THE TOP 11 EXPERT TIPS TO MAKE BBQING A BREEZE THIS EASTER

With warmer weather finally here and Easter just around the corner, our thoughts are turning to outdoor eating.

Easter is the perfect time to get together with friends and family for a celebratory meal and for a lot of us is the first opportunity of the year to crack out the BBQ. 

To make sure you're prepared and can make the most of the occasion, experts at LANDMANN have compiled top tips to remember for a successful Easter BBQ cookout! 

LANDMANN specialises in making barbecuing easy, whether it's Charcoal, Gas or Electric, its innovative solutions and BBQ tips to cook food beautifully and bring the family together.

Below is our top tips to BBQ like a pro from start to finish: 

1. GET RID OF THE RUST

A common problem is to open up your BBQ after the winter to discover rust on your grill. 

But all is not lost, simply soak the grill in a mixture of salt and vinegar overnight and then wipe clean. Your grill will be looking good as new in no time! 

2. ESSENTIAL AND ODDLY SATISFYING

Cleaning your BBQ is the first fundamental step to preparing the BBQ. 

First things first, you should never attempt to clean a BBQ when it is cool, instead strike whilst the irons are hot - literally. 

Easiest way to start this is by covering the grill with newspaper soaked in water. Simply closing the lid to leave for an hour will work its magic to steam the grease away making it easy to wipe clean.  

For those stuck-on grease and stubborn grime stains that you just can't seem to shift, try this handy solution: Simply mix bicarbonate of soda with a little water and put it on stubborn marks. Then, get scrubbing with a good cleaning brush that will leave your BBQ gleaming.

The LANDMANN 12’ brush will do just the job for £8.99, use with hot soapy water for a pristine BBQ and easy cleaning. 

3. LOCATION IS KEY

Often, the basics are overlooked and when setting up the grill in your garden, location is key. 

Always place your grill on a flat surface to ensure a safer cooking environment.

4. ASK FOR HELP

If you are expecting large numbers, always ask for help. Assigning roles to family members prior to the BBQ will also help reduce any party hosting related stress.

You could ask Auntie Julie to bring her famous potato salad, or Cousin Jack to bring the burgers. Making a list and asking everyone to chip in and bring something helps it feel like more of a gathering and most people will be happy to help.

5. OIL DOWN THOSE GRILLS 

Oiling your grills before cooking makes sure food doesn't stick. It also helps prevent rusting and helps to clean more easily once you've finished. Vegetable oil is fine for this as it has a high smoke point. 

6. NEVER DISCREDIT A CHIMNEY STARTER 

Chimney starters are a really easy way of lighting your BBQ safely and with no fuss. 

Fill the metal cylinder design with charcoal and newspaper and light with an extended lighter through the holes. You’ll notice the heat builds quickly and will have your BBQ ready in a flash. 

Once the charcoal starts to turn white, you simply pour the charcoal into the charcoal grate and you’re ready to go! The LANDMANN's Charcoal starter does the job nicely.

7. THE LID IS NOT JUST FOR AESTHETICS

If you’re cooking on gas then keeping the lid down will insulate the heat and make sure it gets to the right temperature quickly. If you keep opening the lid, you will slow down the cooking process as all the heat escapes.

With a charcoal grill, keeping the lid down and controlling the temperatures with the vents means you grill evenly for most types of food. You can open the lid when cooking thin cuts of meat that you don’t want overcooked on the inside.

8. FOR EXTRA TASTE

For charcoal BBQs the coals alone will be sure to give you a distinctive BBQ taste, but if you're ready to make things interesting try smoking with the addition of wood chippings to your barrel. LANDMANN offers a range of wood chippings ready to add to your charcoal tray from floral juniper and cherry, to sweet applewood and many more. Why not try a few here to find which flavour profile you like best, from £7.99.

9. PLAYING WITH FOOD

We get it - we all get that urge to stand round the BBQ with a beer and fiddle with the food with your BBQ tongs. But, not only does leaving the food to cook mean you get those lovely searing stripes that everyone wants, but you’ll get a much better flavour if you just leave the food to sizzle, turning occasionally. 

10. KEEP AN EYE ON FOOD

Being a successful user of a gas BBQ will require your attention at all times, forget nipping indoors for a second or getting carried away with conversation - a lapse in concentration will result in burnt food and unhappy guests.

11. BE READY WHEN IT GETS A BIT NIPPY 

Around Easter it can still get a bit nippy as the evening draws in, but with Smokeless Firepits you can stay out as long as you like with outdoor fires to keep you toasty and won’t upset the neighbours.

Made of powder-coated steel it uses ventilation holes to circulate the air and produce a fire with very low smoke and unpleasant smells. 

 

So, fire up the grill and enjoy this special day with some great food and company. Happy Easter from all of us at LANDMANN!