How to get the best from your barbecue

Are you hoping to host a few more barbecues this summer? Our very own Tom Berry, who is in charge of the Outdoor Living Department, gives us his top tips for getting the most out of your barbie.

1.      Firstly, invest in a decent cover. Gas barbecues in particular can retail at more than £1,000 so it is definitely worth protecting your investment.

2.      Don’t be tempted into not cleaning them. If they are cleaned while they are still warm, the grease and fat is a lot easier to remove.

3.      If water does get in to a kettle barbecue, don’t be tempted to leave it there. The vent systems in many will rust over time, meaning the barbecue won’t cook as efficiently.

4.      If you cook over charcoal with a kettle barbecue, invest in a chimney starter. They speed up the entire process of getting the coals ready to cook enormously.

5.      On a final note, make sure you experiment. There are hundreds of fantastic juicy and original recipes out there for great barbecue food – it really doesn’t start and finish with sausages and burgers!