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Both are fantastic for outdoor cooking, but what you cook, when and where can help you decide between them. Here, we’ll explore where BBQ grills and pizza ovens excel in outdoor entertaining and how they fit into various setups. Read on to see which one is better for your next get-together.
Grilling with a Barbecue
BBQs are a staple of outdoor celebrations, family get-togethers, and even road trips. Grilling is the cooking method where fire and smoke work their magic, roasting meats, fish, and vegetables over an open flame. It’s the source of that unmistakable sizzle and crackle.
Barbecuing is also a social entertainment in its own right. There’s something special about the anticipation of food fresh off the grill that brings people together. In the UK, summer begins with the lighting of grills.
There are two popular types of grills: charcoal and gas. A charcoal BBQ gives you that classic barbecue experience, adding a smoky, succulent flavour to your food. When the meat juices drip onto the flames, they vaporise and infuse the meat with extra flavour. It’s also usually cheaper than a gas BBQ, including the cost of fuel like wood or briquettes.
A gas BBQ, in contrast, is all about convenience. There’s no mess from leftover coals, and many gas models come with two or three burners (sometimes more!). This makes cooking easier and gives you plenty of space. It’s ideal for barbecue favourites like burgers and hotdogs, often cooked in batches.
Can’t choose between gas and charcoal? A dual fuel BBQ will give you the best of both worlds!
This guide explains the difference between the two in detail: Charcoal vs Gas BBQ: Which is Better?
Cooking with a Pizza Oven
Pizza ovens are a type of outdoor baking tool with a unique dome shape, designed for making pies from scratch at home. As the name suggests, they’re perfect for cooking homemade or premade pizza with the dough sliding through the oven’s interior. There’s no sizzle, crackle, or smoky flavour like you’d get with a standard BBQ, but they bake the crust to crispy perfection in just a few minutes.
The best part? Many pizza ovens are portable, making them incredibly convenient. You can easily pack it into your car boot or RV and head off on an adventure whenever the mood strikes. Check out our guide, ‘Where Can I Take My Portable BBQ,’ for some top destination ideas, whether it’s warm weather, a holiday, or just any time you fancy a change of scenery.
Go for a BBQ Pizza Oven if You Like Both
Grilling with a standard BBQ gives you that classic barbecue experience, whether it’s charcoal or gas-fueled. Its size and grilling capacity are spot on for outdoor settings like your garden or the park, serving anything from small to large crowds. You can cook meat, veggies, and seafood on the grates in batches.
In contrast, cooking with a pizza oven is a different experience. Instead of grilling, you’re basically baking your food. While many think it’s all about pizzas, you can cook a variety of grilled meals in a pizza oven. Have a look at this guide to find out more: What Else Can You Cook in a Pizza Oven? The only downside is that the size limits you to cooking one type of food at a time. But, thanks to its portability, it’s perfect for camping or road trips and great for serving a small group of friends or family.
How many machines let you bake pizza and grill burgers in your garden at the same time? Not many, right? So, if you’re after the best of both worlds, save yourself the hassle of choosing and go for the combo BBQ pizza oven instead! A great example is the BillyOh Pizza Oven, Chimney Smoker & Charcoal BBQ. It’s got a clever three-tier design: the top tier for pizza, the middle tier for charcoal, and the bottom tier for an ash catcher. Plus, it’s fully portable with two ABS wheels and a handle, so you can quickly move it around.
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