Outdoor barbecue experience

Why go to a restaurant when you can prepare food in your own backyard? Thanks to modern outdoor grills, you can recognise the chef in yourself and create rare memories for family and friends. Barbecues aren't just for summer picnics, they can also be used on cold winter nights for a heart-warming barbecue.

Spice up barbecues

Even as a newbie, you can quickly become a barbecue pro if you know and use the best barbecue tools. The right barbecue accessories can enhance your barbecue experience and ensure food is cooked properly. Whether you're grilling meat, fish or vegetables, there are specific grilling accessories for each food to optimise the cooking process and enhance the flavour. Depending on the type of barbecue you use, different barbecue tools can be useful, from barbecue tongs to barbecue brushes and meat thermometers. You will also learn how to create a safer environment around the barbecue to avoid accidents and burns. Use heat and flame retardants to make sure you don't burn yourself or the barbecue doesn't get too hot.

Gourmet enjoyment

Enhance your barbecue adventure with special barbecue spices. Enhance the natural flavours of the food being grilled and expand the experience by adding a new layer of flavour to every bite. Spices are key to promoting beautiful flavours when barbecuing and there is an endless selection of herbs, spices and marinades that you can use to add new and exciting flavours to your barbecue. As with any culinary adventure, experimentation is allowed here, you can try different combinations of flavours and textures until you achieve the perfect taste sensation.

Essential barbecue tips

The following tips are extremely useful for an impeccable barbecue result.

• Use high-quality barbecue tools and ensure that your tools are regularly maintained.
• Pay attention to the temperature of the grill and make sure you know the temperature control hotline of the grill, as you should grill at a distance of about 1 to 2 feet.
• Maintain your grill and make sure it is clean. Deposits can affect the flavour of your grilled food and can even be harmful to your health.
• Always use high quality cuts of meat and use fresh and local produce when possible.
• Replace your barbecue bonnets regularly to protect your barbecue from the elements.

A wide range of uses

Barbecuing is not just limited to summer evenings at garden picnics. You can barbecue at any time and on many occasions. From cosy family celebrations and sporting events such as tailgating parties to spontaneous barbecues with friends - the possibilities are almost endless. And meat doesn't always have to end up on the barbecue - vegetarians and vegans can also use the barbecue to prepare delicious meals. The versatility of barbecuing is what makes it so popular. You can grill almost anything, from vegetables and fruit to bread, cheese, seafood and meat. Even desserts can be prepared on the barbecue. When choosing the right barbecue, it is important to consider what you will be using it for and what type of barbecue best suits your requirements. The barbecue location is also an important factor: should the barbecue be permanently installed and stationary or do you want to be able to use it flexibly?

Barbecuing beyond the summer

Although barbecues are particularly popular in the summer months, you can also barbecue in other seasons and enjoy delicious grilled food all year round. Depending on your preferences and the availability of fresh produce, you can barbecue all year round. Winter barbecues can be just as fun and sociable as summer barbecues, and a warm, seared steak on a cold winter's night can be like a dream. In spring, when the vegetation starts to sprout, you can serve grilled spring vegetables, such as fresh peas, asparagus or radishes. In autumn, when the leaves are falling, you can enjoy the hearty flavour of grilled game meat.

Unique flavour experiences

Barbecuing offers incomparable flavour experiences. The direct heat and smoke give the food a unique, intense flavour that can hardly be achieved with other cooking methods. In addition, the flavours are intensified by the Maillard reaction that takes place during grilling, creating a unique and unmistakable taste experience. This is why many gourmets consider grilled meat, fish and vegetables to be a special delicacy. But it's not just the flavour that is an advantage of grilling, grilling also has health benefits. Greasy food is automatically degreased as the excess fat drips off. This means that grilled steaks, for example, are less calorific. This means that barbecuing is also perfect for a balanced and healthy diet.

Grilling perfection

The art of barbecuing can be perfected with a little practice and the right knowledge. Everyone at the barbecue station is responsible for ensuring that the food is placed on the grill at the right time and at the right temperature. Precision is often required: if the meat is on the grill for too long, it will become tough and dry. If it is not grilled enough, it can be harmful to your health. However, with the right technique and knowledge of the grilling times for different types of meat and vegetables, the grilling result can be significantly improved. This not only increases the quality of the food you grill, but also prevents carcinogenic substances from being produced by grilling for too long. In addition, knowledge of the Maillard reaction, in which sugar and proteins react to give the meat an appetising brown colour and a delicious roasted aroma, can help you to prepare the food perfectly.

Different types of grill

The variety of barbecue types makes it possible to customise barbecuing to individual needs and preferences. If the food to be grilled is rather tender and thin, a gas grill that achieves an evenly high and easily adjustable temperature is definitely recommended. More robust food that can withstand high heat and whose flavours are to be enhanced by smoke is ideally cooked on a charcoal barbecue. Modern electric barbecues, on the other hand, are particularly practical to use and can even be used in homes without a balcony or garden - they emit no smoke and do not require charcoal or gas. They are also generally particularly easy to clean.

Things to know about barbecuing

Can I also barbecue in winter?

Yes, barbecuing is generally possible all year round. With gas or electric barbecues in particular, you can also barbecue at low temperatures without any problems.

What is basic barbecue equipment?

Basic barbecue equipment includes a barbecue, appropriate barbecue accessories such as barbecue tongs and barbecue forks, possibly a barbecue thermometer and, of course, the food to be barbecued and suitable spices or marinades.

Is barbecuing healthy or unhealthy?

Barbecuing can be healthy, especially if lots of vegetables and lean meat or fish are grilled. However, it is advisable to avoid burnt food.

What is the best way to clean my barbecue?

As a rule, barbecues should be cleaned regularly to remove residues and deposits. The exact method of cleaning depends on the grill in question.

Why doesn't my meat get a nice crust on the barbecue?

The crust on the meat is created by the Maillard reaction, in which sugar and proteins react. If this crust is missing, the temperature is probably too low or the meat is removed from the grill too early.