This season’s 10 hottest BBQ tools and tips

At last, summer is here! This means it’s finally time to fire up the grill and get some delicious food on the barbeque. As well as gathering your friends and family, you’ll also need to get together all the right tools for the job. Having the right barbeque accessories can be the difference between a successful outdoor feast and an alfresco flop!

From tongs to aprons, these are the top 10 must-have BBQ items to get your summer off to a sizzling start. Armed with some of the season’s hottest recipes and cooking tips, you’ll have everything to need to get your BBQ underway.

Cooking outdoors

Whether you’re cooking with an outdoor BBQ grill or Ooni pizza oven, food just tastes better outside. The best thing about both these gadgets is that their lightweight and super portable. It doesn’t matter if you’re chilling in the garden or off for a day on the beach, you can take everything you need with you.

We recommend checking out the Cobb Premier Portable Charcoal Barbeque for roasting, baking, grilling and smoking anywhere you choose. It’s easy to use, transport and store, and there are lots of accessories available to help you get more out of it.

Or if you’re a pizza lover, the Ooni Karu 12 is portable enough to pack up and take on the road. Once it’s hot, homemade crispy pizza is just 60 seconds away!

Your BBQ tools checklist

Tools for getting your barbeque started

Smoke-Free Fuel

6 Cobb Smoke-Free Barbecue Cobble Fuel Stones – £17.99

If your eyes light up when the grill comes out, but quickly turn red when the BBQ smoke starts billowing, then we’ve got a game changing product for you. Cobb Smoke-Free Barbecue Cobble Fuel Stones are an incredible smoke-free alternative to traditional charcoal. These quick-lighting stones are long burning and can be used on any small barbeque.

They’re made from a combination of coconut shell, charcoal and corn starch, making use of waste products that would otherwise be thrown out.

BBQ Lighter
Looftlighter Hot Air Barbecue Lighter – £74.99

This year, save yourself the hassle of fiddling about with damp matches or lighter fluid refills. Upgrade your barbecue game and equip yourself with the Looftlighter Hot Air Barbecue Lighter. This powerful tool sends out a stream of 600°C air, lighting charcoal or wood in minutes.

Because it’s reusable and not reliant on refills, it’s also eco-friendly. The Looftlighter is a win-win for your hungry guests and the environment! Beyond barbecues, the Looftlighter is also a great tool for lighting open wood burners and fire pits. Savour every moment of the hot summer days and long cooler evenings with this seasonal essential.

Heat-Proof Gloves

Lakeland Heat Shield Gloves – £16.99

When you’re dealing with hot coals and sizzling food, it’s no time for taking chances. Don’t start the barbeque season without a good pair of heat-resistant gloves.

The Lakeland Heat Shield Gloves can withstand up to a blazing 350°C. Fierce as these gloves are, they’re actually soft to the touch. Made from flexible Meta-Aramid, the Lakeland Heat Shield Gloves are made from the same materials used to protect firefighters. With silicone pads on both the fingers and palms, you’ll have all the grip you need to handle hot grills and barbeque tools safely.

Best accessories for preparing your food

Burger Press

Quarter Pounder Burger Press with 100 Waxed Discs – £9.99

The oy of a juicy burger can be hampered by odd-shaped patties or a poor bun-to-burger ratio. Make sure you’re serving up neat and consistent meals with the Quarter Pounder Burger Press.

This BBQ gadget will change your grill game. Create perfect 10cm burgers that hold their shape and cook beautifully. Whether you’re making meat, fish or veggie burgers, stop everything falling apart with this impressive tool.

Sausage Maker
Lakeland Meat Mincer and Sausage Maker – £26.99

There’s only one way to ensure that your bangers are the real deal, and that’s to make them yourself. Choose the best ingredients and present your guests with high quality, homemade sausages that’ll blow them away.

It’s much less fuss than you’d think. The Lakeland Meat Mincer and Sausage Maker is easy to use and easy to clean. It clamps securely onto work surfaces via a suction cup, ready for you to mince together your chosen meats and spices. Add this to your BBQ shopping list and you’ll never look back.

Meat Tenderizer
Lakeland Meat Tenderizer – £6.99

Whether you’re after tender steaks or just a bit of seasonal stress relief, the Lakeland Meat Tenderizer can give you what you need.

Made from solid beechwood with aluminium ends, it won’t take long for your meat cuts to reach the right texture for a melt-in-the-mouth meal. It’s traditional, uncomplicated and completely essential.

Best BBQ and grilling utensils

Cooking Tongs

OXO Good Grips Barbecue Tools – Grilling Turner and Tong Set – £27.99

When it comes to tongs, we say ‘go long’. With long-handled barbecue tools, you can flip burgers and turn ears of corn with ease – and without fear of getting burned fingers.

This OXO Grilling Set is just the thing. These tongs have scalloped edges, which give you a better grip on smaller and more delicate food items, like haloumi and roast peppers. Who says barbecues aren’t veggie friendly?!

The grilling turner is also generously sized, ready to take on any patty. Each tool has a large hanging ring for easy storage and, best of all, they’re dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.

Utensil Set

Cobb 4-Piece Utensil Set with Storage Roll – £59.99

If you’re not armed with a sturdy set of grilling utensils, how can you expect to be taken seriously behind the barbeque? Don’t risk your reputation – or your burgers, make sure you’ve got the Cobb 4-Piece Utensil Set on your BBQ checklist.

This set comes with tongs, a fork, a spatula and a basting brush, all made from sturdy stainless steel. Packaged up in a strong canvas roll, it’s easy to take these tools on the move. So, whether you’re barbequing on the beach or grilling in a friend’s garden, you’ve got what’s needed to serve sizzling sausages.

Best tools for presentation

Corn skewers
8 Corn on the Cob Skewers – £2.99

Don’t make your guests fumble around with hot buttery cobs – use these stainless-steel skewers to make life (and lunch) easier. With soft grip handles, these BBQ accessories give everyone an easy, tidy way to pick up and eat freshly grilled corn cobs. Simply insert each of these Corn on the Cob Skewers into the corn ends after cooking and enjoy!

Plates and platters
The Lakeland Summer Meadow Collection

When it comes to plating up, make sure that you’re doing yourself justice by using appetising tableware. Your summer spread will look irresistible on our Summer Meadow plates and table runners, or paired with our summer bunting.

Designed exclusively for Lakeland, our floral pattern plates, bowls and napkins will bring your barbeque into full bloom.

Our top grilling tips

Make sure to use the right kind of fuel when lighting up your grill. Chemical-laced firelighters and lighters may spoil the taste of your food, so go for sustainable wood or charcoal instead.
To avoid the dreaded undercooked chicken breast, always use a meat thermometer to ensure that your meat is cooked all the way through.
Before cooking, lightly oil the grill rack with a grill brush or silicone brush to prevent food from sticking.
Regularly cleaning your barbecue is important to prevent fat flare-ups. The Oven Mate BBQ Clean & Protect Kit is a great choice for keeping your grill clean and well-maintained.
If you’re looking to keep your food warm without overcooking it, create a ‘warming’ area by moving the coals to one side of the grill. That way, you can ensure that your food stays warm and delicious.

So, now that you’ve armed yourself with all the essential BBQ tools and tips, you’re ready to cook! Enjoy every sizzling second of your outdoor cooking and dining this summer.