Charcoal barbecues

A classic charcoal barbecue from Weber

Toiling over hot coals and nurturing the flames to create just the right temperature to start cooking is considered by some to be one of the most rewarding delights of the summer.

The smoky, charred smell and taste of a charcoal barbecue is enticing and delicious. The ancient skill required for starting and sustaining a fire is an admirable quality in today’s touch-of-a-button convenience society. The downside is the mess and clean-up job required afterwards.

Charcoal Barbecues are ideal for cooking for small parties in the back garden, particularly for thin slices of meat such as burgers and steaks. To cook whole joints and thicker cuts of meat safely it’s best to invest in a sturdy charcoal barbecue with a lid.

Pros

• Natural, smoky barbecue flavour
• The ‘fun’ factor
• Can be used to smoke food (such as fish)
• Cheaper to buy
• Coal is easy to buy

Cons

• Slow to heat up (between 30-40 minutes to heat to 180-200 degrees Celsius)
• Temperature is not controllable (leaving you with a window of opportunity to cook at the right temperature)
• Difficult to clean

OK, so a charcoal barbecue may take a bit longer to set up and tidy away again but with a long summer evening ahead you can relax, open a bottle of wine and enjoy some canapés while you wait.

Make sure you also check out range of charcoal barbecues at Dobbies.com. If you’re a beginner to barbecues then before you fire the grill browse through our Barbecue Safety Guide.