carcass of the trout. Also, finely chop the Lemon Thyme and sprinkle inside the trout.

Pop the trout in the basket, putting the sliced orange between the metal of the basket and the skin of the trout.

BBQ Rainbow Trout Recipe

When it comes to cooking the BBQ Rainbow Trout recipe it depends on how hot your coals are and how thickly you have sliced the fruit (the thicker the slices of fruit, the longer it takes the heat to penetrate through).

As a guideline, we had some quite big trout with thick slices of orange and it took around 25/30 mins turning every five mins.

The flavour was awesome and everyone enjoyed it…

Oh yeah, during our BBQ our friends, Andy and Nikki, also sent a message to say they had just tried cod wrapped in Bacon on the BBQ and said it was ace so… next week we are hoping to give that BBQ Cod Wrapped in Bacon recipe a try.

Nearly turned into a Top 10 BBQ Recipes this one!!! Happy Grilling and don’t forget, this week is national BBQ Week.

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National BBQ Week

Found out today that May 25th to May 31st is National BBQ Week here in the UK and I for one cannot wait.

I have never shown an interest in any of the other 12 National Barbecue weeks but this year I figured, given the amount of people now finding their way to our BBQ ramblings, that I should give it a big plug.

I also thought I should share my absolute number one BBQ’ing tip!

So, here it is, drum roll please for this earth shattering BBQ revelation; use baskets for cooking your food… there it is. Can you cope with the excitement?

Ok, so maybe a bit more of an explanation… by putting your food in baskets and cooking them on the grill you make your own life so much easier.

- Baskets make it to consistently turn your food and make sure it is cooked evenly

- Baskets are easier to pick up and move food around the grill away from hot spots

- Baskets are easy to clean, just bang them on the grill when the food is removed and then place them on the grill when it is at its hottest on your next BBQ

- It stops bits of meat, fish or veg from falling off kebabs (always bleeding happens usually).

- You don’t have to scrape your BBQ grill as food rarely actually touches it

All in all, baskets are the best way to cook on a BarBeCue and I cannot recommend them enough.

My favourite basket is a long handled one such as this very afordable Loofthouse Cooking Basket BBQ Accessory available from Cowshed for £34.99 via Amazon. Great value for money…

Oh yeah, and for more information about the UK’s National BBQ Week on May 25th visit http://www.NationalBBQWeek.co.uk

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