Your BBQ: it’s the quintessential outdoor cooking vessel, and yet it can be so much more. From cleaning your BBQ to upgrading its features, here are some of the best tips and hacks we’ve seen to maintain your BBQ and take it to the next level.
10. Make An Old BBQ Like New
Naturally, the first thing you’re going to need is a working BBQ. If you don’t have one yet, you can refurbish or repair either an old charcoal BBQ or a gas BBQ, no matter how old and rusty it might be. Maybe just a coat of Krylon Stove and BBQ Paint is all your BBQ needs to look its best.
9. Quickly Or Deeply Clean The BBQ
Of course, maybe your BBQ just needs a good cleaning. We recommend deep cleaning your BBQ at least once a year, disassembling and cleaning each part. In between those more intensive cleanings, though, quick and easy cleaning hacks include a simple coffee bath to get your BBQ ready for whatever you’re going to throw on it.
8. Add Side Tables To Your BBQ
As with cooking indoors, the more surface space you have around the cooking area, the better. Upgrade your BBQ easily with some wooden TV trays. Bolt these on so that even if you have a very basic (or cheap) BBQ, you can give it the side tables that make BBQing easier — complete with built-in holders for your BBQing tools.
7. Turn Your BBQ Into A Smoker
The typical charcoal BBQ can do more than just char meat. It can take the place of a separate meat smoker. All you need is an aluminium pan filled with water and careful tending.
6. Turn Your BBQ Into A Pizza Oven
Did you know your Weber BBQ might also double as a pizza oven? There’s some serious modification involved (fireproof blocks and a cement roof), but the homemade pizza might well be worth it.
5. Get Your BBQ Flaming Hot
Add a chimney starter to your BBQ and you can achieve the blazing heat required for proper wok cooking on your BBQ. Lava rocks can also give your BBQ a boost, retaining more of the heat under the rack for better browned meats and vegetables.
By the way, if you ever have trouble getting the charcoal to catch fire, try igniting an egg carton with the charcoal inside, using waxed cotton fire starters, or maybe even Doritos or other chips.
4. Add Handles To Your BBQ Grate
It’s astoundingly easy to add handles to a BBQ grate using just a few bolts and other common hardware.
3. DIY Your BBQ
No need to buy a BBQ when you can DIY it. Transform a beer keg into a charcoal BBQ or make a super cheap BBQ out of a lasagna pan. If you want to BBQ on the go, make a portable BBQ out of: an old toolbox or a regular tin can.
2. Know How Much Gas You’ve Got Left
We’re not trying to leave you out, gas BBQ owners. This water trick can help you estimate how much propane you’ve got left in your tank, so you don’t abruptly run out of gas during your next BBQing party.
1. Learn BBQ Masters’ Secrets
The best BBQ “hack” of all might be learning the ins and outs of your BBQ so you can BBQ like a pro. This means knowing how to lay out the charcoal to create different heat zones and when to take foods off the BBQ.
And then there are other tricks, like:
- BBQing juicier chicken under a brick
- spiral cutting hot dogs for more BBQed flavour
- getting steakhouse-quality crust with a quick freeze of the steak
- BBQing thick steaks by starting them at a low heat
- poaching sausages directly on the BBQ
Whew. If that’s not enough BBQing information for you, don’t forget you can also use your BBQ as an outdoor oven, or to roast coffee.
Photos by Freepik, Another Pint Please…, Matt Baume
Comments