Barbie girls and boys

Summer is all too brief, so it’s vital to make the most of every sunny afternoon and evening. From paddling pools to patio furniture, buying a home with private outdoor space lets you enjoy al fresco activities whenever the clouds lift. And one of the best ways to appreciate the freedom of a back garden involves firing up a barbecue.

We tend to think of barbecues as an Australian phenomenon, but al fresco cooking makes sense whether you live in Sydney or Stirling. For one thing, many of our favourite foods are perfectly suited to cooking across charcoal. A barbecue is also a uniquely social event, whether you’re throwing a party or simply enjoying a meal with the family. And when the following day brings cloud and drizzle, cooking indoors will seem refreshingly easy!

Tools of the trade

Small disposable barbecues only cost a couple of pounds at a supermarket, designed to be used once and then carefully discarded after they’ve cooled down. However, their limitations make them unsuitable for serving more than four people at a time. Multiple-use floor-standing barbecues can be purchased for £20, while waist-height ones start at twice the price. Accessories are often stocked in pound shops, and the internet is awash with guides to cooking techniques and barbecue management.

It’s possible to construct your own barbecue by building racks into a three-sided brick frame in the garden, though some people take the easy route and buy a gas barbecue instead. Even though dials and ignition switches remove some of the magic, cooking is more consistent, and the absence of smoke is helpful for people with chest conditions. Gas burners are also safer for young families, since small children and hot coals clearly shouldn’t mix.

A flavour to savour

Despite the challenges of evenly cooking food on a hot metal rack outdoors, the rewards are huge. A barbecue is a natural conversation starter, but it’s also surprisingly satisfying to use in a primal hunter-gatherer way. Food generally tastes better outside, and there’s something rather liberating about eating without cutlery or crockery. Nor is this the preserve of committed carnivores – many vegetarian and vegan foods barbecue well, from hash browns and halloumi to falafel. Plus, anything tastes good inside a fresh sesame seed bun, when it’s covered in cheese and ketchup.

If you’re planning to purchase a reusable barbecue, it’s important to have somewhere to store it out of season. Its position in the garden also requires consideration, ideally some distance from the house so smoke can’t drift in through open doors or windows. We’d recommend giving immediate neighbours a couple of hours’ notice, in case they have laundry hanging outside. You could even invite them round – the sociable nature of outdoor cooking makes barbecues an ideal focal point for getting to know new neighbours…

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