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Dual Fuel BBQs: Your essential buying guide
A Dual Fuel BBQ is designed to cook using both gas and charcoal, either in separate cooking areas or through a setup that allows you to change fuel type. This gives you the convenience of gas ignition and temperature adjustment alongside the option of charcoal cooking when you want a more traditional barbecue experience.
It depends on how you cook. A Dual Fuel BBQ can be a good fit if you regularly want both speed and smoky, high-heat charcoal cooking. If you only ever use one fuel type, a dedicated Gas BBQ or Charcoal BBQ may be simpler, but dual fuel models are useful when flexibility matters.
Look at the size of the cooking area, how the gas and charcoal sections are arranged, the number of burners, lid design, warming racks, storage space and how easy the ash and grease management systems are to clean. Also check whether the controls and layout suit the way you normally cook.
Many Dual Fuel BBQs are larger than single-fuel models because they need room for both fuel systems. Before comparing options, measure your patio or garden cooking area and leave enough clearance around the barbecue for safe use and comfortable movement.
They can be, especially for shoppers who like the idea of using gas for easier everyday cooking and learning charcoal cooking over time. Beginners should prioritise clear controls, a practical cooking area and straightforward cleaning features.
Dual Fuel BBQs are all about choice. The best option for you will depend on how often you cook outdoors, the types of food you prepare and whether you value fast start-up, charcoal flavour or the ability to use both in the same session.
Think about whether you will use gas for quick meals and charcoal for slower weekend cooking, or whether you want to cook different foods over different heat sources at the same time.
Some shoppers prefer a dual fuel layout because it avoids choosing between gas and charcoal. Others may find that one fuel type suits most of their cooking, so it is worth being honest about how often you will use both.
Check the total grill area, but also look at how that space is divided. Separate gas and charcoal sections can be useful, but each side may be smaller than a full single-fuel barbecue.
If you regularly cook for several people, compare the width of the grill, warming rack space and whether the lid gives enough room for larger items. For smaller gardens, a more compact model may be easier to store and position.
Gas burners give quick adjustment, while charcoal heat is managed through fuel quantity, airflow and grill positioning. A good Dual Fuel BBQ should make both methods practical rather than awkward.
Useful details to compare include burner controls, air vents, thermometer placement and whether the charcoal area allows you to manage heat zones for direct and indirect cooking.
Using two fuel types can mean more parts to clean, so check how grease, ash and cooking residue are handled. Removable ash trays, accessible grease cups and easy-to-lift grates can make regular cleaning less of a chore.
Also compare construction materials and finishes. Outdoor cooking equipment is exposed to heat, grease and weather, so practical maintenance matters as much as cooking performance.
If you are still deciding between barbecue styles, browsing the wider Outdoor Cooking category can help you compare Dual Fuel BBQs with gas, charcoal, electric, smoker, pizza oven and griddle options.
This can be useful if you want to check whether a dual fuel model is the most practical choice, or whether a more specialised outdoor cooker would better match the way you prepare food.
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