to think barbecues just aren't worth the effort?

[GulesMeansRed]

First barbecue of the year today.

Retrieve barbecue from back of shed, give it a good scrub because although it was put away clean (or DH sys it was) and covered, it's sticky and mucky after 9 months. Search for charcoal. Search for firelighter thingies. Get the thing going. Stand around while it gets to the right stage for cooking. Start cooking the stuff. Constant debate about whether it's done or not. Multiple trips back into the house to get salad, salad dressing, cheese slices, another beer, tomato ketchup, another plate, another spoon, forks. Then all the clearing away and disposing of the charcoal.

Total faff.

I don’t invite friends round for a BBQ May-September either (well only very rarely), but we still use the bbq multiple times a week in those months.

We have at least 3 BBQs per week during summer, weather permitting of course. You do need to invest in a good bbq though. It can be really fun. Befriend someone from Southern Africa, that should help a great deal haha.

It’s not snide at all, plenty of people have referenced cheap nasty burgers and sausages as one of the reasons they don’t like BBQs.
If you buy shite food it will be shite, if you dont it’s a good start to a nice BBQ

I make my own burgers and they are much nicer barbecued as opposed to fried or grilled. I often make a pocket and stuff them with stilton, comte or mozzarella... I wouldn't be without my burger press to make sure they don't fall apart.
So burgers can be good too. I am not so keen on bought burgers.

I like a BBQ, but an easier alternative is those grilling machines and the hot plate versions, just plug in, and use those instead

Totally agree. If youre out and about or on the beach or camping then yes obviously fine. If im at home fuck it. Just use the grill. Its easy, more hygienic, quicker and zero faff. Absolutely fuck all point in bbqs

I also like to make my own burger patties but I tend to put them on the grill. I don’t really use a burger press but I’m sure it has its merits. I’m curious how one would use a burger press on the BBQ.

Disposable bbq?
Only £3 for a small family size one. No need to clean before or after. No need to buy coal or gas or anything else.

I take my DCs to the beach with a packet of sausages, hot dog rolls, McDonald’s condiments and a disposable BBQ. Makes like way easier…

No, it is only to shape them ready for barbecuing!

It's brilliant, it just pushes it all together so they don't fall apart prior to putting in the fridge ready for cooking!

I find it hilarious how DH says he’s done all the work when all he’s done is sit next to the bbq drinking a beer and turning the meat! Whilst I have shopped, prepped and done all the running in & out for drinks, ketchup, mayo and of course that one thing I forgot just as I sit down 🤪
Love a bit of BBQ chicken, so long as it is at someone else’s house 😀

Ours is outside the back door in the sunniest prettiest spot in the garden.
I love it!
Prepare salad/ rice etc inside
Barbecue meat ..
Job done!!

It seems lots of the bbq problems on this thread are DH problems! I mean mine does most of the cooking anyway, but if we bbq he shops, cooks and cleans it up.

You don’t cook them in a burger press, they’re just used to shape the meat.

You need to do it right! Cool to time not temp ...learn about direct/ indirect cooking. Most importantly a BBQ with a lid is a must for most cooks ... We have a kamado and it's so easy once you learn how to use it / control temp with the vents ...it's basically an outdoor oven but with that lovely BBQ taste you only get by cooking over coals!

Literally no part of that sounds at all appealing and it ALL sounds like FAFF.
If you're not very interested or bothered about a charcoal/bbq taste on your food (which I am not, at all, ever) then there is literally NO POINT to a bbq.

I've band my partner from having them. After years of misery. He always get really drunk doing them, then annoys us, me and our 16 year old son. He stands around keeping an eye on the BBQ ordering everyone around, then the food which isn't cooked properly was my fault for bothering him. (I wasn't) he said but we all enjoy BBQs I pointed out no we don't, only you do, because you get shit faced and don't rember what a twat you were the day before.
It's the same when his Dad had a BBQ which again family have decided to stop him from doing as again no one liked. It's only the 2 drunk hosts that like them as they don't rember when sober.
So BBQs aren't worth the stress and hassle. Plus the food never tastes that nice.

That's supposed to say cook to temp not time 🙈

Fair enough if it's not your jam ! ...I love a hot summers day in garden with BBQ on (once you have it nailed it really doesn't take much effort! ) Friends or family round ...kids running around in garden!

It's the cleaning - always the cleaning - that seems to take longer than the cooking. Sod that - never had one - never will

I barbecued a 2kg loin of pork yesterday and it was delicious. We had it cold tonight with salad and there's still some for tomorrow. It was no trouble and compared with a Sunday roast, a very relaxed affair. If you're fiddling about with burgers and sausages I see your point OP but as a fine weather alternative to Sunday lunch, I think it's great and no gas or electricity bill involved.

If you’ve never had one, how do you know the cleaning takes a long time?

I used to think that… but I guess it depends on your set up. We now have a permanent (masonry) bbq on the patio outside the back kitchen door, so not much back and forth. Also just been away for a week with friends where barbecued nearly every day - just choose a meat, carb and salad, makes it easy.

Great to because guest but not a host 😆

Also just been away for a week with friends where barbecued nearly every day - just choose a meat, carb and salad, makes it easy.

That's what I like about it.