Summer is here. The sun is shining, the shorts are out and friends and family are getting together to enjoy the garden BBQ.

But this time you’re in charge. And if you’ve reached this page, it could well be that you after a few BBQ tips to make sure everything goes to plan.

Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This summer, BBQ feasts right across the US will be plagued with cremated sausages, uncooked yet scorched chicken breasts, and the odd out-of-control fire or too.

The fact is, cooking over the BBQ grill takes a bit of skill. However, the good news is mastering those skills is far from rocket science.

Just follow our OC guide to the perfect BBQ and you will find yourself Lord of the Tong and Master of the Flame.  (And if you’re interested in trying your BBQ skills using a Rotisserie Grill, head here for our top 5 review round-up.)

The trouble is, if you get too good, your friends and family will be inviting themselves around every weekend to enjoy all that your backyard grill has to offer. You have been warned.

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1. Buy the right barbecue

This first step may seem so obvious, but it is amazing how many people neglect the most fundamental issue of all; owning the right barbecue.

When looking to buy your garden grill, there are two crucial things you need to consider if you want to create the best BBQ cuisine:

• First off, it has to be a charcoal one. While there is nothing wrong with a gas BBQ, (and yes they are more convenient) you cannot hope to achieve the same smoky flavors.
• Point number two – put a lid on it. A barbecue with a lid gives you the ability to lock in flavors while keeping the temperature constant. It also allows for extra techniques such as melting cheese on your burgers or smoking out the ribs. Delicious.

2. Have the best tools

It doesn’t stop at getting the right barbecue, you also need the right tools to go with it. A decent fish slice is a must if you don’t want to lose slabs of meat on the back of the grill. A thick oven glove is another must if you don’t want the smell of singed hair to put off your guests.

And of course, the main tool of any self-respecting BBQ master is the tongs. A good pair will provide the level of control and reliability that you need when conducting the perfect backyard BBQ.

3. It’s all about the fuel

Simply heading to the gas station to pick up a bag of charcoal doesn’t cut it if you want the right fuel for your grill.

The bottom line is, the type of charcoal you use can have a big impact on the way your food tastes.

We recommend lump wood charcoal above all is. It’s easy to detect this type, the coal inside the bag looks like lumps of burnt tree. This is purer, the natural charcoal will give your steaks the best flavor, with none of the chemical aftertaste that cheaper charcoal can cause.

Pro Tip: try adding wood chips as part of the fuel. Hickory and oak go well while cooking fish and pork. Cherry and applewood add sweetness to many BBQ slices of meat.

4. Timing is important too

Waiting for the right time to cook is a massive variable if you want a perfect BBQ.

You should wait for the flames to die down. The coals should be white-hot, (i.e grey and glowing.) This will provide the hottest most even heat to cook above.

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5. Too hot to trot?

This follows on nicely from the point above. The best way to test the heat is with your hand. Be careful of course, but if you follow these simple steps you will be able to gauge the appropriate heat of your grill, (beyond any thermostat your Webber may have built-in)

Hold your hand about 12cm/5inches above the grill. All you need to do is see how long you can hold it there comfortably.

• 6 seconds = low heat
• 4 seconds = medium heat
• 2 seconds = High heat
• 0 seconds = Your hand is probably on fire.

6. Fish is great on barbecues

A cardinal sin when it comes to barbequing is to forget the fish. Too many people do this which is quite simply a travesty.

Smoking and fish go together like ebony and ivory. If you really want to take your BBQ to the next level, buy a whole trout or side of salmon, throw some oak chips and wait for those aromas to capture the attention of your guests (and the envy of your uninvited neighbors.)

There’s no reason that a gourmet fish meal cannot grace your BBQ grill. Buy a whole fish from the market, slice it open, and stuff with lemon, dill, and pepper. The result will be glorious.

7. Marinating is key

Marinating is a very important aspect of the best barbeques. If you want to ensure that your ingredients are not overridden by the smoke, you should actually continue to add any marinade that you made as you cook.

Brush your meat or fish with that delectable sauce throughout its time on the grill. This will add moisture, trap the smoke flavor within the meat, and caramelize the outside so that everything glistens on the plate.

8. Don’t neglect the vegetables

Okay, so the average BBQ is an excuse to bring out the caveman in all of us – they are supposed to be carnivorous affairs. However, there is still room for grilled vegetables alongside meat-based mayhem.

Grilled vegetables complete with charring marks of the grill bars are an essential part of your BBQ.

Slice your veggies into thin strips and grill without oil or seasoning. Once they have softened up and are ready to eat, put them on the serving plate and sprinkle on a bit of quality olive oil or vinegar.

9. Burgerlicious

Along with steaks, burgers are an integral addition to any BBQ. However, enough of the prepacked sliced offerings from the supermarket. Get yourself to the butchers, buy some quality ground beef and make your own.

All you need is salt and pepper and that aforementioned meat, pack into burger shapes and place on that grill. The end result? Well, how does juicy, thick flavorsome burgers cooked to perfection sound? Because that’s you, and your delectable BBQ cuisine.

10. Don’t forget the side action

Finally, there’s the issue of the slides. And although they rest here at number 10 in our list, they should no way be seen as an afterthought.

Sides make up a huge proportion of what you eat with a perfect BBQ, (think at least half).

The classic potato salad has to make an appearance of course, but there’s also corn on the cobs, couscous, toasted buns and flatbreads, and of course a variety of vegetable salads.

Without these, your meal is just a meat sweat feast without the broad range of flavors required to be the perfect BBQ.

So there it is. Follow these 10 steps and you will be the BBQ king of the family, without a charcoal-black sausage in sight.