When choosing what Camping BBQ to purchase, there are important factors to consider before making your decision. Things like whether you should choose a gas or charcoal, the weight of your BBQ, the size of your BBQ, the number of burners and what accessories can improve your camping BBQ enjoyment.
Fuel Type
The type of fuel that your Camping BBQ uses will affect several things such as the time to light, and how easy the BBQ is to keep alight.
Gas (LPG/Propane)
The main benefit of a gas Camping BBQ is the ease of lighting the BBQ. You simply push the ignition button and flame should ignite instantly. Gas camping BBQs give a consistent heat and you have the ability to control the temperature usually with a standard dial. You also don’t have the hassle of cleaning up charcoals afterwards. Gas camping BBQs are usually dearer given the benefits mentioned.
Charcoal
Charcoal camping BBQs give a strong feeling of the outback and add a taste of smoky charcoal to your food. They are typically lighter as they have less parts. However, charcoal Camping BBQs are not a source of instant heat and they take a while to get the optimal temperature. It will require a few goes to practise and refine the skill of timing your cooking.
Wood or Pellet
The Wood or Pellet fuel type for your camping BBQ essentially means you’ll be smoking your food as opposed to grilling it with direct heat. This type of fuel will again give a lovely smoky taste to your food and given the slower cooking time you will often have tender meat. It is a slower cooking method compared to the gas fuel and you may need to take a few goes at finding the right pellets for the job.
Material
The weight and time your camping BBQ will take to heat up will depend on which type of material your camping BBQ is made from.
Stainless Steel
Stainless steel camping BBQs are strong and durable. They also retain heat well compared to other camping BBQ material types.
Porcelain Enamel
Porcelain enamel’s best feature is its ability to heat evenly and reduce the risk of burning food in areas of the BBQ.
Cast Iron
Cast Iron camping BBQs are one of the best at retaining heat. So if you are looking to sear your meat this is the option for you. It is also one of the heavier materials so factor this in.
Cast Aluminium
The cast aluminium Camping BBQs are great if you suspect your BBQ will experience the weather elements as this material will rarely rust. They are also very lightweight, so they are great for camping.
Burners and Output (BTU)
More burners equal faster cooking time. But it usually will mean more material and thus more wight/size. More burners will also spread the distribution of heat around the camping BBQ more evenly. You should make sure you understand what you camping BBQs BTU is. This is a calculation of the amount of fuel a burner will consume per hour. An ideal BTU is between 80-100, but normally the higher the BTU the more powerful the burner.
Size Weight & Portability
If you do a lot of setting and packing up on your trips, ie. You are going 4WD and will be going from camp site to camp site, then the portability of your camping BBQ is at the top of your priorities. You’ll want to make sure your camping BBQ has handles and wheels and can slot easily inside your vehicle. You’ll want to choose a camping BBQ material the is lightweight like the cast aluminium if you need to minimise your total weight. The number of people you’ll be cooking for is also going to affect the camping BBQ you choose. If you are cooking for yourself and a friend or partner, then a smaller BBQ with less burners may be suitable. If you are cooking for the family, consider one of the larger camping BBQs with more burners and the gas fuel type.
Camping BBQ Accessories
Ignition & Controls
The top camping grills that use gas should have a simple to use ignition button, so you don’t need to mess around with lighters or matches. Make sure to check for clearly labelled and easy to use controls.
Wheels
The best BBQ for RV camping could be a larger one that’s equipped with wheels. This means you can move it around with more ease, but you have a big and adaptable grill.
Hotplate
Some have a hotplate as well as a grill plate so you can cook up things like fried eggs for breakfast.
Built in thermometer
Some fancy BBQs even come with a thermometer in the hood which is really useful when you’re cooking large pieces of meat and don’t want to open the lid to check and let heat escape.
BBQ Arms
BBQARM is the must-have caravan and travel accessory for your outdoor barbecues. Australian designed and built on the Gold Coast, this space-saving innovation simply mounts to your caravan drawbar or rear bar to create a sturdy 'out of the way' place for your BBQ. Swing it away when not using.
Portable Fire Pits
Any fire can be used for cooking, however, a portable fire pit designed with cooking in mind has a lot of added benefits compared to an open fire. Usually, these fire pits allow you to add a grill or plate to make it easy to cook. Like Camping BBQs, the fuel type, material it's made from, size, durability etc are all factors you need to consider when making a purchase.
