Brits love to get outside when the sun comes out and a BBQ is a great way to enjoy casual dining and great weather with friends and family. To make the most of the alfresco dining weather it's worth investing in a few key pieces of kitchen equipment that are designed specifically for outdoor cooking. We’re sharing our top tips on the best kitchen and dining pieces to help you host the ultimate summer BBQ this year. With all the right kit in place you can focus on the most important thing – serving delicious smokey food for everyone to enjoy.
 
PIctured above: Red cast iron griddle £39, ProCook Granite griddle £37

Cast Iron Griddle

This unsung hero is a firm favourite at ProCook, known for it's versatility, ease of cleaning and compatibility with all hobs including induction, hot plate and of course, BBQ.
 

Even heat distribution - A cast iron iron griddle can help you maintain a steady heat that is distributed evenly across the pan which allows to you rest easy knowing that all your food is getting cooked at the same rate. We find this is particularly helpful when cooking raw meat - just remember to preheat your griddle for 10 minutes before cooking. 

Great for delicate food – Foods like fish and vegetables often fall between the cooking grates when cooked directly on a BBQs top so by moving them to a griddle you will be able to turn these delicate items with ease.

Keeps cooked foods warm – After cooking move your griddle to the very edge of your BBQ as far from your heat source as possible and it becomes an excellent way to keep your food warm, thanks to cast iron’s incredible capacity to retain heat.

PIctured above: BBQ Utensil set £10, Grilling Spatula £10

Utensils

Choose and use the right BBQ tools to ensure optimum safety and heat resistance.
Hygiene is paramount – Whenever you are cooking or preparing food hygiene is of the upmost importance. Just make sure you keep utensils and chopping boards separate for raw and cooked foods and keep a couple of grilling spatulas on hand at all times.

Keep a tight grip – The correct tools will help you manoeuvre hard-to-hold ingredients easily around your BBQ to minimise the risk of burning, slipping or sticking and ensure everything is cooked through. 

Reduce risk of injury – BBQs can get very hot so resist the temptation to move things around with your hands and instead use tools with long handles like our BBQ utensils to keep hands a safe distance away from the heat.

PIctured above: Leather apron £49, Corn-on-the-cob holders £5, Meat thermometer £5

Accessories and Gadgets

Here are a few handy kitchen gadgets that are perfect for outdoor cooking that will make cooking and serving BBQ food a whole lot easier.

Cook meat to perfection – Using a good meat thermometer takes the guesswork out of cooking your meat properly.

Keep messy hands at bay – Not everyone likes to get messy hands so keep it clean and simple with skewers and corn-on-the-cob holders.

Wear the uniform – An apron is a must for the King or Queen of the BBQ. Made of high quality buffalo leather with strong rivetted straps ProCook's leather apron is a steal at £49, leaving no doubt who is BBQ boss.

PIctured above: Provence cutlery set £29, Dartmouth 12-piece dining set £29, Crystal prosecco glasses £19

Tableware and Serveware

All that effort with cooking deserves a fanfare so choose great table and serveware for maximum impact. 

Choose great tableware – For a relaxed holiday feel bring  a flavour of the coast to your outdoor dining with our Dartmouth coastal range, starting at £29 for a 12-piece set.

Don't scrimp on presentation – Once you've finished cooking on the BBQ pile sausages and skewers into our stoneware oven to table dishes for great presentation. These dishes are equally suitable for salads and more.

Pay attention to the finer details – Make sure you've got a selection of lovely glassware for cocktails and pimms and add another summery note with our Provence cutlery, round cotton placemats and napkins.

For more cooking inspiration and great kitchen and diningware go to procook.com.

Notes to editors:

This content is available for use with permission provided ProCook is credited and a site link is present. Please get in touch for more information.

ProCook was founded over 20 years ago and supplies high quality kitchen and dining ware with savings of up for 50% compared to other leading brands. With own brand stores across the UK, an eCommerce site and a strong international presence within 7 European markets, it is headquartered in Gloucestershire. The kitchenware retailer designs and manufactures around 1,200 exclusive products that span cookware, kitchen accessories and tableware categories.