Articles - Wellington BBQs & Fire tips

The best BBQ for coastal conditions

In New Zealand the beach is our backyard, and while that's great for leisure time the tough coastal conditions can put a lot of stress on our outdoor barbecues. So what should you look for in a BBQ when you live near the coast?

The team at Wellington BBQs and Fire know coastal environments and they know barbecues. From their expertise and personal experience of BBQs in the marine environment they've put together a quick checklist of what to look for in a barbecue designed for the coast.

Stainless steel is frequently used in BBQ because of its quality, durability, and attractive appearance. 316 (marine grade) stainless steel is ideal for the coast but does becomes brittle in extreme heat, check to see which components of the barbecue are marine grade.

Stainless steel can become stained and soiled by dirt, pollution and especially grease. It is very important to use the appropriate cleaner for each area of your BBQ.

Nuts, screws and other fixings are often a weak point, these can rust and cause rust around them, consider the quality of fixings used in the barbecue.

Aluminium has lower corrosive properties and keeps heat in the oven for longer, Aluminium is ideal for marine environments.

As Wellingtonians we're pretty accustomed to the wind, but our BBQs aren't. Check the back of your BBQ for blow through. A good coastal barbeque will have an enclosed back. If yours doesn't position the BBQ out of the way of the wind (if possible!) to avoid the flame blowing out, no one likes an undercooked sausage.

Without doubt the most recommended feature is a hooded barbecue. Hoods keep their heat even when the wind is blowing, they stop sand and debris blowing onto the food and they ensure the flame is consistent.

Cover, clean, cook... get a good well fitting cover for your barbecue and use it! for the high winds experienced on many parts of the coast ensure good quality ties are part of the cover. Clean your barbecue exterior at least twice a year and remember to keep cooking year-round it's a great way to check the condition of your barbecue and is perfect for a winter roast!