When you’re buying a BBQ, there’s a few things to consider. Here’s our guide.

Taste 

There’s no doubt the deliciously smoky taste of meat cooked over charcoal is a clear vote winner. Coals get much hotter than gas, so a flame-grill sears the meat perfectly, keeping the moisture in, and making a succulent steak.

A charcoal BBQ is also less expensive than gas, so it might seem like a no brainer. But charcoal BBQs take a lot of preparation – the embers need to be piping hot before you can start cooking, which can take up to 45 minutes. Not good if you want to cook a few sausages quickly for hungry kids.

In contrast, it couldn’t be easier to use a gas bbq. Just turn a few knobs and you’ll reach the desired temperature within minutes. Plus, compared to charcoal, the regulated heat of a gas BBQ makes for a more even cook. And the multiple burners make it possible to cook lots of things at the same time.

Total fire bans

On a day of Total Fire Ban, you won’t be able to use a charcoal BBQ, which means that on those scorching summer days, you’ll have to cook inside. However, using a gas BBQ is generally ok. Find out more here.

Running costs

You can pick up a “swap and go” gas bottle from petrol stations and hardware stores. They cost around $25 for an 8.5 litre bottle,  which lasts about 14 hours for a typical two-burner gas barbeque.

To heat up your charcoal barbeque, you can pick up a 4kg box of charcoal from your local hardware store for about $11. This should last for a couple of medium-sized barbeques. For a big cook-off, you might need another box.

To hood, or not to hood

Lots of BBQs come without a hood, but if you’re looking for a truly versatile BBQ, a lid makes all kinds of cooking possible – not just snags and steak. Being able to roast and slow cook meats and veggies on the BBQ lets you go a whole summer without turning the kitchen oven on.

But if you’re looking for real versatility, check out the range of multi-burner BBQs at your local BBQ store.  Having one burner on, and another off lets you sear steak on the hot side of the grill, before letting it cook through gently on indirect heat on the other. You can also use this technique on a charcoal BBQ, by moving the coals to one side.

Read our guide to cooking the perfect steak here.

What size?

If you are cooking a few snags and burgers for the family on the weekends, you probably won’t need a magnificent multi-burner the size of a shrine. A gas two-burner or medium-sized charcoal BBQ should fit the bill nicely.

There are a good range of small portable barbeques – and gas bottles to match – if you’re after a pre-game burger in the carpark, or a camping cook-up. These are also terrific for apartment dwellers because they don’t take up much space on your balcony, and can be stored away in a cupboard.

But if you host regular summer parties, it’s worthwhile going for a bigger grill space, and a rack to keep the snags warm while you sear the steaks. If you’re dreaming of a big charcoal burner, just keep in mind the cost of heating it.

Other optional extras

If a bacon and egg brunch is your ideal way to kick off the weekend, you might want to get a griddle tray. And, if you never want to turn on the stove again, consider getting a side burner for a wok or saucepan.

And final things to consider…

• Do you want your BBQ to be portable?
• Where will the BBQ be stored?
• Will you need to regularly roll it out of the shed/garage/under the house?
• Does it need to have strong wheels and be easy to maneouvre?
• Will it live outside? Is it weather resistant?
• Is the gas bottle easy to access?
• Is it easy to clean?
• Does it need to have a side table or hooks for handy access to sauces, utensils and serving plates?

Need some expert advice? Head to your local BBQ store or retailer for the lowdown on finding the perfect bbq. Or get inspired for some BBQ action by watching the experts get fired up at the Australian Barbeque Wars.