How to prepare for BBQ season 2024
Getting your grill ready after winter
BBQ season in the UK is right around the corner, which means it’s time to start preparing to host summer parties and treat the family to outdoor meals cooked on a grill. These are often some of the best memories you can make during the summer months, so it’s important to have everything in place. Here, we’ll talk through some top tips for how to prepare for BBQ season.
One of the most important pieces of equipment you need to focus on when preparing for BBQ season is your grill. You don’t want to invite everyone over and buy all the food you need, only to find that your grill isn’t in working order. This means taking the time to clean the grill ahead of time. To clean the grill properly, you should make sure you have the following to hand:
- Coarse brush
- Bucket
- Dish soap
- Steel wool
- Sandpaper
- Disposable toothbrush
The grids should be removed and any old ash or charcoal disposed of. This allows each part to be cleaned thoroughly. It might take some time for all the grease to be lifted off the metal, so take your time. Lastly, if you have a gas grill it’s important that you check all the tubes that feed into the grill as well as the controls. Any damage to these parts might prevent it from working or lighting properly, so it’s crucial that any issues are addressed as soon as they are identified.
Preparing for the BBQ season
Once you’re safe in the knowledge that your grill is ready to use and you have enough fuel for it, it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to make the most of the BBQ season. If you’re starting to get more serious about hosting summer meals, it could also be worth investigating BBQ accessories to take your cookery to the next level.
Source quality produce
You want to treat your guests to a delicious, memorable food experience at a BBQ and the easiest way to guarantee this is to buy quality BBQ meats. An online butchers such as us stocks a range of meat that’s perfect for grilling, from burgers, chicken wings, and sausages, to whole roasting joints and steak cuts. Look no further than our Tomahawk Steak for a showstopper centrepiece to any summer occasion.
Plan your BBQ parties
Planning a BBQ isn’t just about what you will be serving, although of course that is important. Cooking times should be considered ahead of time to make sure meat and sides are ready at the right time. At The Village Butchers, we offer customisable meat boxes that allow you to select a variety of different meats for your BBQ. The aim is to save you time and money by offering everything you need in one place. Another consideration for BBQ parties is sourcing disposable plates and plenty of napkins to keep messiness to a minimum.
Grill lighting technique
If you are cooking meats after people arrive, it’s important that you can get the grill lit quickly to stay on schedule. For a gas grill, this should be relatively straightforward providing you have enough fuel and a working igniter. For charcoal grills, it’s worth considering how long you need the grill to be lit before you choose a method. Coals generally light quicker but burn for a shorter period of time. When cooking large cuts, Briquettes are often a better choice as they stay hotter for longer once lit.
A butcher for all your BBQ needs
The Village Butcher are partnered with local suppliers across the country to ensure we are well stocked going into the BBQ season. Our BBQ meat packs are delivered straight to your door ready for grilling. What’s more is that all our meat products are packaged in a way that makes them ideal for freezing. You can therefore be prepared to host a BBQ the moment the sun comes out. Contact us if you have any questions.