Category: Kitchen

Barbecues are about making the most of good weather and having fun. You don’t need much to have a great barbecue, but if you’re aiming for perfection you will need our ultimate checklist of the top 10 essentials for the perfect BBQ party.

1. Find the Perfect BBQ
Invest in a BBQ that meets your needs! Consider ease of use, preferred flavours and how many people you will be cooking for, as this will determine the size you need and whether gas or charcoal is best. Gas BBQs tend to be easier to light, use and clean than charcoal, but charcoal BBQs cost less and also flavour food more with that unique, smoky BBQ taste. A charcoal BBQ can take up to 40 minutes to reach the optimum cooking temperature, while gas is practically instant. Size-wise, think about the cooking area, how much you will fit in there at once, and how many people you will be cooking for.

2. BBQ Fuel
Remember your barbecue fuel or you won’t get very far with your barbecue! For a gas BBQ, you will need a canister of patio gas, which is available in 5kg and 13kg bottles. For a charcoal BBQ, you will need charcoal and lighter fluid. Don’t forget matches or a lighter too.

Tip: add BBQ wood chips to charcoal to give food a unique and delicious flavour.

3. Chimney Starter
This essential is for those using a charcoal BBQ. A chimney starter will greatly speed up the time it takes for a charcoal BBQ to reach optimum cooking temperature. Follow our step-by-step guide to lighting a charcoal BBQ for further details.

4.BBQ Utensils & Accessories
If you’re going to do a job well you need the right tools. Long-handled utensils will keep your hands away from the hot grill and protect them from burns while allowing you to tend to your tasty delights. You will need a long-handled spatula, tongs and fork, to safely move food around the hot grill. You will also need knives, a marinade brush, a couple of chopping boards and an apron.

5. Meat Thermometer
When you cook meat on a BBQ it is critically important to make sure it is cooked all the way through. It’s easy to burn the outside and not cook the inside on a BBQ. A meat thermometer will help you know if the inside is cooked. The internal temperature of cooked chicken is 165°C, and pork and beef are 145°C. This will prevent any illness among your guests so they remember your party for the right reasons.

6. BBQ Grill Brush
Cleaning your BBQ grill with a suitable brush will prolong the life of the grill and improve the taste of your food the next time you cook. Scrub your grates while they’re still warm to remove any residue and burnt food. For a stainless steel or porcelain grill, use a brass bristled brush as it won’t scratch the surface. A tough wire brush is required for a cast iron grill to give it a good and vigorous clean. Check out our guide on how to clean a charcoal BBQ for more information.

7. Garden Furniture
Feeling relaxed and comfortable is key to enjoying a BBQ. You will need a sufficient amount of chairs and tables for you and your guests. Picnic rugs are a fun and easy way to make more room for children. Accessories like tablecloths, parasols, candles and vases of fresh flowers make all the difference. When setting up your BBQ, don’t forget the music. Find a safe and sturdy spot for your music player that’s out of the way but close enough to provide some subtle background music.

8. Outdoor Heater
Organising a BBQ in Ireland means contending with our notoriously unpredictable weather. A sudden cool breeze is all it takes to lower the mood at your BBQ party. Make sure guests stay comfortable with an outdoor heater such as a chiminea. It will also allow you to keep partying as night falls.

9. Outdoor Lighting
The fun doesn’t need to end when the sun goes down. With the vast array of outdoor lighting solutions available at Topline, you can easily shine some light on your party and make the most of the evening.

10. BBQ Ingredients
Your pre-barbecue grocery shop needs a bit of preparation. Write a shopping list of all the food, drink and condiments you need, as well as tin foil, paper towels/napkins and cleaning supplies. Do you have enough glasses and plates, or do you need paper plates and disposable cups? What are you going to cook? Outline a rough menu including mains, drinks and desserts. Here are some ideas that work well for a BBQ party: burgers, sausages, chicken skewers, prawns, sweetcorn, peppers, ribs, kebabs and salad; drinks: homemade punch, lemonade, iced tea, wine and beer; and desserts: pavlova, fruit salad and ice cream.

There’s one more thing you’re going to need – company! Barbecues are the ideal excuse to get friends, family and neighbours around for a catch-up. Nothing helps a party atmosphere like the right people, and what better way to show off your cooking skills en masse!

Apartments and old houses often come with small kitchens, but just because they might be tight on space doesn’t mean they can’t be fully enjoyed. Our top 10 clever tips will help you overcome any obstacles its size may present.

Shopping List
Small kitchen appliances | Strip lighting | Mounting brackets | Shelves | Rails | Hooks | Racks | Slim line cabinet hardware

1. Compact Appliances
Where possible, choose small, compact kitchen appliances to optimise your space.

2. Cabinet Lighting
Adding spotlights or rope lights under and/or over cabinets will create the illusion of more space.

3. Clever Fittings
Mount your microwave hanging from the cabinet above it to free up some countertop space. Any other possible integration of appliances into your cabinetry will be valuable in your small kitchen.

4. Islands or Bars
If room allows, a small kitchen island will make a versatile and useful addition to the floor space. Alternatively, adding a stool to the end of the countertop creates a handy bar-like space.

5. Keep it Light
Painting small rooms in dark colours will make them feel smaller and more cramped. Choose lighter colours for the décor to enhance the feeling of space. Using the same colour on cabinets and walls will also eliminate any visual boundaries, giving the impression of a larger room. Keep any window dressings and lampshades light to enable as much light to enter the room as possible. If choosing any furniture for the room, avoid any chunky, bulky pieces and go for lighter here as well.

6. Unclutter
Only keep items in your small kitchen if they are absolutely necessary on a daily or weekly basis. Seek storage space for the rest of the items in other rooms. You will need as much space as possible to cook comfortably in your kitchen.

Of the items that remain in your kitchen, try to find hidden storage for as many as possible. An uncluttered room with just a select few standout items will seem bigger and more stylish.

7. Clean as You Go
If you clean as you go while cooking, you will benefit from more space and less chaos. As soon as you have used an ingredient put it back in the cupboard or fridge, and when you are finished with a pan or chopping board, stick it in the dishwasher. This will just allow you more room and make your kitchen feel more comfortable to work in.

8. Create an Alcove
Any spare wall space presents an opportunity to create some flush storage space. It is relatively easy to carve out a shallow alcove between wall studs, which makes an ideal bookcase or cookware display.

9. Shelves, Rails, Hooks & Racks
Adding some shelves high up on a free wall, above door frames or in alcoves can look stylish when used to display the right items. Give less attractive items the cabinet space. A single glass shelf across a window can look great with house plants on it, freeing up further countertop space. Adding hooks and rails to the insides of cabinet doors make ideal spots for hanging saucepan lids, utensils, tea-towels, etc. Hooks and racks that match your décor can also look great on kitchen walls for displaying utensils or spices.

10. Swap Cabinet Handles
Swap cabinet and drawer hardware for much sleeker versions that don’t protrude as much. This will stop you bumping into them or catching on them as you work in your kitchen. It also reduces the visual clutter in the room.