Barbecue Top 5 Tips

The summer season is almost coming to an end which means it is time to make the most of it. What better way is to do this than hosting a barbecue filled with good food, great company and creating some amazing memories to look back on during the autumn months. 

Here are our top 5 tips on hosting the best BBQ:

1. Invest in a good barbecue set

When people think buying a barbecue set, they think buying the disposable ones. But these you can only use once. In the summer, if you are having regular barbecues and buying disposable ones each time you could be waiting a fair amount of money. Invest in a proper barbecue set along with some coals which you can purchase and any DIY store which can cost as little as £10. Towards the end of the summer BBQ sets may be slightly cheaper.

2. Know your crowd

Are you making food for a small group or the whole neighbourhood. When inviting people, find out who will be coming and whether they will be bringing a plus one or their family so that you can prepare how much food you will need. Best find what their dietary requirements are. You don’t want anyone to go hungry or unsatisfied.

3. Plan your menu and shop wisely

Once you found out how many people will be attending you can now start planning your menu. Burgers and sausages are the safest bet, but you can also do chicken drumstick pieces, prawn skewers, or marinated salmon. For any vegetarians attending it may be a good idea to have some vegetarian burgers/sausages, or some grilled halloumi will go down a treat. Plan your side dishes such as homemade potato salad, pasta salad and much more. When buying your food, shop at stores like Aldi and Lidl, you can save quite a bit of money. If you must have disposable plates, napkins and cutlery you can buy these at your local pound shop.

4. Make your own marinades

Making your own marinades can be cost efficient and all you will need are items in your kitchen cupboard. To make a smoke barbecue marinade use garlic, paprika, brown sugar, golden syrup, white wine vinegar and some barbecue sauce. For a teriyaki flavour use garlic, soya sauce and honey.

5. Master the grill

Food cooked on the grill take more or less time than cooking this in kitchen. Money is wasted during a barbecue when the food is either burnt or undercooked. Watch YouTube video’s which will provide you with a step by step guide to that your food is cooked perfectly each time. It does help to have a barbecue assistant to help you as well.