With the weather finally starting to clear up, it’s time to get outside and fire up your barbecue! Whether you have a gas, charcoal, wood pellet or electric grill, it’s always helpful to have the right tools and accessories to hand to ensure you have a successful barbecue.

But what equipment do you actually need? And most importantly, is there any kit that you actually don’t need? To help you get the best cooking results from your barbecue this summer, these are the five BBQ accessories you actually need, and three that you can live without.

Before I get into the list, it goes without saying that you’ll need the correct fuel type for your barbecue to work. For gas barbecues, you’ll need a gas canister, regulator, hose and ignitor while for charcoal smokers, you’ll need charcoal and a chimney starter. Pellet barbecues require wood and an electrical power source, the latter of which is the only thing required to use an electric barbecue.

The BBQ tools you need

1. Long-handled tongs

Tongs are essential tools for both outdoor and indoor cooking. Handy for grabbing, flipping and transferring food, tongs are especially handy for odd-shaped foods where you need a good grip, like sausages or corn-on-the-cob – two of the most common barbecue foods.

If you’re using tongs on a barbecue, I’d recommend a long-handled pair of tongs. The length of the tongs ensures your hands and arms are safe from the heat.

2. Slotted spatula

Like tongs, a spatula is a common accessory found and used in the kitchen, but it excels at barbecue cooking, too. Spatulas are great for flipping burgers, and like tongs, the long handle keeps your hands away from the intense heat of the grill. I’d suggest a slotted spatula, as barbecues can get dirty and greasy. This way, you can remove some of the grease when you transfer your burgers to a plate.

3. Silicone basting brush

Barbecues aren’t just about sausages and burgers – you can use them for lots of different meals, including big cuts of meat and kebabs. If you’re cooking this food on your grill, a silicone basting brush allows you to add extra flavour by brushing butter or marinades directly onto your food as it sits on the barbecue.

Silicone is the best material for a basting brush, as long as you check that it’s heat resistant and barbecue-friendly. Compared to other materials, silicone won’t burn or shed, and it doesn’t hold onto food smells.

4. Meat thermometer

Nowadays, the majority of barbecues on the market will have meat thermometers built into the design. But if yours doesn’t, you definitely need one as a meat thermometer to make sure your food is properly cooked. Due to a barbecue’s high heat, it might look like your burger is cooked but oftentimes, you’ll find the outside is burnt but the inside is raw. That’s where a meat thermometer comes in, as it gives you quick, accurate readings so you don’t give yourself or your guests food poisoning.

5. Heat-resistant gloves

To better protect yourself, a sturdy pair of heat-resistant gloves is exactly what you need for barbecue season. When you buy them, make sure the gloves are barbecue-approved as a grill reaches much higher temperatures than kitchen appliances. Your barbecue might also experience the occasional flare-up so a heavy-duty pair of gloves are a must.

The BBQ tools you don’t need

1. All-in-one utensils

Don’t get me wrong, there is some value to all-in-one utensils but I have never found one that’s actually worked well. For barbecues, these types of tools combine a spatula, fork, baster, bottle opener and corkscrew in one. While they might save space and money, these all-in-one utensils aren’t the most comfortable to hold and use, and aren’t the best quality. They’re also quite tricky to clean.

2. Grill press

Smash burgers are all the rage at the moment, and it’s extremely easy to make your own smash burgers on a barbecue. But what I wouldn’t suggest is buying a dedicated grill press for them. While they are handy, you can get the same results by using a heavy-duty pan or skillet, or even a weighted spatula.

3. A spritzer

A barbecue spritzer or spray is designed to keep the surface of the grill non-sticky and prevent burning during longer cooks. But you don’t necessarily need to use a spritzer on your barbecue, and oftentimes, it’s hindering your cooking. Over-spritzing your food can remove the marinade or rub that you put on it before adding it to the grill, minimising its flavour. It can also make your food and surface too wet which can prolong your cooking time.

Gozney has just announced its latest collaboration with paint brand, Tonester. The partnership reimagines four of Gozney’s iconic pizza ovens in four signature Tonester paint shades – but you’ll have to be quick if you want one.

The Gozney x Tonester collection is a fun, colourful collaboration between the two brands. Four of Gozney’s pizza ovens have been given a personal colour upgrade from Tonester to better display its colour, material and form. Each colour was specifically chosen for the way it shows up next to the pizza oven’s fire.

The four pizza ovens up for grabs are the Arc Lite, Tread, Arc XL and the Dome XL (Gen 2). The new colours are displayed on the main outer shell of the pizza oven, but it keeps the mouth, control panel and chimney accessories in Gozney’s usual black.

Starting with the Arc Lite, it now comes in Tonester’s ‘High at the Gala’ paint shade which is a rich, burgundy-like colour. The Tread sticks to the more neutral side of things in ‘Car Coat’ which is a warm, stone brown shade. It’s a minimalist colour that shines brightly in the light so it matches perfectly with Gozney’s portable pizza oven.

One of the brightest colours from the collection is ‘London House’ which is available on the Arc XL. It comes in a deep navy blue colour. My personal favourite is the ‘Black Orange’ on the Dome XL (Gen 2). Arguably Tonester’s most iconic shade, the colour is a rusty orange that looks amazing next to the pizza oven’s flames.

When speaking about working with the founder of Tonester, Tony Piloseno, Tom Gozney, founder and CEO of Gozney said: “The way Tony evokes emotion through his paint colours is exactly how I think about the material, form and finish of our ovens… We’re both trying to transform spaces in different ways: Tony through colour and atmosphere, and us through the moments of connection that happen around fire and food.”

Tony Piloseno added that “We spent a lot of time on which shades belonged with which oven. Each colour was chosen for the specific way it shows up next to fire — ember, shadow, ash and smoke – then matched to a single oven to carry as much weight on an outdoor focal piece as it does on a wall.”

As if the new colours weren’t cool enough, Gozney will be dropping the new pizza ovens in a very unique way. Starting on 15th June, Gozney will drop its Gozney x Tonester pizza ovens every day throughout next week. It’ll be starting with the Arc Lite followed by the Tread, Arc XL and Dome XL (Gen 2) which will be the last drop on 18th June.

The Gozney x Tonester collection will be priced the same as the original models and colours, so if you like a specific colour, you’ll need to be quick as this limited design series is expected to sell out fast – oh, and there aren’t any planned restocks so once they’re gone, they won’t be coming back.

CASO Design has just launched the PizzaChef 430, its latest indoor electric pizza oven that could give Ooni a run for its money. Quickly reaching temperatures of up to 430°C, the CASO Design PizzaChef 430 has top and bottom heating elements that can be controlled independently to quickly make delicious pizzas.

Due to the rising popularity of pizza ovens, more and more brands are introducing indoor models so those with limited outdoor space can still use and enjoy this type of cooking. One of the best indoor pizza ovens that we’ve tried is the Ooni Volt 2, because of its stylish looks, intense heats, easy presets and manual controls.

Now, CASO Design has taken inspiration from the Ooni Volt 2 and introduced the CASO Design PizzaChef 430. It has a similar compact style, a touchscreen display at the front and a triple-glazed glass door with integrated lighting so you can seal in the heat while still getting a clear view of your food’s progress.

The most impressive part of the CASO Design PizzaChef 430 is its temperature controls. With its 2200W heating system, the pizza oven reaches up to 430°C to replicate the intense heats you can expect from a traditional brick oven. The 32cm x 32cm pizza stone ensures fast and precise heat distribution, and looks the part, too.

This high heat and quick warm-up time allows the CASO Design PizzaChef 430 to cook 12-inch pizzas in as little as two minutes. For even more control, the top and bottom heating elements of the pizza oven can be independently adjusted, so you can get a consistent cook on the crust and toppings.

With eight pre-sets to choose from, the CASO Design PizzaChef 430 has settings for Neapolitan, New York-style and Pinsa Romana pizzas. It also has a memory function so you can save your own personalised settings, making it even smarter and easier to use.

While the CASO Design PizzaChef 430 is primarily an indoor pizza oven, it’s robust enough to be used outside – given it’s under a shelter and you have easy and safe access to a plug. It really is a clever pizza oven, and a great option for those with limited space – the price isn’t bad, either.

The CASO Design PizzaChef 430 is available to buy for £199.99 at CASO Design and Currys. At both retailers, you can already get £20 off the CASO Design PizzaChef 430.

Want easy and tasty on-the-go cooking for your next adventure? Then you need to upgrade to a portable barbecue.

I love my barbecue but it has one flaw – it’s so big that I can’t take it with me when I go away on a camping weekend. I may only go on one camping trip a year (tents and I don't mix well), but I hate having to buy a disposable barbecue for each trip, as they’re not environmentally friendly and tend to leave a large scorch mark on the grass.

I’ve decided I’m not contributing to this waste and mess this year, and instead, I’ll be taking a portable barbecue with me instead. Today, there are tons of portable barbecue options, including gas, charcoal and wood pellet models, that are easy to pack up and take with you camping, hiking, beaching and more.

Portable barbecues don’t just have to be for your holidays either. With their impressive power and tasty results, they can also find a permanent place in your garden, and they’re handy for people who have minimal outdoor space, like balconies or patios.

Without further ado, here are five portable barbecues you should invest in this year.

1. Weber Traveler

Best portable barbecue overall

When it comes to portable barbecues, the best of the best has to be the Weber Traveler. This gas barbecue has a large 2,65cm sq cooking area and a single burner that cooks food perfectly, and folds down seamlessly. Its compact folding mechanism means it can stow away in the boot of your car, and for manoeuvring, it has an attached cart so you can wheel it around.

Our trusted reviewer gave it five stars in our Weber Traveler review, and commented that “with its well-engineered, deckchair-like folding mechanism, the Weber Traveler is a practical and efficient gas barbecue, combining a generous cooking area with a minimal storage footprint.” It’s hard to beat really which is why it holds top spots in many of our barbecue guides, including the best gas barbecue.

2. Napoleon TravelQ 240

Best portable gas barbecue

Speaking of gas, the Napoleon TravelQ 240 is an impressive portable gas barbecue, and sits just behind the Weber Traveler which is also gas powered. Described as ‘small yet mighty’, the Napoleon TravelQ 240 uses a stainless steel burner to quickly heat up its large grilling area and produce high heats for searing.

The Napoleon TravelQ 240 is extremely compact, and is easy to clean up and store. It has a removable drip tray and collapsible legs so it can get even smaller if needed. It also has a small holder on the side for you to place your gas canister – Napoleon has thought of everything with this one.

3. Traeger Ranger

Best portable pellet barbecue

If it’s pellet power you’re after, the Traeger Ranger is our pick for the best portable pellet smoker and grill. It’s quite heavy so you’ll need some muscles to heft it around, but the Traeger Ranger folds down nicely, so much so that you might mistake it for one of your suitcases.

Once in action, the Traeger Ranger can grill, smoke and roast meat and vegetables to perfection. In our five-star Traeger Ranger review, our reviewer commented that “this portable pellet griller and smoker impressed us from the word go” – high praise, indeed.

4. Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker

Best portable electric barbecue

Nowadays, a lot more campsites have electrical outlets that you can plug an electric barbecue into. Our top pick is the Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker which – in true Ninja style – has multiple cooking functions under its hood, including grilling, smoking and even air frying.

With its oversized handles on either side, the Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker is easy to set up and move around. It also has a smoker box lid where you can add flavoured wood pellets to enhance the taste of your food. It also got five stars in our Ninja Woodfire BBQ Grill and Smoker review.

5. Campingaz Party Grill 600

Best budget portable barbecue

For those on a tight budget, the Campingaz Party Grill 600 is a good affordable portable barbecue option. It offers multiple cooking options, including a grill, griddle, plancha and stove top, and it all conveniently packs away with its lockable lid and detachable legs.

The Campingaz Party Grill 600 runs on gas, and more specifically, Campingaz gas cylinders. Luckily, these are easy to find as Campingaz is sold at multiple outdoor retailers so this shouldn’t be an issue. Its piezo ignition is also quick and match-free, so you should be up and running in no time.

Whilst everyone is searching for the best barbecue upgrade this summer from the brands they already know, IKEA has quietly launched its own option for an incredibly affordable price. The new Soluppgång Barbecue costs just £45 and features a cast iron design that's designed to distribute heat evenly across the grill for more consistent cooking.

Although IKEA has made headlines recently with its growing range of affordable smart home gadgets, the retailer has never shied away from kitchen and outdoor cooking products either. Last year, the Gåtebo 3-in-1 Microwave Oven proved surprisingly popular, and the new Soluppgång Barbecue could easily attract a similar following.

The Soluppgång Barbecue is available now for £45 in the UK and $79 in the US via IKEA's online store and in-store.

IKEA already sells a number of barbecues, including both gas and charcoal models. However, aside from the compact Korpön Portable Charcoal Barbecue, the Soluppgång is one of the cheapest grilling options currently available from the retailer.

Measuring 43 x 20 x 21cm, it's on the compact side, making it well suited to smaller gardens and patios, or whilst camping. Practical carry handles make it easy to move around, whilst built-in ventilation openings help increase airflow through the charcoal bowl.

Despite only recently launching, the Soluppgång has already picked up some impressive reviews. One early buyer described it as a "superb little BBQ that gets hot and stays hot – very easy to use, heavy-duty and good-quality cast iron."

Move over, Ninja – Cuisinart has launched its three-piece portable barbecue line-up, designed for delicious, authentic grilling on-the-go. Featuring both gas and charcoal models, Cuisinart’s portable barbecues have wide cooking spaces, easy heat controls, and stylish designs – and the prices are pretty good, too.

I’m a big fan of Cuisinart appliances, and recently covered its new 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven. Part of the brand’s new portable line-up, the Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven has a dual-hinged lid that takes it from a grill to a pizza oven and back again. It also packs away nicely for storage and travel.

The new additions that I’ve recently spotted are the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill and the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ. Starting with the former, the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill has a 35cm cooking area that can cook up to 12 burgers at once.

Powered by charcoal, the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill has a round, lightweight design that features a chrome-plated grill grate that offers even heat distribution and rust resistance. Weighing just 1.8kg, it can easily be carried around for camping trips, beach days and festivals, and it won’t take up much room in your garden, either.

The Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill uses dual air vents to give better control over the barbecue’s heat and airflow. It can be used to cook all your barbecue favourites, and it can slow cook, roast and sear. Its enamel-coated firebox and integrated ash catcher keeps everything mess-free, and the lid has three locks to keep its components safe during transport. At just £34.99, it’s an absolute steal.

If gas is your barbecue preference, the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ is a great choice. With a large handle for transportation, the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ looks like a mini suitcase but it has a surprising amount of features under its hood.

The hood in question is a wooden lid which can double as a chopping board or serving tray. It covers the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ’s Stack ‘n Go design which stacks all parts of the grill in one place, including its 993 cm² cast iron cooking surface.

Powered by a 2.6kW stainless steel burner, the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ has a quick twist-start ignition and it delivers consistent heat during the cooking process. Transporting large gas canisters might sound tricky, but the flip-out rack and hose clips on the Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ are designed to hold and stabilise a 450h propane tank.

The Cuisinart Venture Portable Gas BBQ is slightly more expensive than the Cuisinart Portable Charcoal Grill at £199.99. Overall, both barbecues promise powerful and tasty results, and are half the price you’d be expected to pay for other big name brands.

Pellet smokers have been gaining momentum in the UK for a while now, but they're still a relative niche compared to the gas and charcoal BBQs most of us grew up with. The appeal comes down to the results. Anything cooked in wood pellets, especially meat, will offer up a proper wood-fired smoky flavour without having to babysit a fire all afternoon. Just fill the hopper with hardwood pellets, set a temperature, and let the machine do its thing. This "set it and forget it" promise helped turned Traeger into one of the biggest names in outdoor cooking.

The company has been doing their thing for 40 years now, but the Woodridge series is the brand's latest lineup, designed to bring its premium features down to a more approachable price. The Woodridge Pro sits in the middle of the range, slotting between the entry-level Woodridge and the top-spec Elite. It packs 970 square inches of cooking space, a Super Smoke mode for maximum flavour at low temperatures, Wi-Fi connectivity via Traeger's WiFIRE companion app, a digital pellet sensor, and a clever EZ-Clean grease and ash collection system.

I've been using it in my garden for the past few weeks now, including over a Bank Holiday heat wave, testing it across a mix of slow smokes and quicker grills to see whether it lives up to its maker’s reputation. Here's how I got on.

Traeger Woodridge Pro review: Price and availability

The Traeger Woodridge Pro is available to buy now in the UK, US and Australia. Being a US brand, the pricing is noticeably steeper on this side of the Atlantic. In the US, it has an RRP of $1,150 and is regularly discounted to $999.99. In the UK, however, it sits at a firm £1,399 and can be picked up from retailers like John Lewis, Stoves Are Us and BBQ World, with no discount in sight at the time of writing. (Although some retailers do throw in a free rain cover.) In Australia, it comes in at AU$2,399 direct from Traeger's Australian store, also with no discount listed.

For context, the entry-level Woodridge BBQ (which lacks the Pro's Super Smoke mode, folding side shelf, Keep Warm function, and has a smaller 860 sq in cooking area) starts at around £1,099 / $799.99 / AU$1,899. Meanwhile, the top-end Woodridge Elite has all the Pro features but boasts an infrared sear station and costs £1,699 / $1,599.99 / AU$2,999 RRP.

Rival pellet grills from Weber, Pit Boss and Camp Chef sit at similar or lower price points, so you are paying a premium for the Traeger name. That said, the build quality and feature offering go a long way toward justifying the cost, in my opinion, especially with the 10-year warranty, which is reassuring.

One thing worth flagging before buying is the ongoing cost of pellets. Pellet smokers like this require hardwood pellets specifically, which are pricier than softwood. I paid around £25 for a 9kg bag, which lasted me roughly three medium-sized cooks at around 240 degrees with the rack half full. There was a bit left over, but definitely not enough for another full session. It's not wallet-busting by any means, but it does add up over a summer of smoking, so it's worth factoring in if you’re considering buying a BBQ like this.

Traeger Woodridge Pro review: Design and build

The Woodridge Pro is a whopping bit of kit. At 79kg / 174lbs, it's not something you'll want to have to move around often, or keep hidden away to keep pulling out and dusting off when there’s a heatwave on the way. Still, if you do need to do that, it does sport two large wheels and two casters, which make repositioning it on the patio manageable enough.

Build quality is where this thing really shines, though and this will be obvious from the minute you unpack it and start assembling it. Everything feels properly sturdy and well-made. The steel feels thick and solid, the prep shelves are stable, and the whole unit has a reassuring heft that screams high quality. It really feels worth the money.

Assembly is a big job, mind. It arrives flat-packed in many pieces and you'll want to allow a good two hours with a second pair of hands. That said, Traeger has clearly put a lot of thought into making the process as painless as possible. The inside of the main box is printed with a layout showing where everything goes, and all the component boxes are labelled with animal icons (pig, chicken, deer, cow) sorted into four corners. You follow the images on each box to assemble step by step. It's probably one of the best unboxing and assembly experiences I've had with any product, and it makes this flatpack BBQ feel even more premium.

Once built, you've got a huge cooking area split across a main grate (585 sq in) and an upper shelf (measuring 385 sq in), plus two prep surfaces (one folding). There’s also a lower storage shelf running along the bottom to hold whatever BBQ paraphernalia your heart desires, and plenty of hooks to store cooking accessories, all of which ensure it’s practical as well as cool looking. Then, the grill’s hopper sits under the right-hand prep surface and holds 10kg / 24 lbs of pellets, which is more than enough for a couple of long smokes. There's also a digital pellet sensor built in so you can monitor levels without lifting the lid.

The EZ-Clean Grease and Ash Keg is also worth a mention here. This clever design feature collects drippings and pellet ash into a single removable and disposable container, which makes post-cook cleanup a lot less grim than scraping out a traditional BBQ. That said, the grill plates themselves are pretty big, and getting them properly clean does take time and effort. It's definitely not a quick wipe-down job.

Overall though, it really looks the part. It's a beast of a thing, but a stylish and robust one at that. Anyone that spots the Woodridge Pro sitting on your patio will assume you mean business, that’s for sure.

Traeger Woodridge Pro review: Performance and features

Let's start with what the Woodridge Pro does best, and that’s smoking. Set it to a low temperature, fill the hopper, turn on Super Smoke mode, and walk away. That's genuinely all there is to it. The auger feeds pellets into the fire pot automatically, the temperature holds steady, and the smoke does its thing. After what I know about more traditional wood pellet BBQs requiring you to manually feed wood into offset smokers or faffing with charcoal, this felt almost too easy.

And the results speak for themselves. My Wagyu burgers came out with a brilliant smoky flavour and tender texture, and slow-cooked chicken drumsticks had a proper wood-fired taste you'd expect from a dedicated smoker. This is down to the grill’s Super Smoke mode, which works below 107 °C / 225°F pumps extra smoke over the food to really add flavour intensity. It's the feature that separates the Pro from the base Woodridge, and it's worth the step up on its own, in my opinion.

Temperature control is impressive, too. The digital controller lets you set anywhere from 74°C / 165°F to 260°C / 500°F, and in my experience it held steady. Recovery time after opening the lid was quick, and the pellet consumption at lower temps (roughly 0.5kg / 1lb per hour at 107°C / 225°F) felt efficient. The control panel on the front of the grill is clear and easy to use, too, touting a digital readout, a dial for temperature, a connected temperature prong, and buttons for ignition and Super Smoke. It's a bit retro-looking with its dot-matrix style display, but I like that and it does its job with ease.

For grilling at higher temperatures, the Woodridge Pro might be perfectly capable but it's not its strong point. You can get it up to 260°C / 500°F and cook burgers, joints, chicken thighs and the like without any issues, and you'll get a decent sear from the hot grates. But because there are no direct flames beneath the cooking surface, you won't get that flame-licked char you might be used to from a gas or charcoal grill. This is something to make sure you’re well aware of before buying – as expectations could be ruined if you’re expecting that traditional BBQ finish to your meat. If high-heat searing is your priority, you'll want the Woodridge Elite with its infrared side burner, or a separate grill entirely.

Finally, let’s talk about the app. Traeger's companion app, called WiFIRE, is widely praised and I can see why as it lets you control temperature, monitor pellet levels, set timers and access recipes, all from your phone.

I should mention that I initially struggled to get the grill to connect. Despite multiple attempts over Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, my phone simply wouldn't recognise it, which was pretty frustrating. After persisting with it, though, I eventually got it paired, and once connected it worked brilliantly. The app itself is well designed and intuitive, with a clean layout that makes it useful rather than a gimmick and not only for controlling the grill remotely but for relevant recipes, cooking guides and the like. Being able to adjust the temperature or check pellet levels from inside the house while the Woodridge Pro does its thing in the garden is a convenience that would make it very hard to go back to a conventional BBQ!

That said, if you're not one for connected experiences, the Woodridge Pro works perfectly well using just the physical controls on the unit. Everything you need is right there on the front panel, so the app is a bonus rather than a necessity.

Traeger Woodridge Pro review: Verdict

The Traeger Woodridge Pro is one of the most impressive BBQs I've used. The build quality is outstanding, the smoking performance is fantastic, and the whole “set-it-and-forget-it” experience means that wood-fired cooking feels accessible and in a way that traditional smokers don't.

The grill is not without its niggles, though. The pellet costs are an ongoing expense that adds up, especially with the pricier hardwood pellets this machine requires. What’s more, the grill plates are a faff to clean, and if you want proper high-heat searing, you'll need to look at the pricier Elite model or supplement with a separate grill.

Nevertheless, anyone who wants to smoke ribs, brisket, pulled pork or anything else low and slow with minimal effort and maximum flavour, the Woodridge Pro delivers and then some. It's a serious piece of outdoor cooking kit that not only looks the part but feels every bit as premium as its price tag.

When the sun comes out to play, so too do barbecues! After all, who wants to cook in a hot-and-stuffy indoor kitchen? As the UK has seen searing levels of heat this past week, so too has the nation's passion for outside cooking been ignited.

While I really enjoy making meals at home, I've never really been one for outside cooking – I've found basic barbecue ovens too unpredictable and too time-consuming to achieve decent results (even not-so-decent ones). But this weekend just gone all of that changed for me.

That's because I had a Weber BBQ delivered to my house as part of a work project. It's called the Genesis EP-335W and it includes an app-based monitoring system. Sounds like a gimmick, right? I was sceptical at first, for sure, but after using this gas-powered BBQ for the first time I realised that it's actually far better than my kitchen oven.

The EP-335W is a triple-burner grill – you could call it five-strong if including the Sear Zone addition, plus the enclosed side gas hob – with a built-in digital thermometer. It's this ability to monitor temperature which makes this outdoor oven a breeze to use – but, better still, you can real-time monitor the temperature within the app.

Furthermore, there's an included probe which you can insert into the centre of whatever you're cooking and that produces a second real-time monitor of the internal temperature. So there's no more guesswork – you can cook that perfect medium rare steak to 55°C with precision. No app? No problem. The digital thermometer display on the side of the unit is easy to see and toggles between the two temperatures.

Like so many people, I tend to err on the side of caution when it comes to BBQ cookery. After all, nobody wants to fall victim of foodborne illness due to undercooked meats, in particular. Overcooking is the obvious outcome, which brings with it undesirable qualities – namely tough or dry results, even too much char. But that's now an issue of the past with this Weber.

After a weekend's early-morning cycling workout, I wanted to make some sausage sandwiches – and the Genesis EP-335W was the more obvious choice than using my kitchen oven. It heats up faster, the probe ensures precision temperature readings, while the design means dripping fats cause flames to spark and add additional flavour. The result? Sensational sarnies.

There are inevitable downsides in owning such a product, of course, in that it costs a lot to purchase in the first instance, you'll need the right cover (sold separately) to protect it, correct cleaning tools to ensure the enamel coating on the grills lasts, and a separate gas cannister is no doubt pricier than your household supply. The boasting rights might be worth it, though.

If this UK heatwave keeps up, then I might end up cooking everything on this outdoor grill – lunch and dinner. This Weber barbecue has changed my opinion about outdoor cooking so considerably that I can barely believe it. There are other options within the range to cater for smaller and larger scales, at varying budgets. But if you're on the hunt for the ultimate BBQ then Weber's app-connected range is a scorcher.

The last UK May bank holiday is upon us, and it’s going to be a scorcher. With the weather this nice, chances are you have plans to fire up the barbecue to enjoy some delicious food in the sun – but if your barbecue does this, it’s the biggest warning sign it could give you that it needs cleaning or even replacing.

According to barbecue experts at Vonhaus, there are many common warning signs that your grill is past its best. The most obvious warnings are if your barbecue is looking extremely rusty even after you’ve cleaned it, and if the grill catches fire during cooking.

But the biggest warning sign that your barbecue needs cleaning or replacing is if your food cooks unevenly. Of course, if you’re a barbecue beginner, there is some trial and error involved when it comes to your first few grills, but if you notice your burgers burning heavily on one side while staying raw on the other, this is a huge sign that your barbecue isn’t performing as well anymore.

The main reason for your barbecue cooking unevenly is due to the burners. After years of use, your barbecue’s burners can become blocked which will cause the flame and airflow to weaken. This then triggers other parts of your barbecue breaking down as they’re working overtime to keep everything working.

When asked about this issue, Liam Glennon, Head of Buying at Vonhaus explained that “You should not have to constantly move food around the grill just to get it to cook evenly. If certain areas are getting much hotter than others, it’s often a sign the burners or airflow system are no longer working properly.”

In most cases, a deep clean of your barbecue can prevent these issues from happening. In general, if you haven’t used your barbecue in a while, the first thing you should do is check its condition. This is particularly important if you use a gas barbecue, as the fuel type will require a leak test to ensure the fuel hose, canister and connectors are all in top condition, otherwise you’ll need to find replacements.

Regardless of the type of barbecue you own, cleaning it regularly is a necessity otherwise your grill could become a breeding ground for food poisoning. To do this, check out our guide on how to clean a barbecue for a seven-step tutorial.

If after you’ve cleaned your barbecue, you’re still experiencing the same uneven heat and cooking, this is another indication that “the internal components are beginning to fail.” For more barbecue advice, here are 6 telltale signs your barbecue is past its sell-by date.

Watch out, Ninja – Cuisinart has just debuted the 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven, and it might be my new favourite outdoor cooking gadget for 2026. As a 3-in-1 appliance, it has a clever dual lid design that transforms it from a barbecue, grill and griddle and into a pizza oven – here’s how it works.

This year’s barbecue launches have been heating up, with a main focus on griddles and multifunctional appliances. Taking a page from the (not so) humble air fryer’s book, the latest barbecues can now do so much more than just grill and Cuisinart’s latest model is the perfect example of that.

The new Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven is a clever 3-in-1 gadget that combines a barbecue, grill and pizza oven into one surprisingly compact device. As a gas barbecue, it has a 260 square meter cooking surface with a 4.4kW burner which delivers consistent temperatures and a quick heat-up time for versatile outdoor cooking.

Perfect for entertaining large parties, the Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven can cook up to 12 burgers at once on its large cast iron grill which measures 46cm x 34cm. On that same surface, you can swap it for the griddle plate, a cast-iron flat surface that’s great for cooking vegetables, steak, bacon and pancakes.

The best part of the Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven is its dual-hinged lid that switches it from its barbecue and grill into a pizza oven. The lid lifts for grilling and griddling, and has a front door that flips down for making pizzas. Inside the oven is a 13-inch pizza stone which can cook up to 12-inch pizzas or two smaller ones.

The door of the Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven traps in the heat to allow for even cooking. The pizza oven can also reach up to 370°C to make delicious, authentic pizzas in as little as eight minutes.

Once you’re done cooking, the Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven is easy to clean and it packs away nicely so you can even travel with it on camping trips and weekends away. It’s easy to store too, and as summer 2026 approaches, it’s a premium, versatile gadget that offers everything you could want from an outdoor cooking appliance.

The Cuisinart 3-in-1 BBQ, Grill and Pizza Oven is available to buy for £249.99 at Cuisinart and select retailers, like Lakeland.

Napoleon, one of T3’s favourite gas barbecue brands, has quietly launched its latest outdoor kitchen, and it’s quickly jumped to the top of my garden must-have list. The Napoleon Oasis 106 Modular Island Kit is a full-sized all-in-one outdoor kitchen, complete with a gas grill, built-in rotisserie and sizzle in one – but it’ll cost you a small fortune.

Designed to elevate your alfresco dining experience, the Napoleon Oasis 106 has everything you could possibly want from an outdoor kitchen. At the heart of the design is the 700 Series 32-inch gas grill, complete with four stainless steel burners and offering a massive 3432 cm² cooking area.

As you can imagine, the Napoleon Oasis 106 is a pretty sizable piece of equipment, but it’s easy to install and can fit in most gardens. As it has multiple cooking methods in one, it can also replace your current barbecue.

Aside from the main grill which has two shelves for multi-level cooking, the Napoleon Oasis 106 features a Sizzle Zone and a 25.5cm infrared side burner for even more grilling space. My favourite feature is the integrated rotisserie that sits above the grill area which is ideal for roasting chickens.

For accurate cooking, the Napoleon Oasis 106 has a temperature gauge and easy controls for levelling the gas flame. As an outdoor kitchen, the Napoleon Oasis 106 is basically an elaborate countertop which also provides cupboard storage and worktop space to store cooking tools and prep your food.

For durability, the cabinets of the Napoleon Oasis 106 are made from strong, galvanneal steel. It’s the ultimate outdoor kitchen, and as they continue to soar in popularity, I now desperately want one for my own garden – although it’ll cost me an arm and a leg so I better start saving!

The Napoleon Oasis 106 is available to buy for £6,599.99 at Napoleon.

There has been an explosion in popularity for design-oriented pizza ovens of late, predominantly spurred on by the success of the Gozney’s breakout Roccbox (and subsequent gas-powered models), as well as the best pizza ovens from the likes of Ninja, Witt and cheeky Italian chef Gino D’Acampo.

British brand Delivita offers a neat line of incredibly handsome domestic pizza ovens that includes the gas-only Diavolo and the Origin wood-fired, which fuses thoroughly modern looks with an undeniably old school method of cooking restaurant-quality pizzas.

The Flow Dual Fuel Oven is arguably the best of both worlds, with the ability to stoke it up with wood pellets and small logs, or opt for the convenience and cleanliness of gas power.

A large stone can handle 14-inch pizzas, although it general classic design means it’s one of the larger domestic ovens out there. At 45kg, it’s also a bit of a beast to heft around, so best find a suitable location and stick with it.

It is also priced in such a way that it attracts a lot of very accomplished rivals and, by the time you’ve invested in a number of essentials, it quickly becomes a very expensive way to enjoy a slice of pepperoni.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: price and availability

At £699 for just the oven, the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel is £100 more expensive than the gas-only but extremely capable Gozney Arc. Those savings go a long way towards a transportable stand from the rival brand, which makes life with an outdoor pizza oven a lot easier.

Similarly, the smaller but eminently popular Gozney Roccbox ticks the dual-fuel boxes and starts at around £400. For those that can’t be bothered with either gas or wood, there are also options from Ooni (the Volt 12) and the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven to consider.

Plus, it’s worth noting that many Delivita customers will also want to look at accessory bundles, which start at around £130 for the essential paddle and pizza turner, as well as a cover for keeping the unit clean when storing outdoors.

However, it’s easy to spend the best part of £1,000 when you factor in things like a stand and a wood shelf, which is a worthy investment for keeping embers away from both the pizza and your gas burner outlets.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: set up

The Delivita Flow comes preassembled, so be prepared to take delivery of a very large box. But inside you’ll find everything you need to get started, aside from the low-pressure butane or propane gas, or LPG mixtures, that fuel the thing. You’ll have to pop to your local garden centre or gas supplier to grab a typical patio bottle if you don’t already own one.

Delivita provides the regulator, which simply pushes on the gas bottle’s outlet. Once in place, Delivita suggests ‘curing’ the oven for four hours on the lowest heat setting, which rids the clay construction of any moisture and gradually strengthens it.

Admittedly, it’s a bit of a pain and uses up a chunk of gas, which isn’t cheap these days, but this prevents any major cracks or defects from forming on your stylish new pizza oven that could result from bumping it up to max temperatures from the outset.

If you haven’t opted for one of the stands or tables Delivita will happily sell you, it’s worth finding a sturdy and stable flat surface that can handle 45kg.

The only thing I had to hand was a glass-topped outdoor dining table, which I placed a few large wooden chopping boards on top of to prevent the heat from causing any damage. Not ideal and a bit of a pain to pack away afterwards.

I would definitely invest in a transportable stand with a weatherproof cover, as this allows the oven to be wheeled in and out of a garage or shed.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: Design and features

There is no denying that the Delivita Flow is a stunning piece of kit, its curvaceous, dome-like shell coming in six eye-catching colours. I went for a more subdued grey, but retina-searing reds and outrageous oranges are also on the cards for more outgoing gardens or patios.

The metallic front fascia adds a nice dose of bling to proceedings and the oven control knob feels chunky and well made. All in all, Delivita has done a great job of producing an oven that justifies its asking price.

Aside from that, there’s the typical cooking stone, which is large enough to handle 14-inch pizzas, and an ignition (built into the temperature control knob) that provides the spark to ignite the gas burner.

However, many pizza ovens out there (some of which are less expensive) offer a built-in digital thermometer, which gives a visual cue for when the stone is at the correct temperature to perfectly cook a pizza.

Delivita markets the Dual Flow as a versatile piece of kit that can roast, barbecue and even slow cook a curry, but without the additional infrared thermometer accessory, it is difficult to ascertain the right temperatures to do any of those things.

This is particularly important when heating the oven up with wood or pellets, as this often takes much longer (and requires a lot more effort) than using gas power. Wood-fired pizza lovers arguably need a much tighter handle on operating temperatures.

There are very few fancy features here, just the ability to casually select from the simplicity of gas power to a more complex wood-fired cook-out.

An idiot-proof temperature control knob takes the guesswork out of gas cooking, with a Max mode that gets the stone up to temperature in around 15-20 minutes, while rotating it to the ‘cook’ setting keeps things at the optimal heat for creating delicious pizzas in minutes.

That said, and as previously mentioned, there’s no digital thermometer, but Delivita will sell you an infrared thermometer that you can point at the oven to determine when it’s ready.

Pizza paddles, turners and cutters are also all optional extras, but you won’t get very far without them, as anyone that has tried a pizza oven will attest to how easy it is to haphazardly flop fully laden dough onto the red hot stone, only for everything to stick and burn, resulting in a calamitous Calzone.

For those that really want to take the guesswork out of pizza production, the Revolve Pizza Oven and the Witt Etna Rotante remove much of the sweaty, flour-laden labour out of proceedings, but it is nowhere near as fun.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: Performance

It is worth reiterating here that Delivita Flow Dual Fuel is a heavy beast, and even the simple act of getting it out of the box and set up in the desired location requires some big guns, or at least some help from a friend.

Because of this, it feels very much like a proposition that you get situated in a preferred spot and leave, likely taking pride of place in a bougie outdoor kitchen set-up, complete with a cover thrown over when not in use to keep it clean.

With that in mind, I’d highly recommend the Delivita stand with side tables (a £249 extra), as this allows the heavy oven to be wheeled around with ease and stored.

As for the performance, it really is a fantastic piece of kit, getting up to temperature quickly and proving an absolute doddle to use when running on gas. The heat circulates perfectly and cooks fresh pizza in a matter of minutes.

I found I only really had to turn a pizza once or twice to get a nice even cook throughout, while controlling temperature proved easy with the small dial on the side and when armed with an infrared thermometer to keep an eye on things.

Perhaps the only minor downside is the relatively small aperture at the front of the oven, which means you have to be fairly precise when loading pizzas into the front. I found it easier to slide pizzas into the front of a Gozney Arc XL that I have tested previously, for example.

Cooking with wood also requires a deft hand, not simply to get the thing lit and the oven up to temperature, but I also found that wood takes up a lot of room in the oven itself, meaning you are limited to the size of pizza you can cook.

That said, I did use the method to add some smoky flavour to a couple of short rib recipes, placing a chunky iron skillet on the stone, and it worked a treat. Sweeping all of the embers out afterwards wasn’t quite as fun, though.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: Verdict

If you want to make a statement in your garden with a pizza oven that looks like it has been transported from a professional pizzeria, the Delivita Flow Dual Fuel really is the one to opt for. It’s such a good-looking piece of kit.

Thankfully, it also delivers professional-grade results, with fantastic temperature control and extremely even cooks across a wide variety of recipes, not just gourmet pizzas.

Working with wood can be a bit fiddly, and takes some patience, while the wood itself takes up a fair amount of room inside the oven, but for a beautifully smoky flavour on meats and other barbecue favourites, it’s well worth the effort.

Perhaps one for the budding outdoor chefs, rather than casual pizza-makers.

Delivita Flow Dual Fuel review: Alternatives to consider

The Delivita Flow requires a healthy budget and is predominantly aimed at those keen outdoor pizza chefs looking to raise their dough game. As a result, there are plenty of alternatives to consider.

If cooking solely on gas, the Gozney Arc and Arc XL would be our recommendations, but the tri-fuel, second-generation Dome and Dome XL are also state-of-the-art ovens for pizza connoisseurs.

The Gino D’Acampo Carbonio Pizza Oven came out on top for its good looks, excellent build quality and simplicity of use. Plus, it comes in well under budget when compared to Delivita’s much larger oven.

Finally, it is also worth noting the Ninja Woodfire Electric Outdoor Oven if you want something that is both a little easier to use and arguably offers more longevity.

This ace little gizmo has eight settings, including max roast, gourmet roast, top heat, bake, smoker, dehydrate and keep warm for maximum outdoor cooking versatility.

I’ve been covering barbecues on T3 for years, and I’ve never seen one quite like this. The Bertha Original Freestanding Outdoor Charcoal Oven is a full charcoal barbecue and smoker that looks (and acts) like a vault to seal in heat and flavour – and it’s just arrived at John Lewis.

Measuring 1800mm x 600mm x 700mm, the Bertha Original Freestanding Outdoor Charcoal Oven is a pretty sizable barbecue. Inside, you’ll find two grill shelves, an ash drawer and grease tray, and the entire design is made from stainless steel and available in multiple colours, including green, blue, yellow, orange, aubergine and raspberry.

As a charcoal barbecue, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven is unlike anything I’ve seen before, but it’s got some serious credentials. Designed in the UK, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven is a fully enclosed oven that uses charcoal fuel to cook your food.

Like a vault or safe, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven closes and seals to keep intense heat locked inside its tall chamber. Not only does this enhance flavours and moisture, it also cooks faster and more consistently.

Similar to an air fryer, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven whips around heated airflow for even cooking. With its large capacity and adjustable racks, you can cook multiple meals at a time, and you can choose from multiple cooking methods, including smoking, roasting, baking, slow cooking and grilling.

Compared to open grills, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven is said to cook 40% faster with its enclosed design. Despite its big size, the Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven can actually be moved around your garden on its caster wheels. It's incredibly durable and robust, and while it’ll set you back around £5,000, it’s a charcoal oven that will last for years.

The Bertha Outdoor Charcoal Oven is available to buy for £5,499 at John Lewis and Bertha. As of writing, it’s been discounted to £4,500 at John Lewis.

Forget Ooni and Gozney – Kenwood has just launched its first-ever pizza oven, and it’s a must for those with minimal outdoor space. The new Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven might look like a waffle maker – and it kind of acts like one – but it’s got dual-sided heating zones to cook pizzas in as little as three minutes.

To say I was surprised to hear that Kenwood, the brand best known for its line-up of food processors and stand mixers, was making a pizza oven is an understatement. But after having seen the Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven, I’m seriously impressed and want one for my kitchen.

The design of the Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven is definitely unusual and a marked difference from traditional pizza ovens on the market today. Most crucially, it’s an indoor pizza oven, and it has a similar design to that of a waffle maker, with its dual-sided heating elements, dome shape and lid.

The Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven is surprisingly compact, measuring just 18.5cm in height, 35.2cm in width and 36cm in depth. It can sit comfortably on your countertops or be packed away in cupboards. It also has simple two dial controls, one which controls the time and the other that adjusts the temperature.

Inside the Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven is a 30cm ceramic stone which can be lifted out of the main oven. The oven reaches up to 400 degrees and can cook pizza and other foods, like quesadillas and flatbreads in as little as three minutes. It can also be used to cook homemade or frozen pizzas.

My favourite feature of the Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven is its ClearView window at the top of the lid, something that’s definitely inspired by air fryers. Instead of interrupting cooking by opening the lid, you can see into the oven to check your food’s progress.

The Kenwood My Pizzeria Pizza Oven is available to buy now in black or storm blue colours for £149.99 at Kenwood and select retailers, like Currys.

Watch out, Traeger – Napoleon has just launched its latest plancha griddle, and it’s got a seriously impressive size and price. The new Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle has three burners, tons of cooking and storage space, and the cooktop is even pre-seasoned for maximum flavour.

Griddles are the main barbecue trend of 2026, due to their versatility and ability to cook almost every meal you can think of on its durable, plancha-like cooktop. Many brands including Weber, Traeger, Blackstone and more have launched their own griddles, and now, Napoleon is joining the party.

The new Napoleon Freestyle 24 Pre-Seasoned Non-Stick Plancha Griddle is a full-sized gas griddle that offers a wide cooking space. Measuring 43.2cm x 59.7cm, the Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle can be used to cook meat, vegetables, fish, pancakes, eggs, burgers and more.

My favourite feature of the Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle is its pre-seasoned steel cooktop. Using natural food-grade oil seasoning, the Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle comes ready to use and adds extra, authentic flavour to your meals.

Underneath the cooktop are three gas burners that offer even heat distribution and retention from edge to edge. The burners allow the Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle to be used at high temperatures for searing or low heats for more delicate meals.

Each burner has its own controls, and the entire cooktop is quick to heat up, thanks to its fast electric ignition. On either side of the main cooking area are side shelves which can be used for food preparation and to store tools with their hooks. Alternatively, you can also fold the shelves down to save space.

Speaking of space, the Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle has plenty of storage on the side shelves and underneath the main griddle area. Its dual-pivot lid also folds down to protect the grill and the entire grill can be moved around with its two side wheels.

The Napoleon Freestyle 24 Plancha Griddle is available to buy now for £549.99 at Napoleon.

If you’re planning to upgrade your best barbecue setup this summer, you’ve probably realised just how many options are out there – and how quickly prices can climb once you start looking at more premium models. However, every now and then, a grill comes along that feels like it actually justifies the spend.

That’s exactly where the Campingaz 3 Series Onyx S Gas BBQ comes in. It promises premium build quality, smart design touches and reliable cooking, but does it actually deliver when you get it in your garden?

I’ve been putting it through its paces to find out.

Price and availability

The Campingaz 3 Series Onyx S Gas BBQ has an RRP of £799.99 and is available from a range of retailers, including Very, StovesAreUs and BBQ Land. You can also sometimes find it reduced, so don't forget to shop around before you make a purchase.

There are also a number of accessories you can add on, such as the Culinary Modular Pizza Stone, which will set you back around £25-£30 depending on where you shop.

Unboxing and set up

The barbecue arrived in a large (and very heavy) box, which became a pretty good indicator of its overall build quality. Once everything was unpacked and laid out, it was clear the Onyx S is a very well-made piece of kit.

Assembly was thankfully much more straightforward than I’d expected. The pictorial instructions were clear and easy to follow, and all the parts were labelled, which made the whole process far less stressful. It took me a couple of hours at a steady pace, and I’d definitely recommend taking your time (and maybe having a few mugs of tea along the way) to avoid having to backtrack.

Design and features

In terms of features, the Onyx S is a three-burner BBQ, although there’s also a four-burner version available if you need more cooking space. The stainless steel burners use Campingaz’s Blue Flame Power System, and there’s also a handy side burner that's great for preparing sauces or sides whilst the main grill is in use.

One of the standout features is the InstaClean Aqua system. This uses water-filled grease drawers that sit beneath the cooking surface, catching fat as it drips down and preventing it from igniting. Not only does this help reduce flare-ups, but it also makes cleaning much easier, as you can simply drain the water into a container below using a plug in the corner.

Cooking space is generous, with a heavy-duty cast-iron enamelled grid and a reversible griddle. You also get a useful full-width warming rack, and a sturdy foldable side table for extra prep space. The illuminated rotary controls are a nice touch, and the InstaStart ignition makes firing it up very quick and easy.

As mentioned, another highlight of the Onyx S is its Culinary Modular system. A section of the griddle can be removed to accommodate different accessories, like a wok or pizza stone, which adds a nice bit of flexibility if you want to experiment. There’s even the option to add a rotisserie.

In terms of design, the black finish is stylish, and details like the covered wheels and soft-close cupboard doors make it feel even more premium than it already is. The trolley is also sturdy enough to hold a 13kg gas bottle, and there’s plenty of practical storage space too.

Performance

When it came to actually cooking, the Onyx S didn’t disappoint. It fired up easily, and with the lid closed, it reached temperature impressively quickly. The built-in temperature gauge is also clear and easy to read, so I always knew where I stood.

I kept things fairly simple for the first run, focusing on chicken, burgers and sausages, but it handled everything brilliantly. The chicken cooked evenly without burning or drying out, and the fat drained away cleanly into the water drawer just as promised. Best of all, I didn’t experience a single flare-up, which made the whole process feel much more controlled and relaxed.

After that, it became much more intuitive as I got more comfortable. I found myself using the warming rack a lot, as it came in really handy for keeping food up to temperature whilst I focused on other bits. Being able to close the lid to build and retain heat when needed also made a noticeable difference to the overall cooking process.

Verdict

The Campingaz 3 Series Onyx S is a really impressive barbecue that delivers far more than just basic grilling. From its premium build quality to a clever grease management system, it makes outdoor cooking feel simple and controlled rather than unpredictable. The lack of flare-ups in particular stood out, which really made a difference when cooking multiple items at once. If you want a high-performing gas barbecue that’s easy to live with and consistently delivers good results, this is an easy one to recommend.

Alternatives to consider

If you like the sound of this, it’s also worth checking out the Ninja FlexFlame. It combines five different cooking methods, and like the Campingaz, has a range of optional accessories available that make it another versatile option for outdoor cooking.

Barbecue season is finally here, and if you’ve yet to upgrade to a new model, I’d recommend buying an outdoor griddle. Griddles or planchas are the fastest growing barbecue trend for this year, and have firmly made the move from indoors to outdoors, becoming a major part of many people’s outdoor kitchen.

So, why exactly has the griddle become so popular? Simply put, the versatility of a griddle is pretty unmatched, and with more and more people wanting to cook full meals outside, they’re the easiest option as they can cook almost anything, from pancakes to meat, and so on.

The majority of griddles are powered by gas, making them easy to use and set up. The wide, flat-top surface of the griddle is also convenient to cook on, and provides consistent heat from edge to edge, so you’re getting the best cooking result every time.

Without further ado, here are the five best outdoor griddles you can buy today, from the likes of Weber, Traeger, Ninja, and more.

1. Weber Slate

Best griddle overall

Part of Weber’s 2026 barbecue launches, the Weber Slate is a wide, 71cm griddle which can be used to cook burgers, seafood, breakfast, stirfries and more. It heats up to 260°C, and has three independently controlled burners for multi-zone temperatures across the surface.

At £749, the Weber Slate isn’t too expensive, and is made from premium, porcelain-enamelled materials. It has convenient side tables on either side of the griddle surface for preparation, and they even drop down to offer more space and easy storage. It looks the part, heats up quickly and is extremely precise and durable, so it’s hard to beat in my opinion.

2. Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Griddle

Best large dual zone griddle

Currently only available in the US, the new Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Griddle is large and in charge, with a big size and dual zone cooking. While it may be big, it’s actually smaller than its predecessor, offering a slightly smaller size, but you’ll still need a good sized garden to fit it in.

Using its gas ignition, the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Griddle offers precise temperatures that heats quickly, eliminates cold spots and blocks out wind. The two U-shaped burners can be used independently or at the same time, and there’s plenty of prep and storage space on the sides and underneath the griddle.

3. Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle

Best small griddle

Just because griddles are migrating to the outdoors doesn’t mean they need to be huge. Case in point – the Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle has a griddle surface that measures just 30cm x 45cm so it can easily fit into smaller outdoor kitchens, gardens and patios, while still cooking for up to six people at a time.

The Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle uses a combination of gas cartridges and electric ignition for quick heat and set up. The griddle lid also acts as a heat insulator, and protective lid to block the wind and stop dirt and dust getting inside. It also has a grease drainer to keep things clean, and at £199.99, the price and size is pretty attractive to those on a tight budget.

4. Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle

Best portable griddle

Who doesn’t want to take their barbecue with them on a camping trip or beach day? Well, with the Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle, you can as it’s completely collapsible and can be folded down and wheeled around wherever you want to go.

The Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle has a 22-inch cooking surface and its portable design is for those who want to ‘cook beyond the garden’. It also has dual zones that can be used together or independently to make mains and sides at the same time, and at different temperatures.

5. Ninja Sizzle Pro XL

Best indoor griddle

I know I said I’d be talking about outdoor griddles, but I thought I’d throw in an indoor one just for good measure. The Ninja Sizzle XL Pro is perfect for those who want that authentic grill taste and flavour but don’t have any outdoor space.

The Ninja Sizzle XL Pro has an extra-large grilling surface with two XL grill plates. It can cook up to 10 burgers at a time, and the grill plates include a flat model for sandwiches and pancakes, and a ridged one to get those groove grill marks on your food. ‘XL’ may be in the name but the Ninja Sizzle XL Pro can be packed away in a cupboard or sat quietly on your counter without taking up too much space.

Traeger has just introduced its new Irontop Series, its latest line-up of outdoor griddles for the 2026 barbecue season. Featuring two or four burner models, the Traeger Irontop Series offers edge-to-edge heat for versatile cooking – and the price will seriously surprise you.

Outdoor cooking has become increasingly popular over the years, with many people having full-blown outdoor gardens that they use to cook breakfast, lunch and dinner – regardless of the weather. With this in mind, griddles are the biggest barbecue trend for 2026 due to their versatile, flat-top, wide cooking surfaces.

Traeger is most definitely taking advantage of this trend, having launched the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill earlier this year. But now, Traeger is launching its Irontop Series, featuring two griddle sizes to complete your outdoor kitchen set-up.

Having built on the popularity and feedback of its first griddles, the new Traeger Irontop Series includes a two-burner and four-burner for even more versatility and flexibility. While the griddles aren’t small by any stretch of the imagination, the two-burner option is surprisingly compact, and both models have lots of storage and food prep space.

The griddle of the Traeger Irontop Series is extremely wide, so you can easily cook multiple meals on it, or large batches of cooking. The entire surface has edge-to-edge heat so you get a consistent temperature and cooking performance across the entire thing, something that the Irontop has taken from the Flatrock.

The controls of the Traeger Irontop Series are easy to use, with two or four circular knobs at the front to control the heat. The griddles get hot extremely fast so you can get cooking quickly, and the integrated wind guards keep the heat directly on the surface, so you don’t have to worry about flames blowing around in windy weather.

I love the look of the Traeger Irontop Series, especially the four-burner. It has two shelves on either side of the griddle which is great for prepping, but it also has hooks for utensils and containers on the side for oils and other condiments. The bottom of the Traeger Irontop Series has another shelf for storage which is where the gas container can conveniently sit in.

The lid of the Traeger Irontop Series has Traeger’s mountain logo on the inside, and it closes down neatly to trap the heat for more direct, intense cooking or smoking. It also ‘flattens’ the size down to make the griddle feel smaller for space-saving storage.

The Traeger Irontop Series will be available to buy in May 2026, with the two-burner costing $499 and the four-burner priced at $599. This is a pretty reasonable price considering the size and durability of the new griddles so you’re getting them for quite a steal, especially in comparison to other brands.

Watch out, Gozney! Delivita has launched its latest Flow pizza oven with dual-fuel cooking power and a tabletop design. Inspired by traditional Italian pizzerias, the Delivita Flow has a curved, dome-like shape and despite its compact size, it has a large cooking space that can cook up to 14-inch pizzas.

Although it launched back in 2016, Delivita is still a new brand to me, but I’d go as far to say its pizza ovens are probably the most true-to-form models on the market if you’re looking for a traditional Italian pizza oven – despite actually being British designed.

The new Delivita Flow is a dual fuel pizza oven that uses gas and wood to make your pizzas and other meals, depending on the flavour you fancy. Gas is recommended for low-smoke and fast cooking with consistent heat, while wood is best for authentic flavours.

What’s most exciting about the dual fuel power is you can cook with either and switch between them when needed. For example, you can start cooking with wood to get that rich smokiness and then switch to gas to speed up the process and better control the heat.

Speaking of temperature control, the Delivita Flow has dial-in controls that’s located on the side of the pizza oven. It has a maximum temperature of 550°C, and can heat up in just 15 minutes. The interior can fit up to 14-inch pizzas which can cook in as little as 90 seconds, plus it can be used to roast, smoke, bake, barbecue and even tandoor-style cooking.

I really love the design of the Delivita Flow. It has a powder-coated steel shell with stainless steel interior and clay-infused insulation, all of which is designed for good heat retention and durability. It’s available in multiple colours – including my favourite, Chilli Red.

Some pizza ovens can be quite big, but the Delivita Flow is surprisingly petite, measuring just 430mm in height, 638mm in width and 665mm in diameter. It weighs 45kg, and is portable enough that it can sit comfortably on a tabletop. If you want to, you should be able to move it around as well.

The Delivita Flow is available to buy for £699 at Delivita and select retailers, like John Lewis.

Traeger is back again with another new grill for the 2026 barbecue season. Following the recently announced Flatrock 2 Zone Grill, Traeger has announced the Westwood Series that features two new woodfire grills that might be the easiest pellet barbecues to use.

Within the Traeger Westwood Series is the Westwood and Westwood XL. Both are woodfire barbecues that use natural hardwood pellets to smoke, grill or bake your food, giving it that authentic smoky barbecue taste.

Similar to an air fryer, the Traeger Westwood Series uses convection airflow alongside the wood pellets to circulate hot air and smoke around the inside of the barbecue. This gives food a richer, more in depth flavour, and offers a consistent airflow for the best cooking results.

The Traeger Westwood Series is a pretty sizable barbecue with plenty of cooking and storage space. Under the hood, it has two interior cooking racks so you can cook mains and sides on different levels to avoid cross contamination, and to cook more portions.

The left side of the Traeger Westwood Series has a built-in shelf for food preparation, while the right side has the pellet hopper which stores and heats the wood pellets. It’s also where the controls are located.

Speaking of controls, the Traeger Westwood Series is extremely easy to use – and that’s coming from someone who’s tested many barbecues but still gets confused about how to use them sometimes! On the control panel, you simply set the temperature and press ignite – that’s it.

After loading your food and closing up the barbecue, users can connect the Traeger Westwood Series to the Traeger app, thanks to its WiFIRE connectivity. The app allows you to monitor your cooking via your phone rather than having to hover around the grill and interrupt cooking by opening the lid.

As you’d expect, the main difference between the two models in the Westwood Series is the size. The Westwood has 653 square inches of capacity while the XL has 823 square inches. Again, both are pretty big but that’s somewhat to be expected with a full-sized barbecue!

Available now in the US, the Traeger Westwood Series is priced at $699.99 while the Westwood XL costs $799.99. Compared to other wood pellet barbecues, these prices are on the lower end of the spectrum so they’re actually surprisingly affordable for their size and fuel type.

As pizza ovens have become more and more popular over the years, one brand name that consistently pops up is Gozney. Its first Dome pizza oven debuted back in 2021 and became a bestseller due to its performance and iconic dome-like design.

Four years later, Gozney launched the Dome Gen 2 pizza oven series in October 2025. The two models in the line-up included the Dome (Gen 2) and Dome XL (Gen 2), and while they have the same look as the original Dome, they’re more advanced in terms of size, fuel type and upgraded controls and features.

I’ve had the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) in my garden for a few months now but the UK weather has insisted on ruining all my testing plans. Finally, we’ve been experiencing some hotter weather so I dusted over the pizza oven and got to cooking – here’s how I got on with the Gozney Dome (Gen 2).

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: price and availability

The Gozney Dome (Gen 2) is priced at £1,999.99 / $2,299.99 and is available to buy at Gozney or select retailers, like John Lewis. It comes in bone or off black colours.

It’s important to note that this price is just for the pizza oven. If you want a stand, you’ll need to pay £499.99, and then there’s the additional accessories like turning peels which start at £69.99 – all in all, it can get pretty expensive.

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: set up

The Gozney Dome (Gen 2) arrived completely set up, including the pizza oven itself being mounted on the stand. The deliveryman was very helpful moving it into its spot in the garden and removing all the packaging, so it hardly needed any setting up – a similar thing happened when I tested the Gozney Dome S1.

The external dimensions of the oven are 826mm width and 986mm height while the overall weight is 62kg. It weighs 68.4kg with the packaging on so it’s pretty heavy. Other things I noticed when the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) arrived was a loose metal piece around the opening to the oven itself which you can't fit the big pizza placement peel in until it’s removed.

The blue rubber transport retaining pieces which stopped the stone floor plates moving in transit were hard to remove without them breaking and leaving bits of rubber wedged between the stones and the oven side wall. I found that you need to lever the stone plates to remove the rubber as they were very tight and chip easily if you're too harsh.

From my experience, I’d suggest only using the stone-moving tool which comes with the oven, and use it with care to avoid damaging the stone plates. The stone-moving tool would be better if it was strong hard plastic.

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: design and features

Despite its similar domed shape and looks, the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) is 40% larger than the original Dome. Internally, it can cook up to 18-inch pizzas or two pizzas at once, as well as other foods like meat, fish and vegetables.

While the original Dome used gas or wood fire, the new Gozney Dome (Gen 2) is a hybrid fuel pizza oven which can use wood, gas or charcoal to cook food. Choosing between the fuel types is down to you and depends what flavour and speed you want the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) to perform at.

Inside the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) is plenty of cooking space and a rolling lateral burner that simulates wood fire flames using gas. The flame is easy to adjust from low to high in increments for consistent heat, and there’s a booster button for big rolling flames. For testing, I bought a 13kg bottle which was £120 including the £40 bottle deposit which will probably last for ages because the oven cooks so quickly.

For wood cooking, the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) comes with a wood fire control kit that helps with precise airflow for all fuel types. There are also embedded sensors in the pizza oven that tracks the air and stone temperature. The built-in LED digital console is located at the front with a dial and touch controls on either side. It also has two meat probes for checking internal temperatures.

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: performance

Having tested a Gozney Dome pizza oven before, I knew a little bit of what I was getting myself into. To really test how easy the controls of the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) were, I gave it a go and tasked my parents with making Easter lunch and pizzas with it to see how easy they found it.

First things first, we had a few issues with the igniter. We changed the battery twice but found it still didn’t spark. After doing some research, I read that other users found this to be a common problem and had tried fixing it via the wires inside. Personally, we found it difficult to get a hand into the access areas so we had to do things the old fashioned way – by throwing a match inside!

It goes without saying but I’m not recommending you do that as you could burn yourself. Aside from the ignition problems, the controls on the LED panel were easy to use and the whole cooking process was very simple. The oven heated up very quickly although the flame was prone to blowing out if it was windy.

During testing, the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) heated up much quicker than the stone floor and cooled down much quicker too. It took about 10 minutes to get to 240°C and approximately five minutes more for each additional 100°C. The dome itself also gets hotter than the stone floor by about 100°.

To get the best results, we got the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) to the desired temperature before turning it down to avoid burning anything. Once the food went in, we watched the temperature via the LED panel, and pressed the booster button from time to time to ensure we got a nice crispy crust on the pizza and that it was fully cooked through without being burnt.

On average, pizzas took up to five minutes to cook and we rotated every minute by 90°. It was quick, easy and tasty, although we found that to avoid the dough sticking to the stone plates, you have to add a lot of flour to the accessories.

Speaking of accessories, these are the real stars of the show. They’re made well, lightweight and easy to handle. One thing we bought separately was a skillet pan which we used to make lamb chops for Easter lunch. We had a slight danger of burning the outside and leaving the insides raw but once we got the hang of the temperature, it came out deliciously and had that authentic pizza oven taste.

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: verdict

There’s a lot to love about the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) and now that the weather is changing, I’ll definitely be using it more. The one major issue I had was the ignition not working which isn’t ideal but once you get it lit, the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) heats up and cooks food quickly in an authentic Italian pizza oven style.

The look of the Gozney Dome (Gen 2) is hard to beat. Yes it’s big but it looks professional and has plenty of internal space to cook as much food as possible for your next barbecue or pizza party. The storage shelf or mount and accessories are the standouts as they’re built well and complete the entire bundle.

Gozney Dome (Gen 2) review: alternatives to consider

If you want something a bit smaller, you can’t beat the original Gozney Dome. Compared to the Gozney Dome (Gen 2), it’s 40% smaller but it can still cook 16-inch pizzas. Although if you like the size of the Gozney Dome (Gen 2), the Ooni Koda 2 Max is supersized and performs well.

The Witt Etna Rotante is another great option which has two burners, one of which is located beneath the stone. The stone itself is also revolving so you don’t have to worry about turning anything!

Forget Big Green Egg, it’s time for the ‘Big Orange Egg’! B&Q has just launched the new GoodHome Sagami 21” Ceramic Egg BBQ, an orange egg-shaped barbecue that looks suspiciously like the iconic Big Green Egg, except this model is significantly cheaper.

One of the most recognisable and iconic styles of barbecue is a kamado grill, a Japanese-inspired egg-shaped, ceramic charcoal grill. Known for its looks, heat retention and insulation, this style of barbecue is extremely popular, and has become synonymous with brands like Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe – see our Big Green Egg vs Kamado Joe showdown for more details.

But the style doesn’t technically ‘belong’ to anyone which is why many other brands have made their own versions. For example, last year, supermarket giant Lidl debuted a ceramic egg barbecue dupe in its stores, and now, it’s B&Q’s turn.

Now available online at B&Q, the GoodHome Sagami 21” Ceramic Egg BBQ looks almost identical to a Big Green Egg or Kamado Joe, but it’s orange! The grill is made from ceramic and features cast iron vents, stainless steel air vents and cooking grids, and bamboo handles.

Aside from its good looks, the GoodHome Sagami 21” Ceramic Egg BBQ is extremely versatile, and can be used to grill, smoke, sear and even bake. Its grill measures 460mm and can cook up to eight people at a time, so it’s a definite contender for your garden this barbecue season.

Inside the lid of the GoodHome Sagami 21” Ceramic Egg BBQ is a cast iron vent and a built-in thermometer for precise temperature control. Due to its expert heat retention, it requires minimal fuel use and the controls are easy to use. The grill also has two side tables that can fold away, and four wheels so you can move it around your garden.

Compared to a Big Green Egg or a Kamado Joe which typically cost over £1,000, the GoodHome Sagami 21” Ceramic Egg BBQ is significantly less expensive and almost half the price of its competitors. It’s available to buy for £500 at B&Q.

It’s all about the griddle – Blackstone has just launched its new Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle with Hood, and it has the coolest design I’ve seen in a while. For portable grilling, the Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle collapses down so you can take it with you on-the-go, thanks to its wheeled design.

Griddles are the biggest barbecue trend for 2026, mainly due to their versatility and indoor and outdoor use. As more and more people are enjoying cooking outside, griddles have become a popular option as you can cook almost anything on it from breakfast to seafood and beyond.

Many big barbecue manufacturers are introducing their own griddle barbecues this year, and Blackstone is the latest one to join the party. The new Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle is designed for those who like to ‘cook beyond the garden’ and it might have fixed the biggest problem I have with barbecues.

Now when I say ‘biggest problem’, I’m definitely being dramatic, but here’s my issue. I love barbecuing but due to my barbecue’s size and fuel type, I can’t take it with me when I go on my annual camping trips. This means I end up buying a rubbish disposable barbecue that’s not very eco-friendly and doesn’t make the most delicious food.

But that’s where the new Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle comes into play. Similar to the Weber Traveler, the Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle is a portable griddle that has a collapsible Flexfold leg system that allows it to completely break down so you can take it with you on your next outdoor adventure.

With its ‘Roll & Go’ design, the Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle almost looks like a suitcase when it’s all folded up, and can be wheeled around using its main handle which also doubles as a side shelf. To keep the griddle in top condition, the integrated hood protects the surface during travel and also locks in heat while cooking.

Speaking of cooking, the Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle has dual heat zones that can be used together or independently to make mains and sides at the same time. Each side can cook at different temperatures, and both deliver even heat distribution for fast and consistent cooking.

The Blackstone Omnivore Flex-Fold Cart Griddle with Hood is available to buy for £359.99 at Blackstone.

Watch out Weber – Lidl just launched a line of Grillmeister charcoal barbecues, and one of them looks very similar to the Weber Traveler. With prices starting at £22.99, the Lidl Grillmeister barbecues have hit the middle aisle of Lidl and are sure to sell out fast, so you’ll need to be quick!

Last year, Lidl launched a Big Green Egg barbecue dupe, and it sold out very quickly – just ask our News Editor who went to his local Lidl and bought the last one! Now, the newest Grillmeister barbecues have hit Lidl stores, and considering the price, they actually look quite impressive.

Starting with the Grillmeister Trolley Barbecue, this barbecue has clearly taken inspiration from the gas-powered, travel-friendly, Weber Traveler which we gave five stars in our Weber Traveler review. The Grillmeister Trolley Barbecue uses charcoal fuel but it has a similar look with its chrome-plated cooking grill, carry handles, wheels and side table.

Aside from being able to wheel it around, you can also adjust the height of the Grillmeister Trolley Barbecue. It comes with five different height positions between 70 -85cm, and has a charcoal capacity of 1kg. It’s lightweight, and its enamelled fire bowl covers the grill for accurate, heat controlled cooking. It also acts as a windshield.

The second full-sized barbecue that Lidl has introduced is the Grillmeister Drum Charcoal Barbecue. It has a large grill and fire bowl, as well as a separate grill and warming rack. Its lid has two vents for even air circulation around the charcoal for good temperature regulation.

Compared to the Trolley, the Grillmeister Drum Charcoal Barbecue is more designed to be a permanent fixture in your garden rather than something you can move around. It has a frame that’s made from steel and is said to be easy to assemble, although the legs look a little flimsy to me.

If you’re on a tight budget, the Grillmeister barbecues at Lidl are simple to use, affordable and offer a good grilling performance. The Grillmeister Trolley Barbecue is priced at £22.99 while the Grillmeister Drum Charcoal Barbecue is £42.99. Both are available to buy in Lidl stores.

Barbecue season is upon us, and Pit Boss has just debuted the most advanced pellet barbecue of the year. The new Pit Boss Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill is packed full of grilling features, including a clever hot and cold smoke function and a redesigned wood burning system – and the price isn’t bad, either.

While the majority of barbecuers tend to prefer a gas or charcoal grill, pellet barbecues are still undeniably popular. They do take quite a bit of fuelling, but if you love that wood smoke smell and taste, a pellet barbecue is something you should consider.

With this fuel type and effort in mind, Pit Boss has given its Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill a new wood pellet burning system which combines precision temperature control with authentic wood flavours. It does this by ensuring a consistent flow of heat to the pellets, and can reach up to 260°C.

For versatility, the Pit Boss Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill has an 18kg wood hopper which comes with a new hopper divider to mix different wood flavours while cooking. The hopper and pellets are located at the front of the grill with a glass window, and sits atop a 4.3-inch digital touchscreen.

The touchscreen gives you full control over the Pit Boss Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill, including time, temperature and monitoring with its WiFi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. It also has two meat thermometers and three stainless steel adjustable racks so you can change the height and size of the internal cooking space which has a maximum of 10,474 square centimetres.

My favourite feature of the Pit Boss Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill is its new searing system. Inside the barbecue is a hidden sear plate which gives you the option to sear meat that’s been cooked low and slow to give it that authentic barbecue grill marks. The low and slow function can also be done with hot or cold smoke, the latter of which gives food a more delicate flavour.

Pit Boss has thrown everything at its new Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill and then some. It also has plenty of storage space, a grease and ash management system, and heavy duty wheels so it can be moved around your garden. It’s a pretty massive barbecue but it could be the only one you could ever need, thanks to its versatile features.

The Pit Boss Titan Competition Series Pellet BBQ Grill is available for £1,999 at select garden and barbecue retailers, like BBQ Land and Pro Smoke.

Watch out, Weber – Campingaz might have just launched the griddle of the year, and you won’t believe the price. The new Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle is portable, compact and has a versatile lid that keeps grease under control while expertly grilling food without using too much oil.

Griddles are a huge barbecue trend for 2026, mainly due to their versatile, flat-top cooking surface which provides a wide cooking area and a consistent heat. Previously, indoor griddles were the more prominent appliances on the market, but this year, it seems outdoor griddles are on the rise.

The new Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle is no exception, and could be the ideal gas barbecue for those who have smaller outdoor spaces. Its compact size – that measures just 66 x 46 x 21 cm when the lid is open – can easily fit in small gardens, patios and balconies.

As a gas-powered griddle, the Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle uses Campingaz’s patented Blue Flame technology to heat up quickly and evenly. It uses gas cartridges and has an electric ignition for quick start-up times. The 1,350cm² surface is made from enamelled cast iron which can cook for up to six people at a time.

The most impressive feature of the Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle is its multi-functional lid. The surface and lid work together to perfectly grill food like vegetables, meat and burgers. When closed, the lid locks in heat which can be used to roast foods low-and-slow and even make cakes.

Aside from retaining heat, the Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle protects the griddle from the elements, and makes it easier to store. It also has a grease draw on the cooking surface which removes excess oil from your food so you can use less oil while barbecuing.

The Campingaz Sigma 1 CV Gas Griddle is available to buy now for £199.99 at select retailers, like Argos, Go Outdoors and Blacks.

Ooni has just upgraded its Koda 2 pizza oven range with a new sensor-packed accessory. The new Ooni Koda 2 Rotating Stone is available as part of a full oven bundle or an additional accessory, and it turns your pizza for you so it cooks perfectly on all sides – but it’s the LIDAR sensor that I’m most excited about.

I got the chance to try Ooni’s Koda 2 pizza ovens last year when they first debuted, and I was extremely impressed by them. The Koda 2, Koda 2 Pro and Koda 2 Max cater to beginners, experts and families, and the latter has two independent cooking zones so you cook multiple pizzas at the same time at different times and temperatures.

One thing the Ooni Koda 2 series was missing was a rotating pizza stone, a handy feature which turns your pizza to ensure it cooks evenly and so you don’t have to do it manually. Now, Ooni has solved this problem with its new Koda 2 Rotating Stone which fluidly spins to cook pizza and other foods consistently and evenly.

My favourite feature of the Koda 2 Rotating Stone is its LIDAR sensor. You might be wondering why a pizza stone needs a sensor – I was surprised when I heard about it too – but it allows for hands-free use, so you can start and stop the stone from turning by waving your hand at it!

Ooni has engineered the turntable of the Koda 2 Rotating Stone with perimeter-balanced stability. What this means is that the weight and rotating mechanism of the pizza stone is at the edge of the stone rather than at the centre which helps it move more easily and efficiently, without any wobbles.

In terms of rotation, the Koda 2 Rotating Stone can rotate continuously or by 90 degrees in intervals, which is recommended for low and slow cooking. For those who already have a Koda 2 pizza oven, the Koda 2 Rotating Stone is easy to install and takes as little as 10 minutes.

The Ooni Koda 2 Rotating Stone is available to buy now at Ooni. If you already have a Koda 2 pizza oven, you can buy it as an accessory for £229 for the Koda 2, £249 for the Koda 2 Pro and £299 for the Koda 2 Max. If you’re buying the pizza oven with the Koda 2 Rotating Stone, the price is £599 for the Koda 2, £829 for the Koda 2 Pro and £1,149 for the Koda 2 Max.

After a year of waiting, the Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate is finally available in the UK. The new, extra-large indoor grill from Ninja has a wide grilling surface, two XL grill plates, and an extremely affordable price – which has now been discounted!

The Ninja Sizzle Pro XL was announced back in early 2025 but at the time, it was only available in the US. The new Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate joins Ninja’s growing barbecue line-up – which includes the Ninja Woodfire and the Ninja FlexFlame – and offers an indoor option for barbecue lovers with minimal space.

For those with limited outdoor space, the Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate is a griddle-type barbecue that can be used indoors. It measures 53cm x 39cm x 15cm and weighs 10.5kg so it can sit comfortably on your countertop or pack away into cupboards.

As the ‘XL’ version of this product, the Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate has a huge grilling surface which can fit up to 10 burgers at a time. The non-stick ceramic grill plate has deep grooves in the surface so it gives food those grill marks for that authentic barbecue taste and look. Alternatively, the flat plate is great for foods like pancakes and sandwiches.

Powered by ProTemp iQ technology, the Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate can reach temperatures of up to 260°C and offers consistent high-heat to the very edges of the griddle. It has dial controls at the bottom of the grill, as well as a digital screen that shows time and temperature.

I love the look of the Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate and think it’s an exciting addition to Ninja’s grill line-up. It fills a couple gaps in the market for those who are looking for a grill that gives authentic barbecue flavours using electric power while also ticking a box for those who don’t have a garden.

The Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate is also surprisingly on trend, as the griddle is one of 2026’s fastest growing barbecue trends of the year.

The Ninja Sizzle Pro XL Grill & Flat Plate GX101UK is available to buy now for £179.99 / $199.99 at Ninja and select retailers, like Amazon and John Lewis. As of writing, it’s currently discounted to £149.99.

Char-Broil has just launched its latest barbecue, and it combines two different cooking types into one for a very affordable price. The new Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal offers both electric and charcoal grilling in one compact design, and it’s got me seriously excited for barbecue season.

Hybrid barbecues aren’t a new concept, but most models you’ll find on the market are gas-to-coal, a hybrid make-up that’s favoured due to the quick, easy ignition from the gas and the smoky authentic flavour from the charcoal. Char-Broil offers gas-to-coal barbecues, but for the first time ever, it’s developed a hybrid barbecue that offers charcoal cooking alongside electric grilling.

How the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal works is it plugs into the mains to turn it into an electric barbecue. The electric grill looks and acts like a griddle, and can reach up to 370°C quickly for fast, instant barbecuing that still tastes delicious and authentic.

For slower grilling sessions, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal can switch to a charcoal barbecue without any additional tools required, using Hybrid Power technology. On the grill, there’s a dedicated grate for charcoal, so to make the switch, you put coal on the grate before reinserting the cooking grate at mark ‘C’. It takes very little time and still uses the electric power to light the charcoal.

Aside from its electric-to-goal design, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal looks similar to a kettle-type circular barbecue. Powered by TRU-Infrared technology, the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal distributes heat evenly on a stainless steel grate, and its lid closes to retain heat needed for grilling and smoking.

The lid of the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal has an integrated temperature gauge in the lid so you can monitor the heat while the lid is closed. The barbecue itself also comes with a removable warming rack to keep food hot without it being directly on the grill.

The Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal is primarily designed for smaller gardens and balconies, making it extremely versatile for those with limited outdoor space. It has a three metre power cord to connect easily to the mains. It comes with plenty of storage space with its shelf design, and has wheels and handles so you can move it easily around your garden.

Having tried gas, electric and charcoal barbecues, I really like the idea of the Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal, as it offers more people a chance to enjoy barbecuing without worrying about outdoor space. It’s also extremely reasonably priced and energy efficient, which will definitely appeal to a wider audience.

The Char-Broil Patio Bistro E2Coal is available to buy now for £349 at Char-Broil and select retailers, like Amazon and Argos.

Gozney has just debuted its new Arc Lite pizza oven, and it might be one of my favourite models yet. Expanding the popular Arc line-up, the Gozney Arc Lite is a gas-powered pizza oven that can make 12-inch pizzas while taking up minimal outdoor space – but it’s the price that will surprise you.

The Gozney Arc series came out in 2024, and featured the original Arc and the Arc XL. We gave the original five stars in our Gozney Arc review, and championed its design, easy set-up and delicious pizza-making results.

Despite how much our reviewer loved it, he did say it was a bit too big for some people, and it seems Gozney has taken that on board with its new Arc Lite model. Compared to the Arc which cooks 14-inch pizzas, the Gozney Arc Lite has a large 12mm internal stone floor that cooks up to 12-inch pizzas.

The design and materials of the Gozney Arc Lite is similar to its other Arc pizza ovens, including its fully-insulated body that locks in heat for perfect temperature retention and regulation. At the front of the Gozney Arc Lite is a simple dial that allows you to control the heat and flames, and the overall design is much lighter than before.

Speaking of flames, the Gozney Arc Lite is powered by gas, and has Gozney’s signature lateral rolling flame for even cooking and crispy crusts. It reaches up to 500°C and like all Gozney pizza ovens, it can be used to cook many different dishes – see 9 surprising foods you can cook in a pizza oven for more.

As you might have guessed, the Gozney Arc Lite stands apart from its predecessors due to its new compact size. It can fit into smaller spaces and gardens, like balconies, and if you can’t get enough of pizza – even when you’re on-the-go – you can take it with you and set it up anywhere in minutes.

I’m a big fan of Gozney’s pizza ovens and have one of my own which I use regularly. Before now, I feel Gozney has cemented itself as a luxury pizza oven brand that offers models akin to traditional Italian pizzerias. While this is still the case, the new Arc Lite feels like a more beginner-friendly, affordable model that a wider audience can enjoy.

The new Gozney Arc Lite is available to buy from today for £349.99 at Gozney. This is still a high-end price but compared to Gozney’s other models, the Gozney Arc Lite is its most affordable option yet.

The Ninja FlexFlame has finally arrived in the UK after being exclusive to the US for just under a year. It’s Ninja’s first-ever propane outdoor cooker, combining five different cooking methods under one lid. That alone sets it apart from many of the best barbecues on the market right now.

It joins Ninja’s growing outdoor cooking line-up, including the popular Ninja Woodfire and the Ninja Electric Outdoor Oven, both of which were awarded high scores in our full reviews.

Priced at £999 on Ninja’s website, it's available in Stainless Steel, Green and Blue, and is expected to launch at Currys and Argos soon. The UK price matches the $999 tag in the US, where it’s already proved to be very popular.

As mentioned, the FlexFlame offers five cooking functions, including grilling, smoking, griddling, roasting and pizza making. There’s also a range of optional accessories available separately, including a grill cover, half and full griddle plates, a pizza stone and peel, a folding rack and grease tray liners.

It’s powered by Ninja’s CyclonicHeat-iQ technology, which blends rapid convection airflow, propane flame control and Ninja’s Woodfire tech. The built-in fan circulates heat evenly around the cooking chamber, helping food cook quickly and consistently – and it can preheat to 315°C in as little as ten minutes.

The control panel sits on the right-hand side of the grill, letting you adjust cooking functions, temperature and flame levels with ease. Just like the Woodfire range, you can add pellets to infuse whatever you're cooking with authentic barbecue flavours.

"For years, Ninja has redefined indoor cooking with our cutting-edge appliances. After observing a gap in the outdoor cooking market where grills fell short of handling various cooking methods desired by home chefs, we took the opportunity to innovate,” said Kaitlyn Hebert, Chief Marketing Officer at Ninja.

“Our team spent the past two years developing the revolutionary FlexFlame system. Through extensive testing across multiple locations, climates and conditions, we believe we have perfected this versatile powerhouse, and transformed outdoor cooking, enabling home chefs to create drool-worthy dishes right from their backyard.”

The Ninja FlexFlame is available now for £999 directly from Ninja’s website.

Looking outside at the dreary weather, getting outside and firing up the barbecue is probably the last thing on your mind. But this time of year is when most big name barbecue brands release their newest collections – case in point: Weber recently announced its 2026 barbecue line-up, featuring smart charcoal grills and meat probes.

I’ve been covering barbecues for a few years now for T3, and I’ve loved watching which trend dominates each year. In 2024, smart barbecues began to emerge, and in 2025, charcoal grills and smokers started to make a big comeback.

But what can we expect to see in 2026? To find out more, I spoke to Weber who pinpointed three key barbecue trends to watch out for this year.

1. The rise of the griddle

The first prediction from Weber is that griddles or ‘planchas’ will start to become much more popular as “this style of cooking is one of the fastest growing trends.” Despite griddles being both indoor and outdoor appliances, the former tends to win out here, but apparently, not for long.

Griddles offer a versatile, flat-top cooking surface with edge-to-edge consistent heat and a wide cooking area. As more people are enjoying cooking outside than ever, with some even making full outdoor kitchens, a griddle looks to be a rational next step, as they can cook almost anything, from a full English breakfast and pancakes, to seafood and vegetables.

2. Smart connected barbecues continue to grow

Smart barbecues began to emerge a few years ago, and while some thought it to be unnecessary to add smart technology to this type of cooking appliance, the trend has most certainly caught on – and Weber thinks it will continue to do so this year. The main force behind this is people want to cook tasty food with minimal effort which is where barbecue apps come into play.

As Pierre-Yves Gibut, Weber Brand Activation Manager (France & UK) states, “smart grilling is a game-changer for outdoor cooking.” With apps like Weber Connect, users can check in on their food’s progress, monitor temperature and receive alerts without having to hover around the grill. This kind of remote control is also more accessible for both barbecue beginners and grill masters, so everyone can enjoy outdoor cooking.

3. Premium robust designs

According to Weber, barbecue ownership has increased to 40% over the past few years. As this enthusiasm continues to grow, more people are looking for premium, robust models for all-year-round use, rather than just seasonal or cheap, disposable models.

Looking out at the dreary weather, barbecues are probably the last thing on your mind, but Weber’s 2026 barbecue line-up is something to be excited about. Included in the new range are a mixture of both smart and non-smart barbecues and grills, including the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill which might be the brand’s smartest charcoal model yet.

The new Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill takes charcoal grilling to the next level with a truly unique design. As a whole barbecue unit, it has a kettle-style barbecue on the left that’s built into a main stand. On the right side is a side table and storage shelf so you can prep and cook in one.

With its LCD Wi-Fi controller, users can regulate the temperature of the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill by controlling the airflow to the coals. This makes it ideal for low and slow smoking, and its Rapidfire Assist mode allows the grill to preheat much quicker.

Aside from its LCD controller, the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill connects to the Weber Connect app for seamless smart controls. Users can check in on their food’s progress without standing at the barbecue, as the grill has two built-in probes that monitor food and grill temperatures and relay that to the app.

Smart barbecues have been on the rise in the past few years, but Weber has realised that not everyone wants to use this type of technology. With this in mind, Weber has announced both smart and non-smart versions of the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill to cater to all budgets and gardens.

Both versions of the Weber Performer Smart Charcoal Grill have the same porcelain-enamelled barbecue design, cart, table and shelf units, but the non-smart model only has manual controls which sit just below the prep area. They’re expected to be available in spring 2026 with prices starting at £479 / $449.

Another area Weber has expanded into for 2026 is smart meat thermometers. Most of Weber’s barbecues have thermometers or probes built into them, but now you can get separate probes that can be used on any grill or oven and any brand for a more accurate cooking experience.

The line-up includes the Smart Wireless Probe Plus with Booster and Charger, the Smart Probe and Grate Sensor and the Smart Hub Display and Booster. All models connect to the Weber Connect app and prices start at £39.99 / $40.

The Smart Wireless Probe Plus with Booster and Charger is the most exciting of the launches, as its wireless design makes it ideal for grilling and even rotisserie cooking. It also has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity and a speedy charging case.

Weber has also announced that it’s updating its Genesis and Spirit gas grills with smarter features, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and battery-operated thermometers. It’s a big year for Weber, and I can’t wait for barbecue season!

If you’re looking to upgrade your outdoor cooking set-up this year, then the new Volta oven from Fontana Forni could take your pizza-making skills to the next level. Available in two sizes, the Volta oven claims to be the first ever smart outdoor oven with true temperature control.

Looking outside at the gloomy, rainy weather, firing up my pizza oven is the furthest thing from my mind. But I may have to make an exception with Fontana Forni’s new Volta oven. Designed and built in Italy, the Volta oven has the quintessential, Italian dome pizza oven design, complete with a stone cooking surface and chimney flume.

The Volta oven is made from stainless steel, and has a generous internal cooking space. There are two versions available – the Volta 70 has 480 square inches of cooking space and Volta 90 has 672 square inches. Despite its internal size, the Volta oven is surprisingly compact and can sit on a countertop and other versatile outdoor spaces.

At the front of the Volta oven is a digital display and control knob which allows you to customise the oven’s temperature and timers. For consistent heat and precise temperatures, the Volta oven has a patent-pending smart control system that features an electro-gas valve and smart control module.

How this smart control system works is users pick the exact temperature they want, and once the Volta oven has reached your desired temperature, it automatically modulates the gas flame and flow to maintain a steady and consistent heat.

For further versatility, the Volta oven comes with two temperature probes and connects to an accompanying app so you can check the heat via your phone or on the oven’s display. Both the display and app show the temperature of the oven and your food in real-time, so you can be as hands-on or off as you’d like to be in the cooking process.

As a hybrid oven, the Volta oven offers both gas and wood cooking. The hybrid kit is mounted above the burner, so users can easily switch between gas flames or wood fire. While the Volta oven looks and acts like a traditional pizza oven, it can be used to cook other foods, like flatbreads, meat, fish and even desserts, so it’s an ideal centrepiece of your outdoor kitchen.

Pricing on the Fontana Forni Volta oven starts at $5,399. As of writing, UK pricing hasn’t been announced, but I definitely want to get my hands on one – once the UK weather clears up, that is!

In Australia, BBQs are more than just a summer fling and get used all year. Thanks to our amazing weather across most states and territories (OK sure, it has been a bit wetter of late), you can fire up the grill any time to feed your family and friends in true Aussie style. That said, summer BBQs have their own special vibe and are a perfect excuse to gather your mates and enjoy a summer (or winter!) afternoon.

Barbeques (or barbies, if you’re keeping it casual) come in all shapes and sizes, with a variety of cooking styles to suit your style, no matter if you prefer gas, charcoal, or a smoker. While this guide focuses mainly on full-sized BBQs, we’ve also given a shout-out to the Weber Q series – including the portable Baby Q that will appeal to those cooking up away from home.

These outdoor grills are your ticket to culinary creativity. From juicy steaks and sizzling sausages to kebabs, chicken legs, and grilled fish, the possibilities are endless. Feeling adventurous? Try smoking a cut of meat low and slow, or branch out with grilled halloumi, flatbreads, and veggies like corn on the cob and charred broccoli. Your BBQ – your rules, so go ahead and make it unforgettable.

And, if you've always considered yourself a BBQ king but struggle to actually prove it, you'll do well to check out T3's library of advice from three masters of the grill. One thing we can tell for free is that you'll certainly appreciate having one of the best meat thermometers to hand when grilling, helping to ensure meat and poultry are at the best temperature before serving.

The best barbecues to buy in 2026

There's a reason the saying 'now we're cooking with gas' exists, and it's because it's by far the fastest and easiest method to turn raw ingredients into a delicious meal.

The Weber Q series comes in 3 sizes, the Baby Q, the Premium and the Family Q Premium. While they all keep the iconic clamshell case, these three BBQs actually vary by grill size and maximum heat produced, in addition to offering various portability options.

The Baby Q is the smallest of the three, designed to chuck in the car on your next camping trip, but also still just big enough to cook the occasional flame charred dinner at home. With a max heat output of 9MJ, you won't want to be cooking anything too large, but this handy unit is great for little steaks, snags, and any seafood you might want to sizzle. The upside of the limited output is that your 8.5kg gas cylinder will keep you over the flame for up to 45 hours.

The Weber Q Premium is the option that we suspect will suit most, offering the best balance of heat, portability, price and grill size out of the three. With an output of 12.7MJ, this hotter barbecue can tackle bigger cuts like full eye fillets and will speed up how long it takes to finish a perfectly cooked sausage. It also offers a 20% bigger cooking area than the Baby Q with more places for direct flame cooking. You'll be able to get away with cooking for 6 people on this one if you supplement it with salads or non-barbecued dishes and its design means that it can be used on an outdoor countertop or taken with you when travelling.

The biggest of the bunch is the Weber Family Q and if you're planning on regularly entertaining or you have a larger family then this is the Q you'll probably want. The most obvious difference here is the fact that it comes with its own freestanding frame on wheels, which allows you to put it anywhere you please. While the surface area of the Family Q is only 10-20% bigger than the Q Premium, it generates almost twice as much heat. This means you'll spend less time over the grill and more time enjoying your company, but it will also mean you only get around 20 hours of cooking time from an 8.5kg LPG cylinder.

The Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560 indirect charcoal grill-cum-smoker certainly takes the fight to the Weber Q series for the top spot on this list. This remarkable app-enabled model (seriously, everything has an app these days) uses simple gravity and computer-controlled heat management to provide consistent grilling, searing and smoking with very little input by the user.

Some may think this takes the fun and skill out of bbq-ing, but when the resulting food tastes exceptionally good, you may reconsider your opinion. For not a lot of money in BBQ terms, you get the convenience of hands-off cooking, reversible cast iron grill grates plus twin-level wire shelves amounting to 560 square inches (3,613 cm²) of cooking space, an easy-to-use charcoal hopper and a powerful fan to feed the flames.

Unlike most charcoal grills that take ages to reach cooking temperature, this one is ready to grill on in about ten minutes. And because it uses indirect heat, chances are you won’t burn anything.

If you prefer charcoal to gas or can’t afford a pellet grill that does much the same thing only for a lot more money, make a beeline to this amazing model and you will not regret it. Highly recommended.

Read our full review of the Masterbuilt Gravity Series 560

A previous T3 award winner, this superbly designed and very well engineered Canadian charcoal kettle comes with a wave-shaped 22-inch (57cm) cast-iron grill that can be adjusted to three different heights.

When it comes to charcoal barbecuing, one cannot express enough the importance of having an adjustable grill like this. It means you can drop the height of the grate to just above the coals for searing steaks at high temperature and raise it when the inferno becomes a little too hot to handle. It’s also worth its weight in gold when it comes time to put on quick-grilling ingredients like kebabs and prawns near the end of the cooking session when the charcoal may not be hot enough with the grate at normal height. The grate itself also features built-in hinges for easy charcoal reloading, not that you’d want to do that mid-grilling.

Like the similarly-styled Weber Master-Touch GBS E-5755, the Pro 22 also comes with a removable ash-catcher with adjustable air intake holes for keeping temperatures consistent. Unlike the Master-Touch which has a loose lid system, this one comes with a hinged lid that lifts towards the left-hand side, making it easier to raise without scorching an arm in the process.

Someone at Napoleon clearly knows what elements go into making a great barbecue system and this exemplary model is the outstanding result.

When your friends start calling you Crispin because you have a habit of carbonising every barbecued meal you get your hands on, you know it’s time to get rid of the lidless brazier you’ve been using for years and embrace the simple technology of convection-based kettle cooking.

The Master-Touch GBS E-5750 is a doddle to use. Simply load one or both crescent-shaped charcoal baskets and place them on either side of the bowl. Leave the lid off – there’s a catch stand at the rear – light the charcoal and retreat for about 25 minutes. Now drop your food onto the ample 57cm plated steel grate – which has enough space for about six placements – put the lid on and go chat to your guests.

This system only requires occasional intervention, whether it’s turning food or adjusting the air intake on the aluminium ash catcher (which now also includes a new ‘smoke’ setting). If you follow the rule ‘if you’re lookin’, it ain’t cookin’, the food should come off the grill perfectly cooked with chicken skin just the right side of crispy.

This model is also designed to accept Weber’s Gourmet BBQ System of optional inserts. Simply remove the grate’s centre section and drop in the sear grate, pizza stone, Dutch oven or poultry roaster.

Webers are renowned for their durability, and you can safely expect this one to last many winters. That said, a cover is always advisable to keep out the elements.

If you’ve decided that gas grilling is for you, you won’t find a more aesthetically pleasing contender than this strikingly simple (if slightly pricy) model, approved by slaphead food sorcerer, Heston Blumenthal.

Available in four colours, the two-burner Force is a joy to use, doesn’t take up too much space and heats up very quickly – just four minutes to reach a searing temperature of 350˚C. It also boasts the most accurate gas controllers in the business.

Build quality is exemplary. This fine slab of artistic minimalism comes with four heavy-duty legs, tough wheels, a rust-free aluminium frame and a thick aluminium hood that ensures the food is cooked evenly with very little intervention from the apron-clad man or woman in charge. The Force’s cast-iron grate comes with integrated flame tamers and provides enough grilling space for six to eight guests.

If you’re in the market for a gas barbecue that delivers in spades and don’t mind forking out so you can, uh, fork in, you won’t find a more capable model than the Everdure Force.

The Traeger Pro 575 is more like an outdoor oven than a barbecue. It uses wood pellets, an electrically-powered auger to deliver them to a fire pot, a temperature probe and advanced computer technology to make cooking much easier for everyone from newbies to pros.

Traeger’s nailed its algorithm so well that if you pick a temperature of, say, 180ºC, it will actually stay at that temperature for as long as required, or until the meat probe it comes with signals the end of the cooking process. Purists can call that cheating all they like, but I haven't burned a single thing on the Traeger to date and I'm more than happy with that. A superbly designed iOS and Android app adds a multitude of hints and tips, and hundreds of exotic barbecue recipes for beef, poultry, pork, fish. Traeger also produces a wide range of different wood pellets and some of the best dry-rub seasonings in the business.

Is it the perfect barbecue? Not quite. Wood pellet BBQs are a bit more expensive to run than their charcoal or gas counterparts – a 9kg bag of pellets is $40 a pop, although one bag should last a few sessions. Also, while pellets are readily available online, they’re not the kind of thing you’ll easily find on a Sunday. You will also need a cover for it, more so than other barbecues because of the electrical components. The noise it makes – the built-in fan and burning wood pellets make it sound like a quieter version of an industrial blow heater – is also a little eccentric.

However, the Traeger Pro 575's excellence at smoking and slow cooking – and its highly reliable conventional grilling – more than make up for this. For incompetent barbecuists and those who’d like to spend more time with the guests rather than being chained to a grill, the Traeger Pro 575 is more than worth its price. But you might wish to consider forking out a few hundred bucks extra on Weber’s new SmokeFire, when it's available locally.

Read our full Traeger Pro 575 review

Designed for – or at least marketed to – people who want to BBQ on the balcony without breaking the terms of their lease is the Weber Pulse 2000 electric barbecue.

Grill purists will have already moved on by now having read that opening sentence, but it's actually a great device. The best way to think of it is more like an absolutely enormous George Foreman type grill. Or, more accurately, like the Sage by Heston Blumenthal take on a George Foreman grill.

At 2.2 Kilowatts, this is actually less powerful than the Sage one, but it's otherwise ostensibly similar, if you ignore the fact that it is huge. There's a bright temperature display, instant control over heat – the precision is far greater than what any non-BBQ ninja could ever achieve with charcoal, although I don't think gas has anything to worry about – and also a plug-in probe for monitoring the internal temperature of food.

For some reason, this is not done on the main display but via Weber's iOS and Android app, but it works so well, it almost takes the fun out of it. Everything from chicken to a side of salmon comes out perfectly done, so long as you properly pre-heat the grill.

Slightly to my surprise, as well as being perfectly cooked every time (so long as you keep an eye on the aforementioned app), food cooked on the Pulse 2000 does seem to have a more barbecue taste to it than what you'd get from a standard electric grill. Weber reckons that's down to its porcelain enamelled cast iron plates, but maybe it's just the fresh air.

On the subject of fresh air, I ought to address the main marketing claim of the Pulse 2000: that it's more neighbour-friendly. It's true to say that there's no charcoal smoke or potentially deadly and probably lease-violating gas canisters involved, but due to science, smoke and fumes coming off your food is pretty much unavoidable.

I would say this is more likely to annoy your neighbours by making them suddenly incredibly hungry and envious of you, rather than by enveloping them in thick clouds of pungent and possibly carcinogenic fumes. But you're kidding yourself if you think this will enable you to barbecue in secret, like some guerrilla griller.

As barbecues go, the Pulse 2000 is pretty easy to clean, and there's a 5-year limited warranty as standard. I would not recommend using it during a rain storm, for hopefully very obvious reasons, but you will be pleased to know that all the electric/electronic elements can be easily removed and stored safe from the hostile elements during winter. And, indeed, during summer.

While we don't have a full Weber Pulse 2000 review, it's worth checking out the smaller Weber Pulse 1000 review.

The Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker is the first ever BBQ from Ninja. It's all electric, and grills and smoke food with the best. But of course, Ninja is known for (amongst many things) great air fryers (check our best air fryer guide) – so it's perhaps no surprise that the Ninja BBQ has a built in air fryer. It can also be used to bake, roast, dehydrate and reheat all your favourites.

The BBQ is pretty portable (and has big side handles) – measuring in at 60 x 47.2 x 33.8 cm and weighs 13.6kg. So it can be moved or carried by one person in a pinch, but is easier with two. It's 1760 watts, so will work on any normal power point, and can be run on an extension cord.

While the Ninja BBQ does get a bit grubby in use (what BBQ doesn't), most of the parts can be put into the dishwasher for cleaning. There are also a range of accessories available, such as a cover, a collapsible stand with wheels, and wood pellets for smoking.

The BBQ has a range of smoking options, from fast flavour infusions, to low and slow cooking for options such as brisket, pulled pork and ribs. The BBQ heats up fast and cooks well, and is an ideal option for those with a smaller patio or balcony.

Read our full review of the Ninja Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker

How to buy the best barbecue for you

With fine days becoming more frequent, the coast is clear to don the shades and start stocking up on grill-friendly grub to singe in the sunshine, with all levels and types of al fresco cooking catered for, from high-end smoking to, basically, setting fire to a bucket.

There are plenty of other brands that offer excellent, interesting and distinct takes on the outdoor cooking game, and we have plenty of them to pore over here.

Big Green Egg definitely offers something extra for the more 'pro' chef (at a more 'pro' price), while the likes of Char-Broil, Everdure, Napoleon, Traeger and LotusGrill offer some great innovations for fuss-free outdoor grilling.

Patio the size of a Subbuteo table? No problem, get one of these portable BBQs, and get busy with the tweezers.

Got a large and agreeable decking area? We've got altogether more serious grills starting right after these words from our sponsors.

Of course, you don't want all of the gear with no idea. Thankfully, T3.com is here to help with advice from three masters of the grill.

• These are the best pizza ovens

Over the years, outdoor cooking has become so much more than just barbecues, and now, more homeowners have pizza ovens in their garden than ever before. Despite their name, pizza ovens cook so much more than just pizza, and it’s this versatility that’s spurred on their growth within the outdoor appliance industry.

When it comes to the best pizza ovens, one name that consistently pops up is Gozney. Founded in 2010 by founder and designer, Tom Gozney, the pizza oven company is instantly recognisable with its dome-like designs and multiple fuel options.

Currently in the Gozney line-up is four collections – Dome, Arc, Roccbox and Tread. The Gozney Dome – which was originally launched in 2021 – is arguably the brand’s most popular model, and building off its success, Gozney recently announced its new Dome Gen 2 series, which has been dubbed its biggest, most powerful and more versatile pizza ovens yet.

To find out more, I spoke with Tom Gozney about Gozney’s backstory, its upcoming Dome Gen 2 series and his favourite way to make the perfect pizza.

The story behind the founding of Gozney is a really touching one. Why do you think food brings us together so much, and why was that important to you when creating Gozney?

I’ve always been a social person, but after going to rehab, partying was stripped away from me. I wanted a social connection without alcohol but the UK culture is heavy on drinking so I wanted to make a change.

Cooking became a meditative way for me to shut off, and I enjoyed the process of making pizza, but found that I got disappointing results in a traditional oven. I wanted a pizza oven but ones on the market at the time were too expensive so I decided to build my own!

I built a pizza oven, started making pizzas and it completely changed my social environment. People stopped bringing beers and started bringing toppings, and it felt different from cooking on a barbecue as everyone gets involved.

The Gozney Dome is probably the most iconic and recognisable consumer pizza oven. What was the idea behind it?

When creating our first pizza ovens, we originally went down the commercial route, focusing on restaurants and pizzerias before we launched the Roccbox. I loved seeing the Roccbox’s success in homes, but while it was fun and approachable, I had a bigger vision for more ovens.

The Gozney Dome is an amalgamation of Apple’s design focus and a traditional Neapolitan pizza oven. It pays homage to the origins of pizza making and the traditional domed oven aesthetic, but it has the look and design of something modern, progressive and easy to use.

While pizza ovens and outdoor cooking is seen as more male oriented, I wanted to crush that idea and expand to everyone. The Gozney Dome and our other pizza ovens are meant to enhance your outdoor space rather than take up too much room or look like an eyesore or something you want to cover up.

What has been upgraded from the original Dome to the Dome (Gen 2)?

Compared to the original, the Dome (Gen 2) is 40% bigger internally, and has a multiple pizza capacity – it can even cook a full roast inside! The Dome (Gen 2) has a new patent pending flame which is lateral and simulates woodfire flame but with gas.

The flame addresses the challenges and intimidation of burning wood by using gas but we’ve created a similar flame, so you get the ‘romance’ of wood but ease of gas – and you can even use charcoal. It also has a booster button for big rolling flames, a forced air control kit for burning wood and an air flow system with a fan and dial.

The Dome (Gen 2) has two probes for air temperature and stone reading, and two meat probes in the docking system. We’ve gone for bolder proportions with the new series, and the XL version is actually 90% bigger than the original.

All your pizza ovens so far have been gas or wood-fuel – do you have any plans for another fuel type, like electric?

The world seems to be going in the electric direction, so it’s on our radar. But cooking with fire is fundamental to the Gozney brand and ethos, and that will always be our focus.

Out of the many Gozney collections, which one is your favourite and why?

The new Dome (Gen 2) is my current favourite, due to its ease and woodfire fuel – it’s a must for me when cooking pizza, pies and roasting meats. It’s changed the way I cook at home, and while the XL model is our biggest yet, I actually want an even bigger one!

What are your tips for making the perfect pizza?

There are so many different styles and evolving landscapes within pizza making so it depends what you want! I love a hybrid-style pizza – think a tavern New York crispy base and Neapolitan-style ingredients.

I have perfected my dough recipe – which I’m keeping to myself! – but my number one tip is taking your time with the dough so you get the right structure and something that’s light and crispy.

The Gozney Dome Gen 2 series is launching on 15th October with prices starting at £1,999.99. You can sign up at Gozney to be the first to be notified about the launch and availability.

Calling all pizza lovers! Gozney has just announced its new Dome Gen 2 Series, and they might be the brand’s best pizza ovens yet. Based on the original Dome design and power, the new Dome Gen 2 line-up is up to 90% larger than its predecessor, and can cook pizzas and other foods using wood, gas and charcoal.

Despite its many collections, including Arc and Roccbox, Gozney is best known for its Dome pizza oven, thanks to its distinct design and unparalleled performance – see our Gozney Dome review for more details. The Dome was originally launched in 2021, and now four years later, the brand is upgrading it with new cooking and design features.

In the new Gozney Dome Gen 2 Series are two models or sizes – the Dome (Gen 2) and the Dome XL (Gen 2). Designed for both home cooks and professional chefs, the Dome Gen 2 Series is versatile, supersized and powerfully precise.

While the Dome Gen 2 Series has similar looks to the OG Dome, the new sizes are now up to 90% larger internally. The pizza ovens can cook a huge 18-inch pizza, multiple pizzas at the same time, and even a full roast, meaning pizza parties just got a lot quicker and easier.

Previously, the Dome could cook with wood fire or gas, but the Dome Gen 2 Series is a hybrid fuel pizza oven which can cook food using wood, gas or charcoal, depending on the flavour and speed you want. The pizza ovens use a new rolling lateral burner that simulates wood fire flames using gas, so you get the best of both worlds.

The flame of the Dome Gen 2 Series is easy to adjust in increments from low to high, so you always have a consistent heat inside. The pizza ovens have a booster button for big rolling flames, and a wood fire control kit that allows for precise airflow for all fuel types.

Speaking of precision, the new Dome Gen 2 Series comes with embedded sensors that track the air and stone temperature of the pizza ovens. The built-in digital console is easy to use with a dial and touch controls, and there are two meat probes connected to the pizza ovens to read internal temperatures of meats, fish and more.

The Gozney Dome Gen 2 Series is expected to launch on 15th October, with prices starting at £1,999.99.

Ooni has just launched its latest electric indoor pizza oven, the Volt 2. Following on from its success with the original Volt 12, the Ooni Volt 2 has a smaller size and features a world first adaptive heating system.

Ooni has had a pretty amazing 2025, launching its first ever spiral stand mixer, the Ooni Halo Pro, and a full new line-up of its Koda pizza oven collection. The brand predominantly focuses on gas-powered pizza ovens, but for those who prefer the ease of electricity or who don’t have much outdoor space, the Volt range will definitely appeal.

Until recently, Ooni’s Volt pizza oven range only consisted of the Ooni Volt 12. Now, Ooni has launched the Ooni Volt 2, a new indoor electric pizza oven that looks and acts similar to the original, but has some serious smarts under its hood.

The design of the Ooni Volt 2 is similar to that of the Ooni Volt 12. They look almost identical, but the Ooni Volt 2 is actually 30% smaller than its predecessor, which allows it to fit in even smaller kitchens and cooking spaces while still being able to cook up to 12-inch pizzas.

The control panel of the Ooni Volt 2 is different to the 12, as the latter has three dials while the former has a refreshed digital display. The left side shows icons and presets and the right side has a control dial that selects the time, temperature and programme. It also has a glass edge-to-edge viewing window so you can check in on your pizza’s progress without disrupting the cooking.

The most impressive feature of the new Ooni Volt 2 is its Pizza Intelligence technology. Dubbed by Ooni as a ‘world first adaptive heating system’, the Ooni Volt 2 uses real-time sensor data to balance heat between the top and bottom heating elements.

The Pizza Intelligence system ensures the interior of the Ooni Volt 2 has precise temperature control, so the heat doesn’t fluctuate and there’s no cold spots, ensuring a consistent cook. Reaching up to 450° temperatures, the Ooni Volt 2 also automatically adjusts its temperature and intensity to suit each pizza style.

Aside from Neapolitan, pan and thin and crispy pizzas, the Ooni Volt 2 can proof your dough, oven cook and grill, so you can use it to cook almost every meal you can think of. Ooni has really thought of everything for its new pizza oven, and has used the latest advancements in technology to enhance its cooking power.

The Ooni Volt 2 is expected to be available to buy in October 2025, and shoppers can join a waiting list so they can be the first to get it. Pricing hasn’t yet been announced, but I’d guess that it could be around £799 / $899 which is what the original Volt 12 is currently priced at.

The Weber Smoque is the company’s new entry-level pellet smoker barbecue. This allows you to experience the pinnacle of barbecue cooking for a price less than most decent gas barbecues.

If you love barbecue meats, a wood smoker really is the best barbecue to go for. Charcoal is fine for your burgers and sausages, and a gas grill is great if you just want to cook like you would inside, but wood pellets are perfect for slower, flavourful cooking. Think beef brisket and pulled pork that's falling apart once it’s cooked. Plus, there’s all the flavour from that wood to make it taste even better.

How much is the Weber Smoque?

The Smoque is priced at £745 in the UK, $799 in the US or €799 in Europe (currently not available in Australia). It sits below the Weber Searwood and Weber Searwood XL, which won our Best Barbecue in the T3 Awards 2025.

This is the most affordable wood pellet grill that Weber offers, competing with the entry-level Traeger Pro 575, which has a similar list price, though is now slightly cheaper online. This is still a little more than the equivalent gas grill, such as one of the Weber Spirit models, but for slow cooking, particularly, it’s worth the extra spend.

For the review, I used Weber’s Grill Academy Blend wood pellets. These cost around £19 / $20 for a 9kg box. This is enough for at least one long cookout (12+ hours) at low heat. If you’re planning to leave your grill outdoors between cooks, you may also want to consider a cover. The official Weber cover for this model is around £60 / $75.

Setting up the Smoque

Despite being smaller than the rest of Weber’s wood smoker line-up, the Smoque comes in a giant and pretty heavy box. It was delivered to me on a pallet, weighing over 63kg, so you’re not going to want to be moving it far before setting it up, and it's best done with two people.

There’s a decent amount of construction needed to put this grill together. Luckily, it comes with clear instructions and all the screws and fiddly bits are packed in a sealed cardboard-backed sheet that lets you pop them out like a battery pack.

From start to finish, the construction took me around 1.5 hours working alone. Most of the work is attaching the legs and supports, with the inner parts of the grill simply slotting into place. Once complete it needs to be plugged in and connected to your Wi-Fi, so make sure it’s close to the house.

Weber Connect

Being a connected model, the Smoque uses the Weber Connect app to connect to your phone via Wi-Fi and both control and monitor your cooking. The setup is relatively simple and detects the grill at a close range using Bluetooth. Once it’s connected, you can then add your Wi-Fi details to connect to your home network.

I wasn’t sure if my Wi-Fi would stretch to where I wanted to place the grill in the garden, so I brought it closer to the door for the set-up. Surprisingly, it stayed connected even when I moved it further away.

Once you’re into the app, you can do all of your adjustments from here. The best part though, is the selection of smart recipes. These take you through the whole cooking process, making use of the provided temperature probes and telling exactly how long to cook for, and when to take it off the heat.

Design and features

The Smoque features a 38-inch (98cm) grill, which gives you a primary cooking area of 2484 square cm (977 sq in). There’s also a warming rack that sits above it, taking the total cooking area to 3832 sq cm (1508 sq inches). That’s not huge by wood pellet grill standards, but it’s more than enough for a family feast.

The side hopper holds a full 9kg bag of pellets and features a release handle to empty it, should you wish to change the pellets before finishing. When closed, the hopper also provides you with a handy side table for prep or resting.

If you’d rather not use the app, you can control the grill using the dial and LCD screen on the device. Unlike the Searwood model, the Smoque only has one button, which rotates as a dial and presses, and the screen only offers a single display at a time. So, to view the probe temperatures, grill temperature and timer, you need to scroll through the options.

The Smoque has a temperature range of 80 to 260 degrees Celsius (180-500ªF), though is primarily designed for low and slow cooking, under 135ºC. It even has a SmokeBoost setting, which maintains an 80ºC temperature to maximise the smoke absorption.

Two provided probes plug into the grill, allowing you to get live temperature readings as your meat cooks – and can feed into the Smart recipe options in the app. Under the grill bars, the plate directs any fat run off down into a pull-out tray. This can also collect any ash, making it easy to clean the grill after cooking. This even has a disposable foil tray inside, so you can replace it easily.

How does it cook?

This is probably the easiest barbecue to start cooking on. Once it’s plugged in and the hopper filled with pellets, you simply press the big dial and set the temperature. The grill will then automatically fire itself into life, and within about 15 minutes, you’ll be up to cooking temperature.

For my first cook, I tried some slow-cooked meats, putting both a beef brisket and a pork shoulder on low and slow. Using the Smart recipes, it talked me through the preparation and assigned the meat to a probe. Both recipes suggested adding a tray of water under the grates, which it didn’t feel designed for, but a shallow foil tray just fit.

To power the grill, it’s easy enough to run an extension cable from inside the house or garage, but alternatively, you can use a power station. I made use of the EcoFlow Delta 2, as it had more than enough power to keep it running all day. Be warned, though, once running, the grill takes such little power, the power station can go into standby mode, killing the power completely. If the power supply drops from the Smoque, it needs to perform a full shutdown when you plug it back in, which can take 15 minutes – losing precious heat and lengthening cooking time.

My total cook time for my meats was close to 12 hours before resting them, and the result was delicious. The meat kept that smoky flavour from the wood pellets and fell apart after a long rest time (something that should always be given).

Cooking at such a low heat (around 135ºC) for most of the day, you don’t get big wafts of smoke that could annoy the neighbours – it all looks pretty calm. Whack up the heat, though, and you do get a little more smoke bellowing out. You do also get a kettle-like sound as the smoke is pushed into the grill.

I later cooked a duck at more regular oven temperatures, which it handled equally well. The dial control allows you to quickly adjust the temperature, which is confirmed with a beep on the grill and a notification on the app.

That’s the beauty of this grill. You can still use it at higher temperatures, as you would a gas or charcoal grill, but it also offers that extra control at lower temperatures.

Once the grill has cooled, it’s very easy to clean, thanks to most of the elements lifting straight off – including the stainless steel grills and the drip tray. These can all be washed separately and replaced. The pull-out tray, complete with its disposable inset, can also be easily cleaned.

Should I buy a Weber Smoque?

If you’re looking for an affordable wood smoker, the Weber Smoque is an excellent choice. Its combination of smart controls and clever design helps you cook meats low and slow to perfection, while also offering the ability to cook regularly at higher temperatures.

As an all-in-one solution, though, it does lack the high temperature and direct flame options of the Weber Searwood, so if that’s still something you look for in a barbecue, it’s worth spending the extra for that model. However, if slow-cooking is your main priority, the Smoque is more than enough for you.

I love the simplicity of cooking with the Weber Smoque and would happily replace all of my outdoor cooking with one of these. The only danger is that I’d always be tempted to do more of those long cooks.

As the warmer weather settles in, many of us will be looking to bolster our outdoor space with one of the best barbecues on the market. There are a wide array of options out there for budding grill gods, which can make it a tough choice.

Before you even get to the model level, you need to decide what kind of outdoor cooking solution you want. You can opt for old-school charcoal barbecues, or a modern electric barbecue.

Still, one of the most popular these days is a gas barbecue. That's exactly what the Char-Broil Versa-Tile is. I've been using it for a few weeks to get a feel for exactly what it can do, and whether it's worth your hard-earned cash.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Price and Availability

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile retails for £549.99 / €499 (approx. US$755 / AU$1,150).

Here in the UK, you can find it at retailers like Argos and John Lewis.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Build and Set-up

It's rare that I can say I've been bested by a build. I consider myself to be something of a flat-pack fanatic; a DIY lover who is more than capable of following some instructions and getting a product out of it.

Even with credentials like that, though, this really tested me. For starters, there are no physical instructions in the box – despite having a 200-page booklet in the box. To get the instructions, you have to download an app, find the model you own and then stream the instruction manual.

That's not ideal if, say, you're building the barbecue in a garage which struggles with WiFi. But I could get around that if the subsequent instructions were at all coherent.

Unfortunately, they weren't. At times, the insertion of four separate screws warranted four individual instructions, while others would offer a poor quality image that left a lot of guesswork.

All in all, the build took me around six and a half hours across two sessions, which is rather absurd. It was a frustrating experience, though once it's done, it does at least leave you with a solid end product.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Design and Features

Let's kick off with the design, which should be a fairly short conversation. It's a relatively plain black metal affair, which is rather unassuming. It's certainly not a bad looker, but its minimalism leaves it part of the pack, rather than a standout.

While we're talking design, let's talk about the sheer size of the thing. The main section is already quite large, but add on the side panels and it really does become a behemoth. It'll need a fair old space to keep it in – you have been warned.

It's also a relatively simple affair in terms of the specs. The two burners are each controlled by a single knob. Turn it up for hot, down for less hot. That's it – couldn't be simpler.

The left-hand burner stops there, but the right-hand side is where the magic happens. A trio of swappable plates offer the same flat plate as the left side, a traditional slotted grill, or the raised pizza oven.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Performance

In use, the Versa-Tile is relatively faultless. The different sections which can be added to the right hand portion of the barbecue are a real godsend, allowing you to customise the cooking style at will.

The flat portion is perfect for most things, effectively acting as an extension of the base. Swap it out for the griddle portion and you get the classic browning marks on your food – though be aware that the more open design will burn things more quickly.

The pizza oven portion is also a real boon, allowing users to get a semi-authentic pizza cooking experience too. Be sure to pre-heat that one on full before reducing the temperature down to the pizza marker, otherwise you'll struggle to get a good crust.

I'd love it if there was an easier way to swap them out on the fly. I've often found myself wanting to cook, say, a pizza early on, then swapping over to the flat grill for other foods, but waiting for the panel to cool down makes it impossible.

Other than that, there's really nothing to complain about. The cook is even, the fat drains effectively into a safe spot and there is really nothing to get confused about – one dial per section, turn it up for more hot and down for less. Simple.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Verdict

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile is an interesting concept. As a barbecue it is brilliant, and the flat grill is perfect for all manner of cooking styles. The pizza oven is certainly a rarity – it's not as good as a dedicated unit, but it's good enough if you're looking for an all-in-one solution.

The setup process really did let it down – there's just no need for things to be that convoluted – but all is forgiven once the first piece of food hits your lips. It's certainly not cheap, but you'll enjoy it if you're a regular entertainer with a varied menu.

Char-Broil Versa-Tile review: Also Consider

For a little more cash, one of the best alternative picks is the Weber Spirit E-425. That's a four-burner grill, which should enable a little more versatility – though it doesn't have the varied cooking zone of this model.

With the sunny weather we’re currently experiencing, chances are you’re not thinking about huddling around a fire pit. But if you have a Solo Stove smokeless fire pit, the brand has just introduced a new cooking kit that can turn it into a barbecue – yes, really.

Solo Stove originally launched back in 2011, and it’s become well known for its smokeless, stainless steel fire pits – and its very memorable advert starring Snoop Dogg. The brand has since expanded into pizza ovens, camp stoves, and other furniture, but now, it’s added an extra functionality to its popular Bonfire product.

The Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill is a collapsible cooking conversion kit that sits over Solo Stove’s Bonfire 2.0 and turns it into an on-the-go barbecue. Available as a grill or griddle, the Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill is designed for quick and easy cooking in your garden, at the beach, while camping or tailgating, and more.

How it works is the Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill comes with a charcoal adapter, a kit frame and a cast iron grill top or griddle. To use it, you insert the adapter, add coal or briquettes, and you can start cooking. This method ensures that the Bonfire 2.0 and the Cookout Kit have consistent heat to properly cook your food – see our Solo Stove Bonfire 2.0 review for more details on this portable fire pit.

The Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill can work at ground level or grill height, depending on where you’re using it. Once you’re finished cooking and everything has cooled down, you can lower the kit and continue using the Bonfire 2.0 as a fire pit.

As summer isn’t typically the time where you’ll be using a fire pit, I think the Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill is a really clever piece of equipment, and it means you’re getting use out of your Bonfire 2.0 all year round. It’s a great addition to your existing firepit experience, and you can choose from a range of pre-seasoned cast iron cooktops so you can keep adding to your Solo Stove collection.

Both the Solo Stove Cookout Kit Grill and the Griddle are priced at £399.99 / $399.99, and available to buy at Solo Stove. As of writing, it’s been given a £50 / $50 discount.

Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe are considered two of the best barbecue brands on the market, mainly due to their egg-shaped, ceramic coated grills. Now, an unlikely competitor has emerged with its own similarly styled barbecue, and it might be the last brand you could ever expect – Lidl!

The middle aisle of Lidl has been killing it recently, especially as summer and barbecue season is upon us. Part of its Grillmeister collection, Lidl has debuted many barbecue, griddle and pizza oven accessories, and it’s just launched its very own ceramic barbecue grill, inspired by Big Green Egg and Kamado Joe.

Taking inspiration from these BBQ greats, the Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue is offering the iconic egg-shaped design at an affordable price. The compact barbecue weighs just 23kg and measures 43cm x 56.5cm x 49cm, so it takes up hardly any room in your garden but still offers an impressive cooking performance.

The Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue comes in black, and is made from high quality ceramic with a strong lid and a bamboo handle. It can be used to smoke, grill, sear and bake with the interior stainless steel fire bowl that offers high temperatures and optimal heat retention for the best cooking results.

Included in the Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue package is a cast iron charcoal grate and a stainless steel grill grate. It also has an integrated thermometer with marked cooking levels and a degree scale for pinpoint accuracy. The barbecue can reach up to 450-degrees and its ceramic construction keeps the heat contained and even while in action.

But it’s the price of the Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue that you’ll be surprised by. Available in Lidl stores, the Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue costs just £79.99. Compared to bigger barbecue brands, this might be the most affordable grill on offer today, and is certainly cheaper than the two barbecue brands it’s inspired by.

I’ve tested barbecues on T3 for a few years now, and like the idea of Lidl making barbecue essentials more affordable. If you’re on a tight budget, the Lidl Grillmeister Ceramic Barbecue seems to fit the bill, but you can’t beat the real deal in terms of quality and durability – see our Big Green Egg vs Kamado Joe comparison for more details.

Watch out Ooni – ProCook has just launched its latest pizza oven, and it looks eerily similar to a couple of Ooni’s signature pizza ovens. The ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch is gas-powered and has a rotating pizza stone – but it’s the price that will really surprise you.

For the past couple years, ProCook has expanded into small appliances, including air fryers, coffee machines and stand mixers. The brand launched its first electric pizza oven in 2024, but it had more of a toaster oven design, and of course, was powered by electricity.

Now, ProCook is expanding its pizza oven offerings with the ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch. This gas-powered pizza oven can heat up to 500°C in just 15 minutes, and cook 12-inch pizzas in under 60 seconds.

The design of the ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch looks a lot like a mix between the Ooni Volt 12 and the Ooni Koda range. It has a sleek black and silver colourway, and it’s fully collapsible and portable – to use it, you just need to unfold the legs, add the removable baking stone and connect the gas.

Speaking of baking stone, the ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch has a 360° rotating pizza stone which is controlled via the dial. The spin of the pizza stone means your pizza, steak, fish, vegetables and other foods receive even and consistent heat at all angles, so your food is perfectly cooked and crispy.

The ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch might be one of the most versatile pizza ovens I’ve seen, with its removable and compact design, and its easy-to-use dial. But what’s even better is that the ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch is extremely affordable, especially when compared to other competitors.

The ProCook Outdoor Pizza Oven 12-inch is priced at £249 at ProCook.

Gozney has just announced its latest collaboration with chef, actor and author, Matty Matheson. The result is a new, colourful and limited edition version of the Gozney Tread pizza oven, and it might have my favourite design yet.

Gozney launched the Tread in early 2025, marketing it as its most portable pizza oven yet. With a similar design to its iconic Dome, the Gozney Tread is a gas-fired model that’s light enough to carry around with you on camping holidays, road trips and other adventures. In fact, our reviewer loved it so much that he gave it five stars in our Gozney Tread review.

Now, the Gozney Tread is getting even better with this new collaboration. The brand has teamed up with Matty Matheson – one of my favourite chefs to watch on YouTube but you might know him best as Neil from The Bear – on a fun version of the Tread, designed to highlight the joy of cooking outdoors.

Gozney and Matty Matheson have had a 10-year long relationship, so it only seems right that the two should celebrate this milestone with a limited edition pizza oven. Called the Matty Matheson Signature Tread, the new pizza oven comes in bright orange and has engraved cartoon accents on the stainless steel exterior, designed and drawn by Matheson’s head illustrator, Christopher Wilson.

The collaboration goes a step further, with new customised pizza peels and other accessories, with Matheson-inspired engravings and accents. It’s a truly fun design and one of my favourites so far, plus it still has the Tread’s popular features and exceptional pizza-making performance.

Like the original, the Matty Matheson Signature Tread can fit and cook up to 12-inch pizzas and other foods, and reaches up to 500°C in as little as 15 minutes. It also has a lateral gas burner which offers even heat distribution and replicates the look, feel and heat of a traditional wood-fired flame.

Pricing of the Matty Matheson edition of the Gozney Tread hasn’t been announced yet, but I imagine it’ll be similar to the original Tread which costs £499.99 / $499.99. All will be revealed when it officially launches at Gozney on 18th June.

BBQ season has officially kicked off! For successful outside cooking, you’ll need to invest in one of the best barbecues, and the best gas barbecues are faster to heat up and easier to clean than charcoal cookers.

Shopping for a new gas grill, Weber is a brand you’ll come across time and time again. In fact, it's arguably the most well-known BBQ maker there is.

New for 2025, the Weber Spirit E-425 is a four-burner gas barbecue suited to medium-sized family cooking or hosting small groups of people. It has a built-in lid thermometer, a clever sear zone and two useful fold-away side tables.

I’ve used it several times in the last month or so, and have been impressed by its cooking capabilities. Here’s everything you need to know from assembly and ignition to cooking and cleaning.

How much does the Weber Spirit E-425 cost?

You can get the Weber Spirit E-425 from the Weber online store for £699 in the UK or $599 in the US. It’s available to buy from other popular online retailers as well, like Amazon and John Lewis.

How easy is it to set up the Weber Spirit E-425?

When the box arrives at your door, the barbecue's components are packaged in a mixture of cardboard, fabric bags and plastic. There’s no polystyrene, and the majority of it is easy enough to recycle, although there is quite a lot to dispose of.

In the box, alongside the main barbecue unit, you’ll find the hose and regulator (already installed), the ignition battery, the owner's manual, two side tables, two wheels, four tool hooks and a built-in lid thermometer.

To start assembling the grill, you’ll just need a screwdriver. The paper instructions have step-by-step diagrams to help you put it together. It would have been great if there had been some written guidance or photos to go with that, but I still found it relatively easy to follow. In total, it took two of us about 1 hour and 40 minutes to assemble. Once built, you place the gas canister on the dedicated shelf in the bottom compartment and attach the hose.

Igniting the grill is made easy thanks to the Snap-Jet ignition, you can do it one-handed without leaning over the grill at any time. You just need to turn each knob and it ignites each burner by itself, no need for any matches or lighters.

The Weber Spirit E-425 is both aesthetically and practically well-designed. Each element is made from robust materials, and everything from the handles to the side tables feels high quality. It’s a mid-sized grill, so it'll suit medium to large gardens and cooking for the family rather than solo meals.

The black aluminium lid features a large thermometer and the Weber logo, with a silver heatproof handle that stretches across its entire width. It’s quite a sizable cook box, so it can be a bit of a stretch to open and close for shorter people, but it’ll be perfectly fine for most.

There are four dials to precisely set the temperature of each burner, two side tables that fold away, hooks to hold your BBQ tools, and a cupboard with a raised shelf to hold the gas or store your tools when not in use.

At the bottom, there are two wheels and two static feet that ensure it stays firmly in place, and there’s an area to place the included disposable grease tray underneath the burners.

The barbecue is safe to use on any surface, including decking and grass, because the body doesn’t heat up, and the gas canister is raised from the ground.

My only issue with the design is that there’s no handle to move the barbecue around. I needed to bring it in and out of a shelter, and there was nowhere to grip it to push or pull it into place. The two side tables both have a rail meant for snap-on accessories, but it feels a little risky to use those to lift the weight of the grill.

When you open the lid, you'll find thick cast iron cooking grates with a removable circular sear zone and a warming rack at the back of the grill.

Is the Weber Spirit E-425 a good grill?

With all four burners ignited, it took a speedy 13 minutes for the grill to reach 300 degrees. And having four dials means you can easily control the temperature of each area.

I cooked vegetables and meats in as many spots as I could, and found heat was reasonably well distributed across the entire cooking surface, even the far edges. I managed to get grill lines across my courgette slices in the corners of the grill.

Everything cooked through quickly and thoroughly, potato slices were crisp on the outside and soft on the inside, burgers were succulent and meaty, sausages got a really lovely smoky flavour, and aubergines blistered across the entire skin but were perfectly juicy inside.

The two Boost Burners on the right-hand side whack the heat up to maximum intensity, creating distinct sear lines across steaks and burgers, all while cooking the meat evenly. It’s a cool feature that ensures smoky flavours and a lovely texture.

With the lid shut, the temperature stayed stable and consistent, and it builds back up quickly again after being opened. The lid gets a little warm on the outside, but you won't burn yourself if you accidentally brush past it.

Once you've finished cooking, the grates were easy enough to clean with a good scrubbing and the grease tray is replaceable.

There’s plenty of opportunity for versatile cooking if you buy optional extras for the barbecue like a pizza stone, wok or griddle. None of these come in the box, but they are available to buy from the Weber online store, along with its long precision tool set, which hooks onto the side tables, or a premium cover to protect the grill from the elements when you aren’t using it.

Weber Spirit E-425 review: verdict

For medium-sized families or small garden parties, the Weber Spirit E-425 is an excellent gas barbecue featuring a considerable cooking surface and convenient fold-away side tables.

Assembly is relatively straightforward, the design is both sturdy and sleek, and igniting it is incredibly easy and very safe, thanks to the one-handed Snap-Ignition on all four burners. You’ll also know exactly when to start cooking thanks to the built-in thermometer.

Preparing your meals, the temperature is consistent with the lid closed, and the two Boost Burners concentrate heat on the sear zone, creating thick lines to lock in the smoky flavour of your meats, fish, and vegetables. You’ll enjoy ample temperature control over other areas of the grill as well, ensuring thorough cooking across the cooking grates.

Alternatives to consider

If you want to cook lots of different types of food and plan to feed lots of people, the Broil King Baron 490 IR is a premium pick with a searing zone and rotisserie kit included in the box, and it has a side burner that can hold an optional griddle plate. It also comes with a cover to protect it when not in use.

A much more affordable option is the Char-Broil All-Star 120 B-Gas, suited to smaller families. It’s compact and easy to move around the garden, with a stylish design and a cast iron grill that ensures quick and even cooking of all kinds of BBQ favourites from kebabs to prawns.

Traeger has just added a new grill to its popular Flatrock line-up, designed with smaller gardens in mind. The new Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill might be smaller than its predecessor, but it offers powerful heat control and dual-zone cooking to cater to your outdoor parties.

Traeger entered the griddle category in 2023 with its Flatrock 3 Zone grill which was met with much acclaim. Despite its popularity, some customers found it a bit too big so having heard this feedback and building off the success of the Flatrock 3 Zone, Traeger has now launched a new model that offers similar cooking features in an all-new size.

The Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill has a more compact and space-saving design, compared to the Flatrock 3 Zone. It’s still a pretty big device, as you’d expect with a barbecue, but it has a smaller form so it can fit easier into smaller spaces, patios and gardens.

Despite its smaller size, the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill still has a great amount of cooking space, which can also be expanded with its folding side shelves and Pop-And-Lock accessory rail. But what’s most impressive about the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill is that it has the same premium performance as the Flatrock 3 Zone.

As the name suggests, instead of three burners, the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill has two U-shaped burners that offer consistent heat across the griddle surface. It has a two-zone cooking system that can be used independently or at the same time to cook all your barbecue favourites, including burgers, hotdogs and even fajitas.

The Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill has a streamlined gas ignition process which gives the griddle precise and powerful temperatures. The ignition heats up the griddle quickly and eliminates cold spots. The design of the Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill has been enhanced with an inlay design which ensures edge-to-edge coverage and blocks out the wind, to prevent any flare-ups or unwanted cold air to your hot food.

The new Traeger Flatrock 2 Zone Grill is priced at $699 and is currently only available in the US.

Cuisinart Outdoors has just launched two new gas grills and they’re incredible value for money. The standout from the new collection is the Cuisinart Propel+ which is powered by Thermo-Flo technology and acts as a grill, griddle and pizza oven in one – here’s everything you need to know.

Much like air fryers, today’s best barbecues offer multiple ways of cooking, so you can use your grill all year round rather than just during the spring / summer months. Many barbecue brands like Weber, Masterbuilt and Char-Broil have jumped onto this trend, and now Cuisinart is joining the party.

Cuisinart has introduced two new barbecue grills to its outdoor line-up. The first is the Cuisinart Propel+ Four Burner 3-in-1 Gas Grill which is designed for multi-tasking grillers. It combines a grill, griddle and pizza oven into one unit, and features a 477 square inch grilling space, a 176 square inch griddle and a 15-inch pizza stone.

Powered by Thermo-Flo technology, the Cuisinart Propel+ has an advanced, natural convection heating system that has electronic ignition and offers even and consistent cooking. The grill has four burners while the griddle is made from cast iron – both the grill and griddle can be used independently or simultaneously, and are powered by 44,000 BTUs across the burners, and a 11,000 BTU XL burner for the griddle plate.

The second new barbecue launch from Cuisinart is the 28-inch Outdoor Griddler, the first ever 2-in-1 griddle and broiler. It features a 504 square inch flat-top griddle that sits atop a broiler cabinet that has a three-level adjustable cooking rack and viewing window. With space to cook up to 24 burgers at a time, the Cuisinart Outdoor Griddler is searing, roasting, toasting and melting.

The Cuisinart Outdoor Griddler features the brand’s Broiler Baffles system that directs heat downwards when it’s closed to offer high heats for searing and roasting. When it’s open, it releases heat which is best for toasting, melting and warming food. It also has plenty of storage space, including integrated caddies in the side shelves.

The two new gas barbecues from Cuisinart offer a ton of grilling features that can be used all year round – and they won’t break the bank either. Both the Propel+ and Outdoor Griddler are priced at $499.99 and are available to buy at Cuisinart. As of writing, they’re not yet available in the UK.

Ninja has just announced its latest barbecue innovation, the Ninja FlexFlame. Designed to disrupt the outdoor grilling market, the Ninja FlexFlame is the brand’s first-ever propane grill, and in true Ninja style, it has multiple cooking methods to play with.

While Ninja is arguably best known for its indoor appliances, the brand has branched out into the outdoor cooking space. Its outdoor collection includes the Ninja Woodfire, an electric barbecue, grill and air fryer in one, and the Ninja Electric Outdoor Oven, a pizza oven and smoker.

Now, Ninja has launched its first propane grill. The Ninja FlexFlame has a similar design to other gas barbecues on the market, with its large stainless steel hood, digital control panel, large stand and huge storage space – but how does it compete with other barbecue brands on the market?

Well, as is commonplace with Ninja, the FlexFlame doesn’t just act as a barbecue – it has five cooking methods which definitely sets it apart from traditional grills on the market. The Ninja FlexFlame can be used for grilling, smoking, griddling, roasting and pizza making, all in one unit.

The Ninja FlexFlame is powered by Ninja’s CyclonicHeat-iQ technology that integrates rapid convection air flow – which you typically see in air fryers – propane flame control and Woodfire technology to cook your food. The fan within the Ninja FlexFlame circulates heat inside and around the main cooking space to cook food quickly and evenly, plus it can preheat up to 600°F in just seven minutes.

The control panel for the Ninja FlexFlame is on the right side of the grill and allows you to control the function, temperature and adjust the flames. Similar to its Woodfire barbecue, the Ninja FlexFlame comes with pellets that can be added to the Ninja FlexFlame to increase your food’s smoky barbecue flavours.

Just from looking at it, the Ninja FlexFlame is seriously impressive and despite being Ninja’s first propane grill and full-sized barbecue, it could definitely compete alongside bigger players in the market.

The Ninja FlexFlame is available to buy for $999.99 on the Ninja US website. As of writing, UK pricing and availability hasn’t been announced so we’ll have to wait patiently – or impatiently in my case.

Kamado Joe has just launched its latest charcoal barbecue. Called the Konnected Big Joe, the new barbecue builds off the success of the original Konnected Joe, and gives it a new super size and two different ways of grilling – but it’ll cost you.

The Kamado Joe Konnected Joe was launched in 2023 and became the brand’s first digitally connected ceramic charcoal barbecue. We tried it ourselves in our Kamado Joe Konnected Joe review, and while we enjoyed the smart controls, we commented that the grill space was a little small.

Now, Kamado Joe has seemed to have taken this feedback on board with the new Konnected Big Joe which has a massive 24-inch cooking surface. As a charcoal barbecue, the Konnected Big Joe offers smoky flavours and a huge amount of space for grilling, smoking and barbecue-ing multiple dishes at once.

Aside from its supersized grilling space, the Konnected Big Joe has a brilliantly named two-tier Divide & Conquer flexible cooking system which allows grillers to cook different foods at different temperatures at the same time – a feature that’s become common in air fryers and now, barbecues.

Another clever feature of the new Konnected Big Joe is its dual cooking options. It can be plugged in and you can set the temperature with a digital dial before the display shows cooking instructions – similar to the way an oven works. Alternatively, you can use it manually like other Kamado Joe barbecues.

Despite its large size, the Konnected Big Joe is easy to use and has a push-button fire-starter ignition that ignites the charcoal and triggers the fan to maintain the temperature. As is the trend with barbecues now, the Konnected Big Joe can also be connected to the Kamado Joe app so you can monitor your food’s progress without having to stand directly in front of the grill.

One slight drawback to the Konnected Big Joe is the price. Due to its size and as a new addition to the market, the Konnected Big Joe doesn’t come cheap, although you do get the barbecue and a range of built-in premium accessories. The Kamado Joe Konnected Big Joe is priced at £2,799 / $2,999 and can be found on the Kamado Joe website.

Char-Broil has just announced its 2025 barbecue line-up, featuring its 3-in-1 Versa-Tile gas grill. Living up to its name, the Char-Broil Versa-Tile has a removable tile system which allows it to turn into a grill, griddle and pizza oven in one piece of equipment.

While it might not feel like barbecue season just yet, now is the time of year where the big barbecue brands launch their new releases, and Char-Broil is no exception. There also seems to be a theme with this year’s barbecue launches, as we’re seeing many grills with griddle-like surfaces to increase their versatility.

That’s exactly what Char-Broil has done and it’s even given the barbecue a name that explains just how versatile it is. The Char-Broil Versa-Tile is a three-in-one gas grill that has a removable tile design that allows the barbecue to work as a grill, griddle and pizza oven in one.

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile has two individual grilling zones – similar to the technology you find from an air fryer – so you can cook multiple meals at the same time and at different times and temperatures. It also has two stainless steel burners and two separate controls to regulate the grill zones temperatures and help with even heat distribution.

What makes the Char-Broil Versa-Tile so impressive is its removable ‘tile’ that works in the circular section of the griddle. To use it as a grill, the round cast iron grill plate sits in the section for searing, and for the full griddle design, the section can be flipped so it’s flat. For pizza, the tile can be raised and placed on a pizza riser which turns the Char-Broil Versa-Tile into a pizza oven.

The design of the Char-Broil Versa-Tile is similar to most of Char-Broil’s barbecues, with its black steel lid and multiple storage areas, including on the sides and underneath the main grill. It also has hooks where you can hang utensils and wheels so you can easily move the Char-Broil Versa-Tile around your garden.

Alongside the Versa-Tile, Char-Broil has announced its new Essential grill range which features three-burner and four-burner barbecues. The Essential range is the most affordable collection from Char-Broil and offers gas-to-coal functionality.

The Char-Broil Versa-Tile is available from February and costs £550 at Char-Broil and select retailers, like John Lewis.