The best barbecues for the summer in 2023

There are hundreds of BBQs on the market right now, all boasting their own impressive claims, so which is the best? The BBC Science Focus team picks their faves

By Alex Hughes

Published: Saturday, 29 July 2023 at 08:00 AM

It is important to make the most of a great British summer, complete with the rain, storms and the occasional day of sunny weather.

In those short periods of sun and heat, the obvious game plan is to fire up the barbecue and invite your friends and family around.

If you don’t yet have a barbecue, we’re here to help you be the envy of your friends and family with a collection of some of the best barbecue currently available.

Below we’ve gathered a selection of tried and tested barbecues, picking our favourites of the bunch.

Ninja Woodfire Outdoor grill

Ninja-Large

The Ninja Woodfire has a lot going on but that is by no means a complaint, in fact, it is what makes this such a good product. Yes, it is a barbecue, but also a smoker and air fryer. Smoothly transition from air frying some golden potatoes to smoking a pork belly before finishing up with some perfectly cooked burgers on the grill.

It’s the Iron Man of the barbecue world, complete with buttons, gizmos and even a smoking chamber on the side. The not-so-great news is that all this tech means a weighty machine. That paired with the need to plug it in when in use makes using it each time a bit of an ordeal.

It is absolutely not the barbecue for the family camping trip, but more for the meat-obsessed family member looking to spend 8 hours slow cooking the perfect lamb with all the trimmings.

Ooni Koda 12

To prevent burning, for best results turn your pizza every 20 to 30 seconds. Image credit: Holly Spanner
To prevent burning, for best results turn your pizza every 20 to 30 seconds. Image credit: Holly Spanner

The Ooni Koda 12 is a fun, no-fuss addition to the world of outdoor cooking.

Its simple design, rapid preheating capabilities and powerful heat output means you can get on with the really important stuff: eating. It’s gas-powered, so can reach temperatures of up to 500 degrees Celsius in just 15 minutes, allowing you to cook mouth-watering Neapolitan-style pizzas in a matter of minutes (and they really are good pizzas).

Think crispy crusts with a soft dough and bubbling, gooey toppings. The pizzas themselves take just 60 seconds to cook, although we found that cooking the pizzas for slightly longer (around 4 minutes) on a slightly lower heat (around 410 degrees Celsius) while turning the pizza every 25 seconds or so, yielded a more satisfying crust and base. It’s lightweight and portable too, weighing in at just 9.25kg.

The legs even fold into the base of the oven for convenient transportation and storage.

Weber Go-Anywhere

7119lSBC1tL._AC_SL1500_

We’re in love with the Weber Go-Anywhere. Its compact, rectangular size and shape means you can use every inch of grilling space efficiently – but also enjoy it in small spaces and store it away easily.

What’s more, you really can Go Anywhere: at just under 7kg with the dimensions of a chunky backpack, you can pop it in your car. Or – for a light workout – even walk it to your barbecue destination, as its nifty stand doubles up as a clamp to hold it all together.

It’s clean and classy, heats up quickly, and stays hot – and all with an affordable price tag. Finding faults is not easy, but this is not the barbecue for you if you’re catering for large gatherings: you may struggle to properly cook for more than eight people in one go, at a push. But if we’re not being silly about this, the Weber Go-Anywhere is a five-star no-brainer

George Foreman On-The-Go

PXL_20230724_143533702

George Foreman has come a long way from its nightmare-inducing adverts of the early 2000s, complete with manic dancing actors and neon products.

Now a serious brand with serious products, everything is about function, and we’re so glad about that. The On-The-Go BBQ from George Foreman is practical, right down to its name.

It is small and lightweight, has an easy-to-setup stand, and even has a heat-resistant handle. There’s no crazy tech or a funky design, just load it up with coal, get it warmed up and chuck your food on the grill.

The included lid means you can smoke your foods stand and a useful temperature gauge on the side allows you to keep track of how hot it has got. Best of all, in a world of expensive BBQs, the On-The-Go is actually really affordable.

Read more: