Hello me old China, ill try to answer your questions as fully as possible, but if you require further clarification let me know
I got the chimney starter included with an offer they were doing at the time, but if you have to buy one they aren’t expensive, around €15 for a good one. The benefits are it clusters the coals in a more compact space so they all light quickly and evenly.
My BBQ sits on the patio all year round with a cover over it (which answers question 5). From loading the charcoal into the chimney and putting a burger on to cook you’d be taking about 30 mins or so About 15/20 mins for the charcoal to heat, then another 10/15 mins letting the heat settle down after you’ve dumped the coals into it. So yes, much longer than a frying pan or a gas bbq, but not much longer than preheating an oven.
When dealing with the crowd I bbq’d loads of chicken breasts a few hours in advance and sliced them up. I also had a pork shoulder which I did in the slow cooker. Then I had burgers and sausages on the go while the guests were there. Had plenty for everyone. The gathering complied with all regulations that were in place at the time.
A rub of the brush after it has cooled down and a rub of the brush as it’s heating up is all the cleaning I give it (bar one good clean at the start of the year).
Lads, this would be a serious investment to go along with ye’re BBQs. I’ll be getting one this summer I hope. 30 pints per keg and keeps for a few weeks.
I have that dual sided grizzler plate Dan. I’ll let you know how I get on with it when I use it. Perfecting my dough first before I branch into other things.
I always have great sympathy for lads raised in sink estates who were fed on spice burgers and a single so i am happy to help.
This is known as a steak, its what beef looks like when it hasnt been swept from the factory floor shaped into burgers and shipped to city chippers to feed yourself and your family members that survived long enough to eat solid food
You’ll have far more cooking options open to you, especially when it comes to longer cooks, such as doing whole joints of meat or a whole chicken, as far I as know they aren’t really an option with gas.
