There's nothing like a BBQ in your backyard once summer rolls around -- but it does get hot out there. To keep things cool, set up a DIY water misting rack on the cheap.

We've talked about how useful a bundle of fresh herbs can be as a basting brush while you're at the BBQ. BrightNest has another way you can use herbs as your secret weapon: Soak them and put them right on the BBQ. The smoke smells amazing, imparts flavours, and can even keep insects away.

Have a kettle BBQ but no easy way to lift the plate? If you don't have a grill lifter, you can build a much simpler (and cheaper) grill-lifting solution with a couple of nuts and bolts.

Grilling vegetables isn't always the easiest BBQ task. The Art of Manliness explains the key: add the vegetables in the right order, starting with the longest cook time to the shortest, so they all finish at the same time.

When you want a burger patty to be evenly grilled, how do you make sure the sides are perfectly cooked? Celebrity chef Bobby Flay recommends adding a little water to the pan.

Throwing your favourite meats on the BBQ can be the tastiest way to cook, but that delicious char can also be hazardous to your health. One study found that giving your meat a beer bath can fix that.

The editors of Cook's Illustrated take their BBQ seriously, and they're sharing their secret to uniform cooking: an aluminium baking pan with water, placed opposite the coals.

If you want the tastiest, juiciest, most tender BBQ for your gatherings, YouTube series It's OK To Be Smart explains how slow cooking with smoke is the best way to go.

When you are grilling anything that can melt or drip, a good way to keep it contained and avoid spills is to turn your spatula into a tray with some aluminium foil, suggests celebrity chef Alton Brown.

Gas barbecues can be convenient and easy to clean up, but they don't usually offer the same wood-smoked flavour and aroma that a charcoal BBQ can give you. Luckily, you can bring the smoke to the gas BBQ pretty easily, thanks to the folks at America's Test Kitchen. Here's how.

If you want to get more from your BBQ, why not turn it into a pizza oven? While there are commercial add-ons that do this, you can make your own version for much less money.

If you have a gas BBQ that's been rusting away in the garage, it may need some TLC before you pull it out for summer. The Family Handyman has a step-by-step guide to repairing and reviving your old, broken down gas BBQ.

Last month, we checked out Yoder's YS640 Hardwood Pellet Cooker, a pellet fired BBQ unit that can be used for smoking, baking and grilling. If you're looking to host a different kind of BBQ over the long weekend, a pellet smoker could be the way to go. Here are a handful of recipes we tried, ranging from jalapeño poppers to succulent hanger steak.

The traditional approach to flavouring meat prior to dropping it on the BBQ is to soak it in a marinade. If you want the best possible flavour, you may do better with a brine mix.

Planning a barbecue in the park? Take a piece of baking paper with you to save on clean-up problems.

Backyard cocktails are great, but if you're not vigilant you may find a fly or wasp in your drink. Placing a cupcake liner over your drink with a hole for a straw will help keep your beverage insect-free.

You can spend a lot of money on a portable speaker system for easy BBQ music access. For a cheaper alternative, you could roll up your sleeves, grab an old suitcase, and get your DIY on.

When the weather is fine there's nothing better than cooking outdoors, but that's usually limited to just the BBQ. Using a set of free plans from design firm Studio Mama, you can construct an outdoor kitchen that features a gas range, a bucket sink, a chopping station and storage.