Tips for a great BBQ

So, you've got the grill, got your tools and a mound of meat ready to cook - how can you make sure you'll produce excellent results that everyone will love?

As with all things in life, planning is the key. You need to plan your bbq before you start cooking. There's nothing worse than sitting in front of a lukewarm grill, staring at some still frozen burgers because you left them too late.

Aim for an hour and a half burn - this should give you enough time to cook everything you could ever want on a grill. To achieve this time, without the need to add extra charcoal, you'll need to start off with around 2 to 2.5kgs of charcoal (4-5lbs). Stack the charcoal up on one side of the grill about half an hour before you plan to start cooking, and add a couple of lighting blocks, or soak in lighter fuel - whatever you prefer (be careful of the flame up when it starts).

Once the coals have burnt to an ash white - never cook when the coals are still black - spread them out over the grate as required, depending on the chosen method of cooking.

Most grills will achieve a temperature of around 350 degrees (F), which is adequate to cook all your food. Open the vents as necessary (if you have them) in order to help regulate the heat.

Once you have the grill set up, you're ready to start cooking the food you have already prepared.