What’s the point of Barbecues?

[PinkIcedCream]

I read a lot of threads on here from posters who appear to spend a lot of weekends cooking food outdoors on a barbecue and wonder what it is about cooking on a barbecue, whether charcoal, gas etc…that they love so much?

I live very rurally with no near neighbours so at least if I lit an outdoor wood fire, the smoke wouldn’t bother anyone else. Presumably, if you live in a built up area, the smoke and the smell might bother your neighbours?

My DH is vegetarian and never cooks so he wouldn’t be one of those blokes who like to take control of standing around turning the meat into charcoal. I eat some meat and no fish and don’t really like burgers, although homemade ones usually taste a bit nicer.

We don’t drink alcohol either so have no interest in getting pished.

One of my friends offered me their big barbecue when they moved abroad but I declined and I think they were a bit surprised but I couldn’t see us ever using it.

Please tell me what you enjoy about having a barbecue at home. Am I missing out?

YABU - Barbecues are great fun.

YANBU - I don’t really enjoy them either.

I would SO agree to a braai pit 😂

…And now back in the cool non food smelling house.

This. Most barbecues I attend don’t involve big amounts of alcohol either

Looks great @Lamelie ! Spot on about the cool house - far better than cooking a roast dinner in this heat!

Some people don't like barbeques like OP and that's okay. I just wish they wouldn't keep posting threads on here every time it was a bit hot pretending to be seeking understanding when they really just want to say they think they are awful but know that most people will disagree with them and their curmudgeonly views.

I don't do them or go to them, but I can see the attraction of inviting friends around for a chat and food, and being outdoors in fresh(ish) air. Given the cost of eating out, other entertainment, seems a low cost form of socialising too.

It's the taste.

I bbq in the summer 3 or 4 times a week. BBQ is right outside my kitchen so easy peasy.

I do not get the excitement. Typically hosted by women in maxi dresses waving prosecco around and looking all excited over the couscous while their loud children scream on a trampoline and the balding husband burns meat. Do not get it.

Well no wonder you don't get it if that's what the barbecues you've been to are like! It's not a description I recognise at all. Incidentally, not sure how the type of dress or the amount of hair someone has would affect your enjoyment of the event.

Most of the barbecues I've been to (especially dh's) have had delicious food. Like any other type of successful cooking, good barbecues require practice and skill. And like any social event, how enjoyable it is depends on the company you keep.

It tastes amazing and I love making & eating lots of salads!

We have several family birthdays in summer, so we usually do 2-3 big BBQ's.
It's easy as everyone can bring a salad, a pack of sausages or beer along.

Granted, we are all a very well oiled machine when it comes to family BBQ- everyone has their speciality!
It's also very social and everyone finds food that they like without faff for the host.

I love my bbqs, the world has moved on from when bbq just =burnt sausages and terrible burgers.

I do not get the excitement. Typically hosted by women in maxi dresses waving prosecco around and looking all excited over the couscous while their loud children scream on a trampoline and the balding husband burns meat. Do not get it

🤣

We’ve just finished our second of the day. Lunch was spatchcock chicken, assorted Spanish sausages and pork kebabs with salads and tonight was burgers with bacon and cheese, corn on the con and sweet potato chips.

No effort required, only DH and DD and me.

Barbecues mean DH does most of the cooking and all the cleaning.
On the minus side, barbecued meat gets a bit dull after a while no matter how you marinade it and really who wants hot food on a hot day.
In terms of eating I'd much prefer a range of salads and cold dishes but hey, I get the day off so I don't complain!

standing around turning the meat into charcoal

Anyone who does this is just a terrible cook. Badly cooked BBQ food really is shit, you’re correct, but a good BBQ is hard to beat.

The 'turning cheap meat into charcoal ' is my mum's view of BBQs. Both my sister and I do really good BBQs, but mum is resolute that BBQ food is awful. It's strange and a bit sad.

I like BBQs because it's the only time DH cooks. I find it's an easy way to cater for lots of people because it's very relaxed, everyone helps themselves and usually people will bring a contribution.
I

I had a mains gas bbq which I used several times a week year round. It heats up hotter than my domestic oven and I NEVER have to clean it. I use cages or skewers to cook things and the cages and skewers go in the dishwasher. I don't like cooking smells in the house.

My bbq marinated fish is absolutely amazing. If I do say so myself. 😇

And, yes, I would let my neighbours know if they had their washing out.

I love bbq food. We can all be outside, I love cooking over coals, it’s my favourite thing about summer. Just had a giant T-bone steak (bbq is the best way to cook a thick steak), garlic and chilli king prawns, and a watermelon, feta, tomato, onion and cucumber salad. We’re all sitting out whilst the children finish up in the pool before bath/bed. BBQing doesn’t have to be complicated, yes you need some cooking skills - but that’s the same if you cook indoors!

Any chance of a recipe for the garlic aubergine and sticky halloumi?

I hate the smell of burgers / steak/fish in the house after cooking so bbq works so much better for us.

Great flavour, being outdoors & a change!

Garlic Aubergine
Cut garlic cloves into large chunks, each clove into about 3 or 4 pieces
Fry garlic in plenty of oil until golden and crisp
Slice aubergine into thick rounds - perhaps 2-3cm
Stud the aubergine with garlic pieces, sprinkle with salt, and brush/drizzle with the garlic oil
Wrap in foil and set aside until required
Cook nestled among the coals so that the aubergine becomes soft and silky
Unwrap and enjoy - my family have this as the veggie alternative to sausages as they work very well in a bap (assume 2-3 pieces of aubergine per veggie if eating this way).

This is the halloumi recipe, except we cook the halloumi on barbecue.

Interesting responses so far and it seems that essentially the people who are keen on BBQ's are mostly foodie types who enjoy both cooking and eating and socialising with family and friends rather than staying home alone.

I guess that explains why we never do them.

We rarely socialise and DH eats to live. If he could live on a handful of tablets a day instead of eating actual food, he'd happily choose that option. 😂

I don't understand why people use gas bbq's, just use the oven in the kitchen and then eat outside

Gas BBQ’s and electric ones are great-and actually far more economic to use than your oven indoors.

We can cook something fabulous outside in under 10 mins. I think you just lack imagination!

You don’t need to socialise to enjoy a BBQ. When we do it, it’s usually just the two of us.

We do them indoors in the winter or bad weather.