From grilling baskets to chilli jam: the barbecue tips and tricks you swear by

Lighter, drawn-out days and warmer nights mean it’s time to fire up the barbecue. For those wanting an upgrade, Alex David places the Weber kettle at the top for making “incredible food without any faff”, while Argos’s drum-shaped grill wins as a budget favourite.

Reader Martin Smith recommends a chimney starter to reach temperature quickly and says restaurant-quality coal, though pricier, burns at a consistent heat. Pizza ovens are useful beyond pizza: they can char vegetables and cook fish for an entire alfresco meal. The Filter’s pick from Rachel Ogden’s review is the Gozney Arc Lite, which stood out among the best pizza ovens tested.

On gadgets, Ben Smith favours a grilling basket for easy flipping and protecting delicate foods, and suggests making your own burgers with patty moulds and finishing them under a grill dome for perfectly melted cheese. Monica Horridge prefers barbecue gloves over ordinary oven gloves for hands-on work, while Ben Snodin advises using a Thermapen to ensure food is safely cooked.

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