What BBQ Suits Your Family’s Lifestyle?

The BBQ is an Australian icon, bringing family and friends together to make the most of this country’s warm climate. It turns your backyard into an outdoor entertaining area you can enjoy all year round, and it can even raise the value of your home. Barbecuing is an easy cooking method that infuses your food with rich, smoky flavours. It can also be a healthier option, as grilling helps melt excess fat from the meat while preserving its nutrients.

Yet with so many different varieties on the market, the search for the best value BBQ in Australia is a tough one. There’s a lot to consider, from fuel types to grill sizes to accessories and costs. One important consideration is your family’s needs and lifestyle: how many people you have to cook for, what sort of food they like, any features that fit your needs and more.

Ultimately, what makes for the best value BBQ in Australia will look different from family to family. However, as leading BBQ suppliers in Sydney, Home Fires can help you choose the best one for your needs.

Considerations When Buying a BBQ

No matter what your BBQ needs are, there are some things you always need to think about when you’re buying a BBQ, including:

Size and power

Do you have a BBQ-loving family of five to feed, or will most of your grilling consist of an easy meal for one? You’ll want to consider how often you plan to use your BBQ and how much food you need to fit on it at once.

Fuel source

BBQs run on three main fuel types: charcoal, electricity and gas. All of these varieties have different benefits. For example, gas BBQs are known for being faster and easier to clean, but for some BBQ lovers, nothing replaces the smoky taste from charcoal grills.  

Brands

How do you find the best value gas BBQ, or an old-fashioned style charcoal BBQ with a durable design and reliable features? The brand of your BBQ makes a difference. There are lots of BBQs out there for sale, but not all of them provide you with the value for money you’re looking for. Make sure you do your research and choose a trustworthy BBQ brand.

Available space

Chances are, you’ll put your BBQ in your backyard or outdoor entertaining area. Take note of how much space you have to work with. A large backyard can accommodate a multi-burner gas grill, while a small balcony suits a small, portable model.

The Different BBQ Types

When you start shopping for the best value BBQs in Australia, you’ll find a few main varieties that keep coming up. These common types make up the bulk of BBQs available in Australia and include:

Portable BBQs

The smallest of the variants, portable BBQs are lightweight and easy to carry to different locations such as parks and campsites.

Freestanding BBQs

Freestanding and portable BBQs are not the same, although both share the capacity for movement. Freestanding BBQs are larger units that sit on trolleys or wheeled carts to make them easier to move around your yard or patio.

Built-in BBQs

A built-in BBQ is integrated into your outdoor kitchen and benchtop in a streamlined fashion. This makes for a sleek, efficient cooking area that can also include custom additions like fridges and storage. This is the kind of BBQ that raises the value of your property. It also requires a professional to connect it to your home’s natural gas supply.

Charcoal BBQs

Charcoal BBQs fill food with a distinctive signature smoky flavour that BBQ purists prefer. They also tend to be more affordable than other models and truly bring a rustic, homely feel to outdoor cooking. On the downside, they require a longer heating process than other types of BBQs and are more intricate to clean. 

Gas BBQs

The most popular BBQ option in Australia, gas BBQs are a low-maintenance option that can quickly produce a high level of heat. They run on either natural gas or LPG (propane). However, gas BBQs also have higher upfront costs, and some BBQ lovers claim they can’t accurately replicate the distinct flavours of charcoal.  

Electric BBQs

For small apartments and rentals, electric BBQs present an easy option. They can be used indoors, and cleaning is minimal.  However, electric BBQs are dependent on a power source and can raise your power bill, and they may not have what it takes to feed a large family.

Choosing the Right BBQ for Your Family

Some key factors when it comes to choosing the best value BBQ in Australia for your needs include:

Frequency of use

Are you planning to fire up the BBQ several times per week or only on special occasions? And how many people are you cooking for? Frequent BBQ users and those regularly cooking for large groups will want to look for large cooking areas, multiple burners and durable materials. Those who only BBQ on occasion may prioritise a low-maintenance model that’s easy to move and store.

Type and fuel source

Every variety of BBQ has its pros and cons. Gas BBQs are perfect for busy people who want to prepare meals quickly but still have large families to feed. Electric BBQs are perfect for those in small apartments and rentals, while built-in BBQs are ideal if you want the full outdoor kitchen experience while raising the value of your home.

Budget

Every family has to work within their budget. Luckily, no matter your income bracket, there’s a quality BBQ that meets your needs. You can find a basic charcoal grill or entry-level gas BBQ for $500 or less, while $3,000 or more can get you a full-scale outdoor kitchen.

Features and accessories

Your family’s needs also determine what kind of features and accessories your BBQ needs. Large BBQs have larger cooking areas, which are necessary if you have more mouths to feed. A BBQ lid makes for oven-like cooking conditions, perfect for even stronger and juicier flavours.

Once you’ve found the proper BBQ, there’s still a world of accessories waiting for you. For those who love a side of seafood or vegetables, a hotplate stops smaller foods from falling through the grill. And there’s no need to explain the additional benefits a pizza stone can provide.

Get the Perfect BBQ for Your Family at Home Fires

No matter what kind of BBQ best suits your family’s needs and your tastes, you can rest assured that Home Fires has a range of reliable, high-quality models of it.

From Home Fires, you can purchase a portable BBQ, such as the Weber Smoky Joe, featuring a 1,000 cm² cooking area, and the Weber Go-Anywhere for ultimate hibachi-style cooking.

When you buy a gas BBQ from Home Fires, you get the best value gas BBQs Australia has to offer, including the Weber Genesis E-325s, which give you more grill space to cook for a larger group of people at once. Buy a built-in BBQ with a stylish design that packs incredible power and produces outstanding results.

A leading supplier of BBQs and fireplaces in Sydney, Home Fires offers the highest quality brands, industry-leading service, expert advice and strong warranties from our long-standing suppliers.

For help finding the best value BBQ in Australia for your needs, contact the Home Fires team online or visit our locations in Minto or Casula.