Three steps to the perfect barbecue

Make sure you have enough gas to cook up a storm. Checking the level of gas in your bottle is easier than it looks, and it’s an essential step in planning the perfect barbecue. There are several ways to go about it. You can give your canister a shake – if there is gas inside, you’ll hear it moving around.

Another approach is the tried-and-true hot water test. Take a jug of hot water and pour it over the gas bottle. Run your hand down the canister. Where it feels cold is the level of your gas.

You can also weigh your gas bottle. The weight of the bottle without any gas inside of it is listed on the outside of the bottle. (It’s usually around 8.5kg.) If you’re hovering around that number, it’s a good idea to change the bottle over to a new one so you won’t run out of gas in the middle of your barbecue.

Giving your barbecue a spruce-up allows you to examine it before a busy barbecuing season and check that everything is in good working order. It will also give your barbie a delicious sparkle that is sure to entice your guests.

Turn off the barbecue before you begin, making sure you twist the nozzle on your gas bottle to the ‘off’ position. Give everything a good once-over – look for loose fittings, or leaks or cracks in any of the hoses. If you see a fault, now is the time to arrange repairs or replacements. If everything looks fine, disconnect your gas bottle and set it to the side.

Give everything a good clean. Clean your drip tray and hotplates, scraping away any excess fat or grease with a metal barbecue scraper. Use barbecue wipes to remove any leftover grease from the drip tray. Once it’s clean and dry, line it with aluminium foil and sprinkle on some Fat-sorb, which will help absorb any fat drippings and minimise odours, making your tray easier to clean in the future.

Place your hotplates in a large bucket of hot, soapy water. After they’ve had a good soak, wash both sides thoroughly. Once the hotplates are clean, dry them with a paper towel and spray them with a light coating of cooking oil. This will help to prevent rusting.

Don’t forget to wash the rest of the barbecue. Before reattaching the hotplates and drip tray, get inside your barbecue and give it a good scrub. Start with a generous application of hot, soapy water, and use barbecue wipes for the finishing touches. Reassemble your barbecue when you’re finished.

Do you have everything you need to get cooking? Take a look at our wide range of barbecue accessories online or in-store and create a checklist of what you’ll need to wow a crowd of hungry guests.

There are so many cooking tools to elevate your barbecuing experience – or to simply make it easier. For example, there are flexible lights to helpfully illuminate cooking areas when the sun goes down. Small grill baskets are always useful, or pick up a meat thermometer to cook your meat to perfection. Choose from a range of protective barbecue covers, or pick up some mouthwatering sauces and rubs.