Barbecue – Size
When purchasing a barbecue, you should consider how you will use it before plumping for any particular model. Here are the kind of questions to ask yourself:
- How much do you want to spend?
- How many people will you be cooking for on a regular basis?
- How much space do you have for cooking and seating guests?
- How will you store it during winter months?
The answers will help you assess the many kinds of barbecue available, and make a choice that works for you.
If you’ll only be cooking occasionally, and on a small scale, you might consider disposable barbecues. These are foil trays with their own charcoal and lighter paper. Their advantages are that they are simple to light, and will burn well for enough time to cook a reasonable meal, which makes them ideal for cooking in small spaces, but they aren’t going to satisfy a serious outdoor chef or somebody who entertains regularly.
Charcoal and gas barbeques come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some are on casters so they can be moved around easily. The largest models need around five feet of patio space, while smaller ones need less than half of that.
To choose, begin by examining the cooking space. Is it large enough to handle what you’re likely to be cooking? Next, consider the size of the entire barbeque. Remember you need space to work around it, as well as room to site your accessories: marinades, sauces, uncooked food, and, of course, for the people who will be eating the results. Finally, ensure you have space in your garage or shed to store the barbeque during the winter.
Barbecue size photograph by Basykes, used under a creative commons attribution licence.