Whether you’re new to the culture of barbecuing or you’re looking to up your BBQ game and update your collection, there is an endless array of possibilities, thanks to the barbecue experts, Weber.
Internationally synonymous with barbecuing since 1952, when they founded the original iconic kettle BBQ, Weber have been perfecting barbecue innovation, and have something for you, whatever your personal preference or BBQ skillset.
The Weber Way of Barbecuing, known as lid-on cooking, will ensure you get the very best results every time and exceed your barbecue expectations and experience.
Considerations
When you’re looking for a barbecue there are a few things to consider. Firstly, think about the space you have and how many people you’ll be cooking for, this will help guide you towards the size of barbecue you need. Also, consider when you’ll be barbecuing: if you’re coming home from work one evening and looking to light up the barbecue, then you might find the additional convenience of gas is ideal.
Finally, think about durability. If you want a barbecue that will last you for years to come, then it’s worth investing in a quality grill. Look for long warranties and visit your local retailer to see the barbecue first-hand before you buy.
The one simple thing you need to know is that choosing the best fuel type - charcoal, gas, or electric - for you is primarily a matter of taste and convenience.
The traditionalist
Barbecuing with charcoal is the most authentic and sensory way of barbecuing. If you’re someone who appreciates the full experience of lighting the fire, seeing the smoke and smelling the charcoal burning, then a charcoal barbecue will be your perfect match.
Cooking with charcoal no longer has to be a messy process. With improved technology, the design of charcoal barbecues has been modernised, and are incredibly convenient to use, whilst guaranteeing the smokey synonymous flavour we all desire.
To ensure a seamless charcoal cooking experience, look for long-burning, quality briquettes, and a sturdy chimney starter to enable you to light the charcoal, this will do the bulk of the work for you - both are available at Weber.
Weber's Master-Touch GBS Premium E-5775 Charcoal Barbecue, €399, reveals handy features such a detachable aluminium ash catcher at the base, making cleaning much easier. It also comes with a hinged Gourmet BBQ System cooking grate, enabling you to swap in and out accessories like a Weber's poultry roaster, pizza stone, or wok.
The beginner
If you’re new to the grilling game and looking for a compact barbecue, then perhaps stick with gas barbecues.
Generally, the more convenient a grill is, the less smoke flavour it produces. One important question to also ask yourself is; do you want a fast and easy meal, or are you looking for something more? Gas is guaranteed to be quicker and convenient to light, so if you're time-poor they can often be more straight forward to use.
With an array of sizes to suit any outdoor space, the precision control provided by Weber's Spirit II, from €499, makes gas barbecuing practical for even the smallest outdoor spaces and for any level of experience.
This three-burner barbecue has a spacious cooking area - sure to feed the whole family, and includes Gourmet Barbecue System grates for endless menu options. With the powerful GS4 high performance grilling system and iGrill capability too, you're set up for barbecue success.
Even when your guests have left, there is no fear of cleaning, as Weber BBQs do the bulk of the cleaning work themselves.
The expert entertainer
If you’re an expert entertainer and host your get-togethers outdoors, invest in a real crowd pleaser BBQ that has multiple high-tech burners, guaranteeing you even cooking distributions but with the option of direct and indirect roasting of food, so you can multi-task.
With the Genesis II E-310 Gas Barbecue, €999, you can be assured that there's no need to compromise when it comes to technology and high quality for entertaining.
The impressive grills accommodate every lifestyle and occasion, with enough bells and whistles to help the experienced griller push new boundaries, but the ease and convenience to make things less daunting for the novice. With the options of two to six burners, you can cater for a quiet midweek dinner or a full-blown summer soirée.
The beauty of the Genesis II is the fact they come iGrill-ready (which are app-connected thermometers), lights on the knobs and handles, a tucked away warming rack, and tidy up cabinet.
The tech savvy
It goes without saying that electric barbecues are the way forward for urban living. City dwellers can rejoice as electric grilling is made for city balconies and households who have restricted back gardens. Get cooking with the latest in hi-tech electric barbecues that promise to bring fuss-free features to your alfresco entertaining.
There is no need to worry about legal restrictions with gas or charcoal, and you’ll never have the fear of running out of fuel. Featuring all the accoutrements of real barbecuing, just without the gas bottle or charcoal, you’ll achieve the same BBQ flavour along with sear meat marks that is hard to achieve in a normal kitchen.
The set-up is simply a case of plug-and-play, and once you keep the lid shut, electric elements will kick in full power and take approximately 15 minutes to have your cast iron grills searing hot and ready.
Weber's The Pulse 2000, €999 is the first of its kind to combine smart technology with start-of-the-art digital performance, revolutionising traditional barbecue on the comfort of your balcony.
Grill master
If you’re already an expert at cooking with charcoal and comfortable with indirect heat grilling, make the art of smoking the next on your BBQ to-do list. Smokers are aimed at the more experienced BBQ enthusiast who’s looking to upskill and master a whole new level of flavoursome polymers and aromatics.
An exchange will take place with the meat and the wood, and your planks or wood chunks start to become seasoned like a great cast iron skillet with every use.
Weber's Smokey Mountain Cooker, from €349 is available in three sizes to accommodate any venture aimed at achieving the sweet smell of pulled pork smoking over charcoal and apple wood chunks, or the low-and-slow cooked salmon that's caught in the lake and smoked on shore.
For those that want to trial smoking before investing, you can purchase solutions such as smoker boxes and pre-soaked chips, or chunks that aromatically infuse your food as they smoulder.