Outdoor cooking guides

Practical UK guides to BBQ planning, pizza dough, fire pits and outdoor kitchens.

By the Coalcrest team · Checked 2026-10-25

Start with the question in front of you, whether that's how much to buy or where to put a cooker.

Understand the FSA's cooking temperatures, why burgers differ from whole cuts and how to keep raw and cooked food apart.

Compare wood-burning, gas and reduced-smoke fire pits, then check placement, fuel storage and your neighbours before buying.

Use dough-ball weight to plan a batch, with a 250 g starting point for a 30 cm pizza and a clear way to scale your recipe.

Choose an explicit portion allowance, split it across the menu and avoid buying a full portion of every meat for every guest.

Compare ceramic kamados with your cooking habits, from indirect setups and usable grill space to storage and careful lid opening.

Understand baker's percentages, choose a manageable dough and scale the flour and water for your next pizza night.

Map preparation space, appliance clearances, routes and services before choosing cabinets or building a BBQ island.

Match a probe to the job, distinguish core and surface readings, and compare specifications without relying on app features.