How can I use my barbecue in winter?

Everyone knows that barbecues are fantastic in the summer months, with warm weather and sunshine providing a perfect atmosphere for a barbecue. In Summer, barbecuing is both a culinary occupation and a social one. We have discussed previously, on this blog, how to care for your barbecue and given some suggestions of great summer recipes. However, does a barbecue stop being useful as soon as summer is over? We would say 'certainly not!'

We've heard stories of certain bbq lovers still cooking in the middle of Minnesota, during a sub-zero winter and in 2ft of snow. If they can manage there is no reason you cannot! Indeed, one of my colleagues swears by using her gas BBQ to cook all her meat, every day. She believes this is a better way to prepare the meat for several reasons:

1. Barbecued meat has a distinctive flavour which many BBQ owners find preferable to the 'standard' oven taste.
2. Barbecuing meat is much quicker than cooking it in the oven. If you're looking to put together a meal quickly, then barbecuing is the way forward.
3. Barbecues need much less cleaning than an oven - just swiftly wipe down the grill!

Of course, if its too wet or too windy and you don't want to face the elements, then barbecuing in winter isn't for you. However if you want to brave it, then perhaps investing in a barbecue shelter is a good idea. Either way, we hope we've proved that people do use their barbecues outside of summer afterall, and that there are practical advantages to doing this! Check out our range of barbecues on Alfresia. We also sell a range of garden furniture and patio furniture.