The barbecue in the garden creates a wonderful atmosphere for family meetings or celebrations with friends. Cooking outdoors in the summer is much more pleasant than standing over pots in a stuffy kitchen. It is also worth considering that well-prepared dishes on the grill can be healthier than those fried in a pan, or even baked or stewed in the traditional way. Look at the barbecues in the photo to choose the most suitable option for your garden, terrace or balcony.
Store-bought or DIY barbecue: photos of different options
You should start by purchasing a suitable grill, or construct one yourself if you are thinking of a solid structure made from stone, for example. It is worth rethinking the choice of the best roaster for the garden, in accordance with the location, needs and wealth of the wallet. The most popular are charcoal or wood grills. You can also buy an electric or gas grill for your garden.
Metal barbecues: photos and garden design ideas
The easiest way to decorate your garden with a barbecue is to buy a ready-made metal barbecue, which is relatively cheap and can be easily disassembled for transport. The main elements of such a grill include a metal box with a support on legs. For a Dutch oven to be stable, it must have at least 3 legs if it is a round model, or 4 if it is a rectangular model. Such barbecues operate using firewood or charcoal. Some barbecues are additionally equipped with a lid with a chimney, thanks to which steam is removed. In a grill with a lid, it is easier to maintain a uniform temperature, which allows you to quickly fry food. However, coatings also have a disadvantage - the more harmful substances contained in the smoke end up on the food.
Advantages of iron barbecues
This kind of barbecue is very popular, and the reason lies in their undeniable advantages, such as:
- low cost;
- easy cleaning, transportation, assembly/disassembly;
- uniform roasting of meat (iron retains heat well);
- safety;
- ease of use;
- possibility of making it yourself.
Usually, homemade barbecues are welded, but in the absence of welding equipment, you can resort to bolting.
DIY metal grill
Prices for various types and shapes of barbecues
Braziers
Brick grill
A garden grill can be a real decoration for your garden. You can build a unique garden grill from clinker bricks or stone that will last for years. The advantage of a brick grill is a large roasting pan, thanks to which no one will have to wait in line for kebab. A well-designed and carefully prepared garden grill is more than a metal Dutch oven. You can simply buy it in the store or build an original design yourself, tailored to the appearance of the garden and individual needs.
Good tips before bricklaying a barbecue in the garden
Placing a brick barbecue on private property does not require a building permit or landscaping notice. However, you should follow several rules when building a brick grill yourself:
- the structure must stand on a solid foundation slab (15-20 cm thick), laid on a layer of compacted gravel (20-30 cm thick), the grill can also be built on a reinforced concrete slab that already exists;
- it is best to use ready-made mortar for brickwork on the grill;
- use cement mortar rather than lime, any dirt should be washed off immediately before drying because it is difficult to remove later;
- It is necessary to build walls around the fireplace that protect from the wind;
- It is advisable to install a roof over the fireplace to protect the structure from rain, so that water will not collect in the fireplace;
- The area around the grill surface should be equipped with fireproof material for at least 60 cm.
Attention!
Do not light a fire in the barbecue immediately after it is built. Wait two weeks for the solution to dry. The first fire should be low so that the solution dries and can harden.
The best stationary barbecues
These are the most reliable and durable models that are installed on a foundation. Most often they are not moved or disassembled, but some models can still be sent for storage unassembled.
Grillux Grill Area (148.1x118.6x209.4 cm)
5
★★★★★
editorial assessment
97%
buyers recommend this product
A collapsible grill that cannot be taken with you on a trip, but can be moved from place to place and stored disassembled during the winter. The roof allows you to grill kebab on it in any weather. Even a tall person can hide under it, since the height of the structure is 2.1 meters.
The roasting pan is made of thick (3 mm) steel, so the product does not deform during use. The structure weighs almost 68 kg. In the lower part there is a spacious firewood rack, and on the side of the brazier there is a comfortable tabletop.
Advantages:
- Beautiful design - with forging and carved elements;
- Ease of use;
- Capacity;
- High large roof;
- Collapsible design.
Flaws:
- Takes up quite a lot of space.
This grill is stated to be collapsible, but its assembly takes a little time.
Concept MS-20
4.9
★★★★★
editorial assessment
94%
buyers recommend this product
Thanks to the chimney, an all-welded grill can be installed in a gazebo. It is convenient to store dishes or firewood in a large cabinet under the brazier - it is absolutely safe.
A removable cap is installed on the roof, which allows you to extend the chimney if necessary. On the sides of the firebox there are small but comfortable wooden shelves. There are three slots in the base for installing the spit at different levels.
Advantages:
- Thoughtful and durable design;
- Thick steel (3 mm);
- Good ventilation;
- Wide working surface;
- Optimal roasting pan height.
Flaws:
- The side shelves cannot be hidden from the weather.
A good option for a large company. On such a grill you can install 12 skewers at a time.
Brazier MD-9
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
91%
buyers recommend this product
Professional quality grill with table and roof. The roasting pan is made of steel 3 and 4 millimeters thick, reinforced with metal rods and additionally deepened. Ash does not accumulate thanks to ash pans, and a cauldron can be placed on the partition of the brazier.
Advantages:
- Comfortable and quite roomy table;
- Firewood grid;
- Massive profile and thick sheet metal;
- Possibility of installing a spit;
- Easy cleaning.
Flaws:
- Short roof - covers only the grill itself.
A high-quality professional grill is quite massive, but this is even a plus for stationary use. It is also possible to move it from place to place, but it is problematic, although it can be disassembled into 5 parts.
Boyscout stationary grill “Deer” (61392)
4.8
★★★★★
editorial assessment
88%
buyers recommend this product
An unusual barbecue in the shape of a deer will surprise all guests with its design and decorate the area. It is made of carbon steel 4 mm thick - deformation and burning of the metal are simply excluded. The rigid, stable design is safe and reliable.
The grill can accommodate 10 skewers, and it will also be convenient to cook on the grill. The fryer can be pulled out by the handles for cleaning. The entire structure can be disassembled into small parts, which makes it possible to store it compactly in the off-season.
Advantages:
- Good airflow;
- Beautiful design;
- Large capacity;
- Easy to clean;
- Sustainability.
Flaws:
- No roof.
Quite a large grill with which you can feed a large company. The model is assembled without any tools, but it is better to use it as a stationary one.
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Gazebo with barbecue: photo of beautiful design
The location of the garden grill as close as possible to the gazebo or directly in it is justified, because, as a rule, a stationary building in the garden plays the role of a summer living room, where you willingly welcome guests and enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner. Of course, there is nothing that would prevent the barbecue from being located in another part of the garden. However, such a place will require more work, since in addition to the barbecue, it is necessary to decide on an area for a table and a canopy on a flat surface of the ground. And in the gazebo you will have all this constantly, so it is better to place the barbecue directly in it or very close. In this case, the sounds and smells associated with the use of the grill will not disturb the neighbors, and the crown of the trees will not sag over the fireplace.
Focus on mandatory factors
Design parameters for barbecue depend on several factors:
- Method of roasting meat. The distance between the walls depends on this. Products can be cooked on skewers or used for this purpose on barbecue grills. Skewers are made according to standard parameters, so the grill will have to be made accordingly. But with a grill it is much easier, because there are many different sizes that are selected depending on the grill. Thus, first a grill is built, and then a grate is selected based on its parameters.
- The need for transportation. This is the answer to the question of what the material from which the structure is made should be. It all depends on where exactly you plan to enjoy the kebabs. If the grill is installed in your summer cottage, you can make it from cast iron or thick metal. Such a structure will be permanently located on the site, and will only be removed indoors for the winter, when it is no longer needed. If you don’t have a summer cottage, but from time to time you go out into nature and cook barbecue, it’s better to make the grill portable. It is advisable to make it from lightweight material, making sure that it is foldable and compact.
- Material for cooking meat. The optimal depth of the structure depends on this. There are two options: coals and firewood. In the first case, the grill is made shallow, because the coals fit compactly under your meat. But in the second case, the depth will be significant, since a lot of firewood will be needed to get the required amount of coals for cooking barbecue.
Barbecue grill: what to look for when choosing
Here are the most important details to pay attention to:
- the grill cannot be too small and flat - it will not allow food to be fried and distributed evenly;
- a portable disposable charcoal grill is best suited as a mobile equipment when traveling out of town, as it takes up little space, and after use it can be turned off and stored safely;
- Please note that a charcoal barbecue must have a closing valve, which balances the temperature inside, reduces drying out of food, regulates air flow; movable wheels for ease of movement; chimney for air draft and easy ignition of coals; additional shelves and other amenities.
Exclusive forged barbecues
Craftsmen learned to make real masterpieces from cast iron or steel, to carve entire works of art like a fairy-tale flower or the paws of an animal on the legs of a barbecue, to carve the lid of a brazier. As exclusive options, instead of supports, you can make an imitation of wheels, give the device the shape of a chest or the image of any animal, for example, a pig, deer, etc.
An excellent and practical addition to the barbecue would be a gazebo made of the same material. For aesthetics and convenience, it is recommended to organize a separate space that will fence off the outdoor oven, give it a complete look, and make the cooking process more comfortable.
Electric barbecue is an excellent choice for the balcony
An electric grill is the least difficult to use, as the temperature is easily adjusted, increasing or decreasing the heat output immediately after turning on the button. It does not require practice or special ability to maintain a high temperature in the fryer. The higher the heat output value, the faster the device will heat up, which significantly reduces cooking time. An electric grill allows you to cook healthier food with a low fat content, which, by the way, does not drip onto the coals, but is collected in a special bowl. Such devices can be easily used indoors, on balconies and terraces, since cooking does not involve the generation of smoke.
You can choose any type of grill that suits your personal needs. If you want barbecue with aromatic smoke, then purchase a traditional charcoal grill. Grill lovers can prepare aromatic dishes even inside their own apartment thanks to electric designs. The photo gallery will help you understand where it is best to place this or that type of barbecue on your property.
Standard parameters
Now let’s outline the generally accepted parameters of a proper barbecue. Of course, you calculate the ideal parameters for your design yourself, taking into account the above nuances. However, if you don’t want to fool yourself with extraordinary options, we suggest building a standard grill for preparing delicious kebabs. Below we will consider each parameter separately in detail.
Width
The width of the structure directly depends on the size of the skewers or grates on which you are going to cook the meat. On average, the total length of the skewer is 45–50 cm, of which 30–35 cm are “working” (that is, the part on which the meat is threaded). That is why a standard grill should be no wider than 40 cm, otherwise the heat that comes from the coals will be wasted, and the material consumption and cooking time will increase. But the standard dimensions of a grill for frying meat are 18x28 cm, so you need to calculate the width based on the above figure.
Depth
This parameter is selected based on two factors: the type of meat and the temperature conditions. Most often they cook pork or lamb, which for good roasting should be at a distance of 5–10 cm from the coals.
The optimal depth is about 20 cm. For good roasting, the coals must be laid out in a layer of 5–10 cm, and the distance to the meat should be approximately 8–10 cm. If you are using firewood rather than coals, then the container must be made a little deeper to fit more firewood. But in this case, keep in mind that the layer of coals should be larger than the previous one, because the distance to the meat also increases.
Height
The height of the barbecue is calculated depending on the height of the person who will cook the barbecue. As a rule, the size is calculated based on the distance from the feet of the person who will stand behind the grill to the waist. This height allows a person not to strain the spine by constantly bending over the structure.
The generally accepted standard is a height of 75 cm to 125 cm. The nuances depend on your height (or who will cook the meat).
The height must be at least 75 cm.
Length
To turn the skewer over without touching the others, the distance between them should be 5 cm. Accordingly, think about how much food you will need to cook. If you are going with large groups, you will need a long structure that can hold up to 10 skewers. 100 cm should be enough. But if your company is small, and 6 skewers (standard set) are enough for you, then you should not make the device longer than 60 cm.