Four of the best barbecues
Lockdown rules mean no guests, but you can still enjoy the sunshine with an outdoor feast, says Jasper Spires.
A great all-rounder
The Weber Genesis II is a popular all-round model, gives you plenty of cooking space and is “probably the best you can get”, says Joseph Green in Mashable. It features porcelain-enamelled “flavouriser bars”, designed to create a barbecue taste while protecting the burners from juices or grease. There are two side tables for keeping your utensils close, hooks to keep them tidy on the back, and a front-mounted control panel that allows for easy use. It’ll set you back £1,179, but all the features might just make it worth it. Available at johnlewis.com
A favourite of foodies
Kamado cookers impart a “delicious smokey flavour to everything they cook”, says Brian Bennett on Cnet, and are perfect for creating “true steakhouse steaks and wood-fired pizzas”. The Big Green Egg is the best all-rounder. It pretty much runs itself and, as the name suggests, it is big, “giving you lots of space to grill, smoke and cook to your heart’s desire”. There’s a reason it is loved by Michelin-starred chefs and foodies. From £1,045, biggreenegg.co.uk
A portable barbie for a picnic
Heston Blumenthal’s Everdure Cube is essentially a metal box that you put charcoal in, but the stylish and highly impressive portable barbecue remains a best buy, says Derek Adams in T3. The walls are raised an inch above the grill so your sausages won’t roll off and there’s a heat guard fitted to the bottom so it won’t scorch the grass or ruin the patio table. This is a “proper barbecue that is also properly portable”, unlike some of its heftier rivals, and is perfect for a romantic picnic for two. £149, johnlewis.com
The best for smoked meats
Bring your local steakhouse home with the Traeger Timberline 850. “The barbecue uses wood pellets to fire up the heat and allows you to smoke, slow-roast and grill your food for an authentic smokey barbecue flavour,” says Luke Edwards on Ideal Home. It is accompanied by a smartphone app, which is filled with hints and tips on how to cook a selection of recipes. The barbecue is excellent for smoking meats, and the electrically-powered auger keeps the unit at a steady 180˚C until the meat probe signals the food is cooked. £1,999, thebbqshop.co.uk