What Kind of BBQ Cook Are You?

Barbecuing is more than just a way to cook food, it’s an experience, a tradition, and a chance to bond with mates, family, and everyone around. However, with so many ways to cook on the BBQ, it can be overwhelming to choose the right style for your backyard. Whether you're dreaming of crispy crackling, juicy steaks, or wood-fired pizza, you normally have one style of cooking that you do most. So, what kind of BBQ cook are you?

In this guide, we'll break down which one fits your cooking personality and why, so you can truly discover your BBQ calling.

Spit Roasting: The Master of the Feast

If you’re someone who enjoys the challenge of roasting a whole lamb or cooking a large, mouth-watering meal for a crowd, spit roasting might be your game.

Spit roasting is all about taking your time and perfecting the art of slow cooking over fire. It’s an ancient tradition that emphasises balance, patience, and a touch of showmanship. With the smell of roasting meat filling the air and guests gathered around, there’s no better way to create an unforgettable BBQ experience.

Spit roast cooking allows you to cook whole cuts of meat such as lamb, pork, or chicken, and even veggies - all the while, you can kick back and let the motor turn your feast to perfection. Whether it's a backyard birthday party or a Father’s Day cook-up, a spit roast gives you the perfect centrepiece for any event.

Perfect for: The perfectionist who loves a slow, rewarding cook.

Pro Tip: When roasting, ensure your spit is set up at the right height for even cooking, and don’t forget to give your meat a few minutes to rest before carving - trust us, it’ll be worth the wait.

Game-Changing Accessory: The Stainless Steel Gyros Carving Shovel is a must-have for spit roasting. This tough, easy-to-use tool makes carving through those beautifully roasted cuts a breeze, ensuring every slice is perfect.

Grilling: Quick, Hot, and Juicy

Are you the type of BBQ cook who loves the thrill of cooking food fast and hot? Grilling might be your style. It’s simple, straightforward, and incredibly rewarding. Throw a few sausages, steaks, or prawns on the grill, and before you know it, you’ve got yourself a delicious meal.

Grilling is about getting that perfect char, locking in the juices, and cooking up food that’s packed with flavour in a fraction of the time. If you're the type of person who’s always ready to cook up a quick meal for yourself or impress friends with a sizzling steak, grilling is your best bet.

Perfect for: The social cook who enjoys quick, tasty meals that keep things lively and light.

Pro Tip: Always preheat your grill to ensure a perfect sear on your meat. And remember, a well-oiled grill grate will keep things from sticking - plus it makes for easier cleaning later on!

Game-Changing Accessory: The Burger/Steak Press Weights are perfect for creating perfectly pressed burgers and steaks. Made from 4mm laser cut 316SS, these press weights are an Aussie-made game-changer.

Pizza Oven: Fire, Dough, and Flavour

If you dream of creating perfect wood-fired pizzas, then a pizza oven might just be your ideal BBQ companion. Cooking in a pizza oven is an art form, where the flames work their magic on both the crust and toppings. It’s all about high heat and quick cooking, which locks in those delicious flavours and gives you that iconic crispy crust.

But it’s not just for pizzas. You can roast vegetables, bake bread, or even cook up a whole chicken in a pizza oven. It’s versatile and adds that extra flair to any BBQ. Plus, let’s face it, there’s something incredibly satisfying about watching your pizza cook in the blazing heat, then pulling it out with that golden finish. It’s the perfect way to bring people together and impress guests.

Perfect for: The foodie who loves experimenting with different meals and enjoys the art of creating dough. 

Pro Tip: When cooking pizzas, use a pizza peel to easily slide your creation in and out of the oven. And always let the oven heat up properly, it has to be hot to work!

Game-Changing Accessory: The Stainless Steel Pizza Spinner makes turning your pizza in the oven a breeze. Designed for wood-fired ovens, this essential tool ensures your pizza bakes evenly and without hassle, keeping the perfect shape and avoiding burnt edges.

Parrilla Grilling: A Taste of Argentina in Your Backyard

Parrilla grilling is a whole different ball game. It’s all about the wood and the flame. Originating from Argentina, Parrilla grills focus on cooking meat over open wood flames for deep, smoky flavours that are out of this world. It's a slower, more involved cooking method that’s ideal for those who love creating robust, smoky flavours and experiencing something a little different.

With the Parrilla grill, it’s all about the charcoal and wood. It requires a bit more attention and care, but it’s incredibly satisfying to see your meat turn into something truly special. The smoky aroma and the crackling sound of the fire make Parrilla grilling an immersive experience. This cooking style is perfect for anyone who values authenticity and wants to dive into a more refined BBQ experience.

Perfect for: The BBQ enthusiast who enjoys taking their time to master the art of wood-fired grilling and wants to taste that deep, smoky flavour.

Pro Tip: Control your heat by adjusting the height of the grill grates. Keep the fire just right for perfect searing without burning your food.

Game-Changing Accessory: The Stainless Steel Grill for Parrilla is built tough with 5mm thick 304 stainless steel bars, offering exceptional durability and heat retention. It’s designed to fit various Flaming Coals Parrilla models, enhancing your BBQ experience with superior quality and performance.

Smoking: Low and Slow for Ultimate Flavour

If you love taking your time and watching the flavours develop, smoking could be the BBQ style that suits you best. Smoking is all about slow cooking over low, indirect heat, often with wood chips or chunks to infuse rich, smoky flavours into your meat. It’s perfect for creating melt-in-your-mouth brisket, tender pulled pork, or smoky ribs that fall off the bone.

Smoking requires patience and attention, but the results are worth every second. The beauty of smoking is that it allows you to experiment with different woods for varying flavours. Hickory, applewood, mesquite - each one brings something unique to your dish. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about watching the smoke curl from your BBQ, knowing that you’re crafting a meal that’s as much about the journey as it is about the end result.

Perfect for: The patient BBQ enthusiast who enjoys the process and loves the rich, smoky flavour of long, slow cooks.

Pro Tip: Make sure you’re using a smoker thermometer to maintain a consistent temperature. The sweet spot is around 225°F (107°C). Low and slow is the key to perfect smoke.

Game-Changing Accessory: The Double Smoking Shelf Smoker Rack lets you add 2 extra smoking shelves to your meat smoker, perfect for when you need to cook an extra rack of ribs or wings without purchasing another smoker.

Find Your BBQ Style

The beauty of BBQing lies in its variety. Whether you're all about the long cooking of spit roasting, the fast action of grilling, the high heat of a pizza oven, the smoky experience of Parrilla grilling, or the art of slow-smoking your meats, there’s a BBQ style for every cook.

Take some time to think about what kind of BBQ cook you are. Do you prefer the challenge and reward of spit roasting for a crowd, or do you like the quick sizzle of a juicy steak on the grill? Maybe you’re intrigued by the artistry of pizza ovens, or you’re ready to master the smoky, flavorful world of smoking. Whatever your preference, there’s a cooking method that’s perfect for your backyard.

Ready to take your backyard BBQ to the next level? Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro, we’ve got everything you need to fuel your fire.

Explore our range of BBQ gear today and find the perfect fit for your cooking style.

by: Sasha Halabi