Grilling season is well and truly upon us. Whether you're gathering friends for a July 4th cookout, trying outdoor BBQing for the first time, or looking to upgrade your backyard setup, the right knowledge – and equipment – can make all the difference.
To find out what deserves a place beside the grill, we asked some of the world's best open-fire chefs – who cook over flames every day – for the BBQ tools, ingredients, and techniques they swear by.
From essential kit to simple tips that elevate home grilling, here's how the experts cook over fire at home.
The chef-recommended equipment for at-home grilling
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Meat thermometer
Ask enough chefs what piece of equipment they couldn't live without, and one answer comes up repeatedly: a digital meat thermometer. It takes the guesswork out of cooking and helps avoid over- or undercooked meat.
"A good thermometer is very much needed," says Petros Dimas, chef patron of Michelin-starred Athens grilling restaurant Markis. "Precision is important."
Kostas Papathanasiou, culinary director of Michelin-starred Lita in London, calls an instant-read thermometer "probably the most valuable tool you can own," while Ramiro Lafuente Martinez, executive chef at London's The Connaught Grill and Chef Yiannis Mexis from Pyro both describe a digital meat thermometer as essential for cooking meat properly.
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Weber kettle grill
For anyone just starting out, the classic Weber kettle remains the chef's favorite entry point, as it gives home cooks a chance to master live-fire cooking before investing in more specialist equipment.
"I don't use these myself but just buy a simple Weber," says chef Andrew Clarke of East London's Acme Fire Cult. "There is a reason they are so popular – they are affordable and good for practising on,” he advises. “Then, once you master cooking on that, you can upgrade."
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Big Green Egg
The Big Green Egg is one of the most versatile cookers on the market: part barbecue, part smoker, and part outdoor oven. It can handle everything from quick weeknight grilling to low-and-slow smoking, making it a worthwhile investment for anyone planning to cook outdoors regularly.
"I think Weber and Big Green Egg are both excellent options," says Chef Dimas. "They are versatile, reliable, and suitable for a wide range of cooking styles, from direct grilling to low-and-slow cooking." Dave Pynt, chef-owner of the Burnt Ends Hospitality Group, which oversees Singapore wood-fired restaurants Burnt Ends and Meatsmith, is also a fan, adding: "I love anything you can cook over wood with, like the Big Green Egg.”
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Konro grill
A Konro grill is designed for high-heat cooking over charcoal, and is compact enough for smaller gardens and patios.
"I'd highly recommend investing in a Konro grill," says Ollie Templeton, co-founder and chef patron of London restaurants Carousel and Cometa. "It's compact, highly efficient, and delivers excellent results for home grilling."
The smaller grill is ideal for cooking skewers, vegetables, seafood, and smaller cuts of meat.
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Offset smoker
Dave Pynt includes the Moberg 500-gallon Texas offset smoker among his favorite pieces of live-fire equipment.
For cooks who enjoy low-and-slow barbecue, an offset smoker offers temperature control and deep wood-fired flavor. While it's a more specialist piece of equipment, it's hard to beat for brisket, ribs, and larger cuts.
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Indian fire bowl
"One of my favorite bits of kit is the Indian Fire Bowl," says Chef Clarke.
An Indian fire bowl consists of little more than a steel bowl, charcoal, logs and a heavy grill grate, and is one of the simplest ways to cook over live fire. Its open design makes it ideal for experimenting with different cooking styles.
"There is a simplicity to it... that would be my top tip for anyone wanting to experiment with outdoor cooking at home," Clarke says. He particularly enjoys using it for butterflied fish, large chops, steaks, and Middle Eastern-style skewers.
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Long chef's tweezers
While tongs are a barbecue staple, Chef Dimas prefers a pair of long chef's tweezers, as they offer more control than standard tongs, particularly when working over the fire. "They're particularly useful for turning smaller or more delicate ingredients over live fire without losing control," he adds.
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Cast iron custom grill
If he were designing his dream outdoor kitchen, Chef Dimas would build it around a custom-made cast-iron, wood-fired grill. "I would build a complete outdoor kitchen centred around a custom-made cast-iron wood-fired stove,” he says, adding, “Cast iron retains and distributes heat exceptionally well, making it one of the most versatile cooking surfaces available."
For inspiration, he recommends brands such as Ofyr and Grillworks.
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WildKitchen outdoor kitchen
For those with the space, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen opens up far more than just grilling. Templeton recommends the WildKitchen by Cashmere Caveman, which is used for Carousel x Ashcombe Estate events.
"It's an all-in-one outdoor cooking and dining system... ideal for al fresco entertaining," says Templeton.
Peter has a similar vision for the ideal outdoor setup, a WildKitchen that features a “fridge, a pizza oven, a big centre counter and a retractable pergola roof.”
