Category: Beginners Guides

BBQ smoking can feel overwhelming when you’re just starting out, especially with all the different smokers, fuels, temperatures, and techniques to learn. This beginners guides section is designed to remove the confusion and help you get started with confidence.

Here you’ll find simple, step-by-step guides covering your first BBQ or smoking session, what to expect as a beginner, common mistakes to avoid, basic smoking techniques, and essential safety tips. These articles are written in plain language and focus on practical advice, making them ideal for anyone new to BBQ, electric smokers, or low-and-slow cooking.

Direct vs Indirect Heat BBQ: The Complete Beginner’s Guide (And Why It’s Not Offset Smoking)

Understanding Direct vs Indirect Heat BBQ is the moment most beginners stop burning food and start cooking with confidence. If you’ve ever: This guide will clear everything up. By the end, you’ll know: Let’s simplify it properly. What Is Direct Heat BBQ? Direct heat BBQ means the food sits directly above the heat source. The […]

How to Make a Foil Smoker Pouch for Your BBQ (No Smoker Needed)

If you’re curious about BBQ smoking but don’t want to invest in a dedicated smoker just yet, a foil smoker pouch is the easiest and cheapest way to get started. With nothing more than wood chips and aluminium foil, you can turn an ordinary gas or charcoal BBQ into a smoke-producing flavour machine. This method […]

Choosing Your First BBQ or Smoker (Beginner’s Guide – UK)

When you’re new to outdoor cooking, choosing your first BBQ or smoker can feel overwhelming. There are dozens of options, strong opinions everywhere, and a lot of pressure to “buy the right thing” straight away. The truth is much simpler. Your first BBQ or smoker doesn’t need to be perfect. It just needs to help […]

First bbq cook for beginners: What to Expect (Beginner’s Guide)

The hardest part of getting started with BBQ or smoking isn’t the equipment, the food, or even the technique. It’s the first cook. That moment where everything feels unfamiliar, the lid is closed, the clock is ticking, and you’re wondering whether you’re doing it right. This guide exists to remove that pressure and replace it […]

Safe Internal Temperatures for BBQ & Smoked Meat (UK Guide)

Smoking and barbecuing meat is meant to be enjoyable, not stressful and that’s why you need to know the Safe Internal Temperatures for BBQ. But if you’re new to outdoor cooking, one question tends to cause more uncertainty than any other: How do I know the meat is actually safe to eat? Meat can look […]

Smoking Meat for Beginners (UK Edition): What Actually Matters

Smoking meat for beginners can feel more complicated than it needs to be, especially if you’ve never cooked outdoors before.. One minute you’re looking at a simple BBQ, the next you’re reading about smokers, wood types, temperatures, and long cooking times — and wondering where on earth to start. Before getting into the details, it’s […]