Six of the best BBQs (From Halesowen News)

Six of the best BBQs

7:00am Saturday 23rd June 2012 in NewsXtra

Six of the best gadgets and gizmos on a theme. This week: Six of the best BBQs.

By Peter Jenkinson.

If you've taken a trip down to the shed lately to check on your BBQ, you might wish that you'd taken more care before storing it after last summer.

We may have had more showers than sunny spells lately, but it's time to be optimistic and get all that outdoor equipment in order.

So if you've been hanging on to your old BBQ for years, we've found six red hot pieces of kit that might just tempt your wallet open.

Down Tools - Stake 3-in-1 BBQ Tool - £28.99 from www.firebox.com There's no need to step up to the cooking area with multiple tools protruding from the pockets of your comical apron. All you need is a single, super-smart gadget that can flip, grab, stab and serve - and we've found one. Operating as tongs, a spatula or a fork, this clever device will wow diners and perhaps even help you maintain your credibility if those pesky bangers let you down.

Radio Not Included - Blacktop 360 Party Grill - £249.99 from www.firebox.com This feature-laden machine takes outdoor cooking to another level. The portable gas-powered cooker has all the usual suspects in place - griddle, warming plate, and a grill for the main meat - as well as a nifty bamboo chopping board and a carrying bag so you can move the grill and show off your skills in another location. At the centre however is the killer application - a deep fat fryer for all your onion ring/tempura needs. Now that is just showing off!

Design Classic - Weber One Touch Premium BBQ - £169.99 from www.garden4less.co.uk Once you've liberated this BBQ from its box, you'll want to sit back and stare at it for a few moments before even considering tarnishing its perfect design in any way. Eventually though, you will have to. This charcoal barbie is about the best in its class in the cooking stakes too. Often favoured by seasoned outdoor chefs, Weber is the one to beat.

Firestarter - Zippo Flexible Neck, Utility Lighter - £14.50 from www.zippo.co.uk Anyone preferring the superior charcoal-based grilling method will, at some point, have experienced that brief agony when you've held your flame just a moment too long to ignite your bricks. This childproof, adjustable-flamed Zippo lighter will help you to avoid this occurrence, allowing you to light all corners of your cooking space with ease and without any of that pyro-manic panic.

Family Feasts - Calor Swiss Grill Icon i430 - £399.98 from www.calor.co.uk If you are on the hunt for a kitchen outside at a decent price, then this machine from the folks at Calor really does tick many of those boxes. It grills, bakes, boils and roasts, making it possible to create pretty much any spread for your family's varying palettes. With enough space to feed up to eight people, you'll have to fight over who gets the free apron!

Cheap And Cheerful - Outwell Cazal Portable Notebook Grill BBQ - £24.99 from www.outdoorworld.co.uk The award for most portable BBQ must go to this foldaway version called a notebook. It expands from flat to form a very capable griller that is ideal for on-the-move or cooking in smaller spaces. There are just three steps to complete - unfold, load the charcoal and light. Yes, it is that simple!

App of the week: Weber's On The Grill - £2.99 from iTunes and £3.21 from Google Play Want to look the part as you take your place behind your grilling machine? This app gives you access to 250 classic Weber recipes plus 40 ideas for rubs, marinades and sauces. Sneak occasional peeks at your handset, and your guests won't even know you're using it as a reference.

The app also has a shopping list function to help you stock up on all the right ingredients, and you'll find a timer so you can cook everything to perfection.