Guides & advice
All guides and advice
How-tos, explainers, fixes and comparisons, newest first.
- Which BBQ should you buy?Which BBQ to buy: a short decision path by garden size, how often you cook, fuel and food, pointing to the right gas, charcoal, pellet or electric guide.Guide
- What size Big Green Egg should you buy?What size Big Green Egg to buy: every Egg size by approximate grid diameter and how many people it feeds, with the Large as the usual reference point.Guide
- What gas bottle do I need for my BBQ?What gas bottle you need for a BBQ in the UK: propane, butane and patio gas compared, common bottle sizes in kg, matching regulators and safe storage.Guide
- Weber Spirit vs Weber GenesisWeber Spirit vs Genesis compared on burners, power, cooking area, sear zone, storage and weight, using listing facts for four current gas barbecues.Comparison
- Weber Q vs Weber TravelerWeber Q vs Traveler compared on cooking area, burner power, weight, folding cart and how each travels to a campsite, caravan pitch or small patio.Comparison
- Gas BBQ igniter not working: causes and fixesGas BBQ igniter not working? Check the battery, electrode gap, wet wiring, gas supply and blocked burner ports in order, and use the manual's match-lighting method.Fix
- Pellet grill vs charcoal smokerPellet grill vs charcoal smoker compared on how much tending each needs, smoke depth, fuel, power and how each copes with wind and rain on a long British cook.Comparison
- Pellet grill vs gas BBQPellet grill vs gas BBQ compared on smoke flavour, searing, heat-up time, power needs, fuel storage and British weather, with two example grills side by side.Comparison
- Pellet grill not getting hot: causes and fixesPellet grill not getting hot? Check for swollen pellets, an auger jam, a full firepot, a dirty temperature probe and wind chill, in order, with the fix for each.Fix
- Ninja Woodfire vs Woodfire Pro Connect XLNinja Woodfire OG701UK vs Woodfire Pro Connect XL OG901UK compared on capacity, probe, app control, weight and footprint, for small patios and balconies.Comparison
- Ninja Woodfire pellets not igniting or not smokingNinja Woodfire pellets not igniting or not smoking? Check for damp pellets, an overfilled scoop, ash in the smoker box and the right start sequence for each mode.Fix
- Lumpwood charcoal or briquettes?Lumpwood charcoal or briquettes compared on burn time, heat, ash and lighting, and which fuel suits a kettle, a kamado or a smoker, with notes on UK lumpwood.Comparison
- Kamado vs kettle BBQKamado vs kettle BBQ compared: ceramic heat retention against a steel kettle, charcoal use, low and slow ability, weight and what each needs to get started.Comparison
- Kamado Joe Classic II vs Classic IIIKamado Joe Classic II vs Classic III: what the SloRoller, three-tier Divide and Conquer rack and sturdier cart add, and whether the Classic II is enough.Comparison
- Is a Big Green Egg worth it?Is a Big Green Egg worth it? What you pay for in ceramic, dealer support, warranty and accessories, compared with rival kamados and kettles of similar size.Guide
- How to use a pellet grill for the first timeHow to use a pellet grill for the first time: the burn-in, priming the auger, pellet storage in damp UK weather and the shutdown so the firepot does not jam.How-to
- How to use a Ninja Woodfire grillHow to use a Ninja Woodfire grill: grill, smoke and air fry modes, adding pellets to the smoker box, preheating and when to keep the lid closed, in plain steps.How-to
- How to light and use a kamadoHow to light and use a kamado: lighting lumpwood, setting the top and bottom vents for a target temperature, avoiding overshoot and putting the fire out safely.How-to
- How to use a gas BBQHow to use a gas BBQ step by step: connecting the regulator, lighting in the right order, preheating with the lid down and using the burners as heat zones.How-to
- How to smoke on a gas BBQHow to smoke on a gas BBQ with a smoker box or foil pouch of wood chips: burner settings, which woods to use and how to keep smoke going on a long cook.How-to
- How to set up two-zone cooking on any BBQHow to set up two-zone cooking on a kettle, a gas grill and a kamado: direct and indirect zones that stop burnt outsides and raw middles on the barbecue.How-to
- How to measure for a BBQ coverHow to measure for a BBQ cover: width, depth and height with side tables up or down, how much slack to allow and which fabrics suit a wet British winter.How-to
- How to light a charcoal BBQHow to light a charcoal BBQ with a chimney starter: step by step, how long to wait for ashed-over coals and how to arrange them, all without lighter fluid.How-to
- How to clean a kamado or Big Green EggHow to clean a kamado or Big Green Egg: the high-heat clean cycle, ash removal, grate care, what never to put on ceramic and how to look after the gasket.How-to
- How to clean a gas BBQHow to clean a gas BBQ: a quick after-cook routine plus a deeper spring clean of grates, flavouriser bars, burner ports, the cookbox and the grease tray.How-to
- How much charcoal do you need for a BBQ?How much charcoal you need for a BBQ: a table of amounts by grill diameter and cook type, from quick burgers to a three-hour roast, in chimneys and kg.Guide
- How much BBQ food per person?How much BBQ food per person: a planning table for burgers, sausages, chicken and sides, plus the grill cooking area in cm² you need to keep up with guests.Guide
- How long does a BBQ gas bottle last?How long a BBQ gas bottle lasts: the simple kg times energy divided by burner kW sum, worked through for common UK propane and butane bottles and grills.Guide
- Gas BBQ vs electric BBQGas BBQ vs electric BBQ compared on heat output, searing, running energy in kWh, balcony rules, size and where you can put each one in a UK home.Comparison
- Gas BBQ not getting hot enoughGas BBQ not getting hot? Check cold-weather butane, a regulator in safety mode, spider webs in venturi tubes, worn burners and wind, with the fix for each.Fix
- Charcoal or gas BBQ: which suits you?Charcoal or gas BBQ compared on flavour, heat-up time, fuel, cleaning and space, so you can decide which type of barbecue suits your garden and cooking.Comparison
- Can you use a Ninja Woodfire indoors?Can you use a Ninja Woodfire indoors? What Ninja's instructions say about outdoor use, covered patios and balconies, and which indoor grills are made for kitchens.Guide
- Can you use a BBQ under a gazebo or cover?Can you use a BBQ under a gazebo, pergola or cover? What manuals say about clearances, carbon monoxide and why fabric gazebos and enclosed spaces are a poor fit.Guide
- Big Green Egg vs Kamado JoeBig Green Egg vs Kamado Joe compared on sizes, what comes in the box, hinge and vent design, accessories and where each is sold in the UK, from widely known facts.Comparison
- BBQ gas regulator problems and how to fix themBBQ gas regulator problems explained: low flame after a bottle change, flow safety devices, the wrong regulator, frosting and leak checks with soapy water.Fix
- BBQ cooking area explained: cm², grill diameter and burgersBBQ cooking area explained: how makers measure primary and warming areas, converting sq in to cm², grill diameters and how many burgers really fit.Guide
- Are pellet grills worth it?Are pellet grills worth it? Who gets real value: they need mains power, dry pellet storage and patience, and reward you with steady, easy low and slow cooking.Guide