If You Are on the Dacha: Setting Up a Barbecue Area

If you are currently at the dacha or have a country house with your own territory, it's time to start landscaping the plot. With the help of an expert, we explain how to set up a barbecue area.

Ed Serебренников — an expert and co-owner of the online store and retail network Village Club, offering branded products for country life and outdoor recreation.

Where to start? First, you need to choose a location. It's best to set up the barbecue area under a roof so that rain or intense sunlight doesn't disrupt your plans. In addition, it can later become a great summer dining area where you can gather with family or friends for lunch or dinner.

What to consider:

• Place the barbecue area away from living quarters so that smoke doesn't enter the rooms;
• Do not place the grill under tree canopies — hot smoke will dry out leaves and create a fire hazard;
• To protect the grass from sparks or embers flying out, pave the area with stone, brick, or tiles;
  
• To easily access the barbecue area after heavy rain — lay paths to it;
  
• And if you can connect water and install a sink for washing dishes — this will significantly speed up and ease the cooking process.

How to choose a grill?

A grill can be a simple charcoal one, a practical gas model, ceramic, or wood-fired for those who prefer traditional cooking.

Charcoal — the cheapest option, usually chosen by those who transition from a classic grill. The difference between a traditional grill and a barbecue grill is the upper lid, which evenly distributes heat. The heat loss in a barbecue grill is much lower and the grill rack is more convenient.

Gas grills are chosen by those who love new things and don't believe in the myth that food tastes better on charcoal. This is the fastest grill — it heats up instantly, and you can start cooking in just five minutes. The taste of the dishes prepared is indistinguishable from those cooked on wood or charcoal. Thanks to special flavorizer plates, fat and juice evaporate and turn into aromatic smoke.

If you want a clear smoky flavor, look for a chip container — an accessory for wood chips. It's easy to use in a gas grill.

You will need:

Grill Suomi Grill 90

Grill cleaner for enamel

Grill Orion Plus

Grill Compact Kettle

Ceramic grills are chosen by professionals. These are very expensive grills made from heat-resistant ceramic and coated with lacquer. Such a grill keeps food incredibly juicy. If you want to cook on the top charcoal grill, choose one of the ceramic models.

You will need:

Grill Compact Kettle

Smoker-grill 'Fornax'

Gas grill Weber Q1200

Gas grill Weber Spirit II E-210 GBS

What you need with the grill?

— Tongs for the grill;

— Spatula for flipping burgers, fish, vegetables and other foods;

— Brush for cleaning the rack;

— Grill cover, if the grill will be stored outdoors.

Tips

Don’t clean the grill immediately after cooking. It’s easiest to do it by heating the grill to working temperature and brushing the surface with a metal brush.

You will need:

Brush for cleaning the grill 'Soyuzgriль'

Grill, barbecue and grill cleaner

Tool kit for grills 'Standard'

Glove for the grill 'Grillcoff'

Additional accessories for grills

— Roster: an accessory for baking whole chicken. If you place a can of beer under the chicken — it will be juicier.

— Pizza stone: with it, you can easily cook pizza like in a restaurant.

— Wok: for stir-frying vegetables and noodles at high temperatures.

— Chip container: useful for gas grills if you want a smoky flavor.

— Thermometer: you can check the internal temperature of the food and thus determine its degree of readiness.

What Not to Do

Do not use wood in charcoal and ceramic grills

The burning temperature of wood is much higher than that of charcoal and briquettes. Buy only high-quality recommended fuel for cooking, and your grill will last a long time.

Do not use paraffin-based lighters

They can get on your food. It's better to buy alcohol tablets or gas lighters.

When choosing a grill, do not buy the cheapest models

Think about how many people you usually cook for. When you start enjoying grilling, which happens very quickly, you will think about a larger size or additional features.

Pro Tips

• Before buying, watch reviews on YouTube to choose the best model and learn about all grill features.
• Use thermometers — the one on the lid will tell you when to start cooking (from +250 °C), and the electronic one will tell you when to take the dish off the fire.