Unfortunately, this deal has expired 10 October 2023.
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Posted 2 June 2023
BBQ Megathread 2023 - Charcoal Vs Gas + Deals, Tips & More!
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Ken Deal editor
Joined in 2010
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About this deal
This deal is expired. Here are some options that might interest you:
Update 1
Updated 11th August 2023 - Expired items removed / New hot deals added
BBQ season is almost upon us! We've already had a few good warm days last week, so hopefully we'll get more REAL soon
As this is the case, it's likely that we'll want to spend more time in the garden cooking. It's a pretty crowded market when it comes to BBQs and it's not always an easy decision if you're looking for a new model. So once again, I'm putting together a megathread to list the best deals all in one spot.
For some people, this is rather a sore subject, but I like to think there's room for both in our lives. Charcoal is classic and there are also so fab woods out there that you can use on the barbecue too. While gas tends to get snubbed a fair bit, being compared to just cooking on your regular indoor hob. I like to think that we'd be more adventurous in the garden regardless of the barbeque, than perhaps what we would be indoors on the boring old hob
Flavorizer bars on a gas model can be great for getting that grilled flavour into your food, as they don't just protect the burner tubes and help stop flare ups, but as the fats and juices hit them they'll impart those flavours back onto your food. Of course you can use your own seasoning, spices and marinades, just as you can with a charcoal BBQ.
What are your thoughts? Do you have both or are you only interested in one way?
If you'd like to share your cooking tips in the comments, please feel free!
Charcoal BBQs offer that awesome smoky chargrilled flavour that many of us pine for when it starts to get warmer. They also take longer to get up to temperature than a gas alternative and can be tricky to control the heat until you gain some experience in doing so. Usually charcoal BBQs have vents that can be opened to increase the heat if needed, by letting more air in.
Once you've finished and the BBQ is cool, you'll then be tasked with cleaning the ashes out. It's a bit of a chore, but in my opinion it's worth it.
Pros:
Cons:
These are much easier to light and control without a doubt. You might not get that signature charcoal flavour, but with some practise you'll be surprised what you can do. Flavorizer bars (Weber BBQs) can be great for getting that grilled flavour into your food as they don't just protect the burner tubes and help stop flare ups, but as the fats and juices hit them, they'll impart those flavours back onto your food. Of course you can use your own seasoning, spices and marinades, just as you can with a charcoal BBQ.
Don't be fooled into thinking gas BBQs can't offer excellent flavours.
Pros:
Cons:
Notes:
Make sure you check the features if there's something that you're after specifically. Not all BBQs are equal and no one wants to be disappointed with a purchase!
Stainless steel can rust - With all the acids and salts that drip into the BBQ, you might find stainless steel rust over time. Ensure you clean it well and keep an eye on it. It's not like it will happen quickly or anything, just something to be aware of.
Make sure you're not storing the gas canister in your house anywhere, this includes any attached building such as a garage. I know it's obvious... Keep them outside or in a shed away from your house, just as a precaution.
Here are some of the best deals posted on hotukdeals right now. At the bottom you'll find a few popular retailers that have sales on right now, which may be worth checking from time to time.
Charcoal Barbecues
Gas Barbecues
Electric
Accessories
Other
Fuel
Firepits
Looking for Food for your BBQ?
Quick Links to posted deal groups
Retailer Sales worth keeping an eye on
Now for the part that is never any fun... Cleaning
It's got to be done, so here are a few ideas that may help you get the job done more quickly and effetely. Got any tips? Let us know in the comments and "Get someone else to do it" totally does count.
Dishwasher
The dishwasher may not spring to mind right away, but you might be surprised by how many parts of your BBQ can be popped in there. Obviously double check in the manual if you're not sure!
As with most things you'll put in the dishwasher, just rinse off and remove what you can before you load up. No one wants a lump of meat rattling around in there. Getting them on a nice hot wash should help blast off that grease while you're getting on with something a little less boring
Steam work makes the dream work
If you've got a handheld steam cleaner, then put it to work to whip off all of that grease and loosen everything up. Steam cleaners are pretty awesome for having around the house in general, so you might as well use it to speed things up, especially with large BBQs.
Get it offee with coffee (machine cleaner)
This is one that I've never heard of before, but apparently something that works really well are coffee machine cleaning tablets. Grab yourself a bucket and fill it with hot water, drop all the parts in with the cleaning tab, then go have a nice relax while it soaks.
Coffee itself works too - You won't need to sacrifice your fresh coffee grounds here, but once you've used them for your drinks, whack them in a bucket with some water and get your parts / utensils in there for a couple of hours.
Beer
I've heard that leftover beer is great for cleaning off grease. Just drop your wire brush in and use it to clean a warm grill. There are lots of things that get left over in my house... not usually beer though?
What to do once it's clean
Once you've got it clean, if you can light it back up again, then do! This will burn away left over chemicals that might affect things next time.
Setting up deal alerts is nice and easy, you can do this for any keyword that you like and set parameters for the notifications.
Alert Tips
When adding your alerts, be mindful of different spellings! For example sometimes we see 'fire pit' posted as 'firepit' or BBQ as Barbecue. So in order to cover your bases, it's good to pop a couple of different variations into the mix, so make sure you don't miss anything!
Recommended Alerts to set:
Check out the best garden furniture deals megathread - Here
As this is the case, it's likely that we'll want to spend more time in the garden cooking. It's a pretty crowded market when it comes to BBQs and it's not always an easy decision if you're looking for a new model. So once again, I'm putting together a megathread to list the best deals all in one spot.
For some people, this is rather a sore subject, but I like to think there's room for both in our lives. Charcoal is classic and there are also so fab woods out there that you can use on the barbecue too. While gas tends to get snubbed a fair bit, being compared to just cooking on your regular indoor hob. I like to think that we'd be more adventurous in the garden regardless of the barbeque, than perhaps what we would be indoors on the boring old hob
Flavorizer bars on a gas model can be great for getting that grilled flavour into your food, as they don't just protect the burner tubes and help stop flare ups, but as the fats and juices hit them they'll impart those flavours back onto your food. Of course you can use your own seasoning, spices and marinades, just as you can with a charcoal BBQ.
What are your thoughts? Do you have both or are you only interested in one way?
If you'd like to share your cooking tips in the comments, please feel free!
Charcoal BBQs offer that awesome smoky chargrilled flavour that many of us pine for when it starts to get warmer. They also take longer to get up to temperature than a gas alternative and can be tricky to control the heat until you gain some experience in doing so. Usually charcoal BBQs have vents that can be opened to increase the heat if needed, by letting more air in.
Once you've finished and the BBQ is cool, you'll then be tasked with cleaning the ashes out. It's a bit of a chore, but in my opinion it's worth it.
Pros:
- Amazing classic BBQ flavours and smells
- Cheaper than a Gas alternative
- Temperatures can be higher than gas
- Charcoal is stocked in a lot of places
Cons:
- Takes a while to get up to temperature
- More difficult to control the temperature
- Can be annoying to clean
These are much easier to light and control without a doubt. You might not get that signature charcoal flavour, but with some practise you'll be surprised what you can do. Flavorizer bars (Weber BBQs) can be great for getting that grilled flavour into your food as they don't just protect the burner tubes and help stop flare ups, but as the fats and juices hit them, they'll impart those flavours back onto your food. Of course you can use your own seasoning, spices and marinades, just as you can with a charcoal BBQ.
Don't be fooled into thinking gas BBQs can't offer excellent flavours.
Pros:
- Easy to use, light and control temperatures
- Fast by comparison to get up to cooking temperatures
- Generally have some useful features like side burners and griddles
- Not as difficult to clean
Cons:
- More expensive
- Usually larger and heavier
- Not as easy to get that signature BBQ flavour, but it is possible if you know what you're doing.
Notes:
Make sure you check the features if there's something that you're after specifically. Not all BBQs are equal and no one wants to be disappointed with a purchase!
Stainless steel can rust - With all the acids and salts that drip into the BBQ, you might find stainless steel rust over time. Ensure you clean it well and keep an eye on it. It's not like it will happen quickly or anything, just something to be aware of.
Make sure you're not storing the gas canister in your house anywhere, this includes any attached building such as a garage. I know it's obvious... Keep them outside or in a shed away from your house, just as a precaution.
Here are some of the best deals posted on hotukdeals right now. At the bottom you'll find a few popular retailers that have sales on right now, which may be worth checking from time to time.
Charcoal Barbecues
- Weber Smokey Joe, Premium 37cm - £48
- Kamado Joe KJ23RH Classic I Smoker BBQ - £699
- Eurohike Foldable BBQ - £12.75 / £3.95 delivery
- George Foreman Premium On-The-Go Portable Charcoal Barbecue - £39.99
- Texas Oil Drum Charcoal BBQ - £35 / Extra 10% off with newsletter signup
- Master-Touch GBS E-5750 Charcoal Barbecue 57 cm + 8kg Weber Briquettes - £249
- HI-GEAR Stainless Steel Portable Double Sided BBQ - £15
Gas Barbecues
Electric
Accessories
Other
Fuel
Firepits
- Outdoor 1.75m Steel Chiminea Fireplace with Cooking Grill - £149.99
- Large 60cm BBQ Fire Pit Log Burner - £22.50
- Round Fire Pit - £19.50
- BioLiteSmokeless Firepit+ - £149.00
Looking for Food for your BBQ?
Quick Links to posted deal groups
Retailer Sales worth keeping an eye on
Now for the part that is never any fun... Cleaning
It's got to be done, so here are a few ideas that may help you get the job done more quickly and effetely. Got any tips? Let us know in the comments and "Get someone else to do it" totally does count.
Dishwasher
The dishwasher may not spring to mind right away, but you might be surprised by how many parts of your BBQ can be popped in there. Obviously double check in the manual if you're not sure!
As with most things you'll put in the dishwasher, just rinse off and remove what you can before you load up. No one wants a lump of meat rattling around in there. Getting them on a nice hot wash should help blast off that grease while you're getting on with something a little less boring
Steam work makes the dream work
If you've got a handheld steam cleaner, then put it to work to whip off all of that grease and loosen everything up. Steam cleaners are pretty awesome for having around the house in general, so you might as well use it to speed things up, especially with large BBQs.
Get it offee with coffee (machine cleaner)
This is one that I've never heard of before, but apparently something that works really well are coffee machine cleaning tablets. Grab yourself a bucket and fill it with hot water, drop all the parts in with the cleaning tab, then go have a nice relax while it soaks.
Coffee itself works too - You won't need to sacrifice your fresh coffee grounds here, but once you've used them for your drinks, whack them in a bucket with some water and get your parts / utensils in there for a couple of hours.
Beer
I've heard that leftover beer is great for cleaning off grease. Just drop your wire brush in and use it to clean a warm grill. There are lots of things that get left over in my house... not usually beer though?
What to do once it's clean
Once you've got it clean, if you can light it back up again, then do! This will burn away left over chemicals that might affect things next time.
Setting up deal alerts is nice and easy, you can do this for any keyword that you like and set parameters for the notifications.
- 1 - Tap your profile picture
- 2 - Then hit Alerts
- 3 - Go to Manage Alerts
- 4 - Tap "Add a new alert" at the top
- 5 - Set your keyword, temperature level and choose whether or not you'd like to be notified via email.
- 6 - Tap "Save"
Alert Tips
When adding your alerts, be mindful of different spellings! For example sometimes we see 'fire pit' posted as 'firepit' or BBQ as Barbecue. So in order to cover your bases, it's good to pop a couple of different variations into the mix, so make sure you don't miss anything!
Recommended Alerts to set:
- BBQ
- Barbecue
- Gas BBQ
- Charcoal BBQ
- BBQ Tools
- BBQ Accessories
- Firepit
- Fire Pit
Check out the best garden furniture deals megathread - Here
More details at Community Updates
Edited by Ken, 11 August 2023
227 Comments
sorted byBetter way to clean your grill is to go at it with a scrunched up ball of kitchen foil.
I am new to BBQ'ing but have 2 of them - a large round Aldi one with the side wooden counter space, a Homebase Barrel one as well as a Mini Kamado Egg from Aldi & I built a nice DIY Tandoor.
I am at the very beginning of my journey & when BBQ'ing the biggest issues I am having are trying to both reach & maintain temperature - I find it extremely challenging. I also am really not sure as to the ratio of amount of coal to use for any desired temperature setting - is this a factor or important?
I find it takes ages to reach temperature but then when one opens the lid to adjust or turn the food, the temperature just absolutely plummets & again, then takes forever to get back up & that is if it ever does - usually not. I then have to fire up more coals in the starter & add them during the cooking process - this makes the temps then shoot right up way higher than needed & then I have to fight to get then down again - it is like a YoYo - the temp needle either does not reach the desired temp or does so extremely slowly or it stays below or higher - never where I want/need it to be. This all makes the cooking process so much longer.
I have watched a bunch of Videos on YouTube but still having no luck - using both lumpwood & briquettes - good quality.
On another note, our neighbours are having a massive house works renovation & there is a mountain of discarded wood in their garden - off cuts from building - eg, 2x4's, 2 x 6's, etc. I know that there are two types - pressure treated & non pressure treated. Yesterday, thinking I could also use this wood for my BBQ's & Tandoor, I got a bunch of the non pressure treated wood (thinking that the pressure treated ones would have chemicals in them) & sawed it off on small sections to mimic large briquettes & lump wood - various sizes to be honest.
I tried them out but found they they burned great but were usually always in flame & when the flames subsided, they really did not last very long - anything between 30mins to an hour so nothing like the hours needed with charcoal.
Firstly, is it safe & a good idea to use wood like this - are there any down sides to health etc? If one can use it safely, how to then properly use it so it burns much longer? I see people BBQ'ing with wood in both & in Tandoors so thought I would give it a try as I have an endless supply of it & it would save me big bucks in the future.
Is it the wrong type of wood to use (think it is Pine) & if so, what type of wood should one then use?
Sorry for the long post & many thanks!
My rule of thumb with wood is if I can't identify it, I don't cook with it.
With adding the wood.. get your charcoal up to temp, then add the wood and leave it for 10mins for the white smoke to settle. It spikes because wood burns hotter, but will settle down.
If you wanted the Kamado Joe Classic I Appliances Direct doing it for £749 with free delivery currently appliancesdirect.co.uk/p/k…cue
Also Creative Gardens and Mill Race Garden Centre have some very good prices on original Kamado Joe accessories currently if you wanted to add any to this
Or best value of all imho is the offer Costco have on the Louisianna 24" Kamado with Cover currently for £599 hotukdeals.com/dea…532 (edited)
slower offset cooking then briquettes as they provide hours of heat
I have the Grillstream Gourmet 6 Burner Hybrid BBQ which is quite nice in this respect - plus the knobs light up & it has a built-on bottle opener
prosmokebbq.co.uk/col…ies
This is the one.
Good sized grill area, charcoal, ash catcher, grill height adjustable
I've currently got a cheap Homebase BBQ in this style that I picked up on sale last year for £20 pre-season. I drilled two BBQ thermometers (£10) into the lid at each end so does the job fine for now. Can have the left side grilling and the right at baking temperature to keep from burning.
It's thin, flimsy, not height adjustable, and has zero back yard cred... but does the job for now.
Cherry - Beef and Pork
Oak - Beef
Apple - Chicken-Fish and Pork
Also can someone point me to bbqing guides, step by step ones lol...I'm struggling to get to grips with setting up the coal for various bbquing
Starter for ten and recipes as well. (edited)
A package deal of Weber Go Anywhere and Portable Chimney Starter £106.57 Delivered (couple of quid cheaper with a fee free card) looking around £120 over here for the pair
amazon.de/-/e…g_2 Go Anywhere Charcoal
amazon.de/-/e…_1? Rapidfire Starter
amazon.de/-/e…_1? I use this Weber 17887 BBQ Ceramic Baking Dish 30cm for Grilling Cakes, Casseroles and Desserts, use it on my Genesis Gas Grill and Smokefire regularly (it is big at 12 inches though) can do great tarts and pies with it. £29.70 delivered, over £40 here
How does it work from Amazon Germany? Use a card like Monzo? Are there any extra charges? Thanks!
I was considering going gas to partner my charcoal Weber for the quick convenience it provides, but with the price and sometimes poor availability of canisters I changed my mind.
Although seen mainly as a smoker a pellet based device is still a basically an offset cooker so all the normal BBQ items can be knocked up with a lot more space available. I guess it’s really if those grill marks and searing is your thing as this is something these devices won’t bring.
Gas, charcoal, pellets, you cannot really compare as they are all very different ways of cooking. I guess I’m a perfect world you need one of each, just need to convince the other half as to why and yes we do have space for all of them
Noticed it often on barbecue showdown and planning to attempt ribs this summer. Didn’t know whether I plan to mop or not?
Anyone with experience be able to give me some advice on how I can stop that happening next time? I've only used the BBQ twice.
I do mine in a cast iron skillet or plancha over the grill, so even if they do break up you don't lose them in the coals/gas. I think cast iron gives a better maillard effect to the meat in most cases than the grill grates and can get even hotter than the grates, if left to warm on them first, before adding oil and meat.
The 465 is about the same size as the 3 burner weber so might be worth considering. I also bought a Napoleon Rouge cover that can be used with the sides folded down. Fits like a glove.
Anyone know what the resale value of these things is? Whilst i love the simplicity of gas and how easy it is to clean (we just burn off then wire brush). I'm tempted to try something different. I like the look of the Costco komodo's. How easy are they to clean the grills and dispose of the coal waste?
Here is a video shared to me in another thread when I asked the same questions regarding cleaning the ash tray.
homebase.co.uk/gar…BBQ
Any suggestions?
Weber master touch well worth the money.
finally - if you’re looking it ain’t cooking! Always cook with the lid on
greenolivefirewood.co.uk/pro…al/
They are sold by a German company but they are out of stock:
zifagrills.com/en/…hle
There are levels to it and when you can control the heat, you naturally get better food.
If anyone looking to get started wants some cheap BBQ tools for flipping, turning etc. bought these from home bargains recently for a fiver and the quality seems decent:
home.bargains/pro…set
Meat Church Honey Bacon BBQ Rub (goes great with Ribs or Pork Butt) Sweet not spicy
Jess Pryles Hardcore Carnivore Great on Brisket or Beef Short Ribs (Slightly Peppery with activated charcoal) gives a great bark, flavour and colour
My go to sauce with most things is Blues Hog Original Sauce, great sauce, not overly spicy goes with pork and beef
This is good for convenience and it does not bad food from what I hear. Its just not great at grilling or smoking. Decent if you ca t decide or like the easiness of just plugging it in and going.
I definitely need something to stand my ooni on.
argos.co.uk/pro….ds
Or the argos one which is cheaper but probably worse
argos.co.uk/pro….ds