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Last updated: 25 September 2024
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Our expert testers fire up electric, gas and charcoal barbecues to find the models that:

  • are best at cooking food evenly
  • are easiest to clean
  • have a flame diffuser to control flare-ups
  • are the most fuel-efficient.

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Our interactive comparison tool gives you good and bad points for each model, as well as the running cost of each barbecue over five years, and our Recommended list will show you at a glance which models come out on top.

Note: Our gallery photos are of the actual models we test, so they may show signs of mild use.

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Brand

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List of brands we tested in this review.

    Price

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    Recommended retail or typical price.

    enter value/s in increments of 1 between 110 and 2799

    Recommended products

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    Member only

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    Fuel type

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    Gas, charcoal or electric? Gas (natural gas or LPG) is the most common fuel in Australia, with its instant heat source and adjustable temperatures making barbecuing simple. There are also charcoal barbecues and pellet smokers, which use special hardwood pellets as fuel and infuse your food with a smoky flavour.

      Gas type

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      Whether the barbecue uses natural gas, LPG or propane.

        Category

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        Suitability based on size and features. Balcony/portable barbecues are small to medium size with 2-3 burners, travel barbecues have a collapsible trolley with wheels or are compact making them perfect to take away with you. Backyard barbecues are large with four or more burners, suitable if you entertain often.

          Cooking performance score

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          We test for evenness of temperature (cooking steak), evenness cooking with high fat (sausages), low temperature cooking (marinated chicken wings) and roasting a chicken. All scores are weighted equally.

          enter value/s in increments of i between 39 and 98

          Ease of use score

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          This score is made up of cooking (40%), mobility (20%), using the controls (20%) and cleaning (20%).

          enter value/s in increments of i between 42 and 78

          Included in this review

          Members-only access
          • Running costs over 5 years
          • Recommended
          • CHOICE Expert Rating
          • Cooking performance score
          • Ease of use score
          • Evenness score
          • Evenness with high fat cooking score
          • Evenness with pita bread score
          • Low temperature score
          • Roasting score
          • Cleaning score
          • Reliability score
          • Satisfaction score
          • External temperatures after 60min (controls / handle / hood / side tables)
          • Gas consumption (kg/hr)
          • Good points
          • Bad points
          • Tester's notes
          • Price
          • Fuel type
          • Gas type
          • Warming rack
          • Reversible cooking plate
          • Number of burners
          • Side burner
          • Back burner for rotisserie
          • Viewing window
          • Side tray / folding
          • Storage cupboard
          • Natural gas option
          • Hotplate
          • Chargrill
          • Hotplate / grill material
          • Flame diffuser material
          • Burner material
          • Ignition type
          • Dimensions (cm, H x W x D)
          • Weight (kg)
          • Total cooking area (m2)
          • Warranty

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