Summer is peak barbecue season: friends, family, the grill fired up, and that mix of smoke, good food, and cold drinks that never fails. We won’t repeat the full manual of utensils and cooking techniques here—for that, you have our complete perfect barbecue guide. This guide is the seasonal version: how to plan it with the heat in mind, which menu and drinks fit best in summer, how to keep food outside the fridge, and how to organize the event so everything goes perfectly.
Barbecue in action
We took control of the grill and tested our barbecue gear: from the griddle to homemade burgers, with cold drinks and a good snack board. The result, in video.
See the Barbecue Collection →★ The star sets
Two packs to rock the grill
We have gathered the essentials in two exclusive sets: one to master the grill and another to perfect homemade burgers. For step-by-step instructions on how to use them, check the perfect barbecue guide.
Barbecue Set
Everything to master the grill: griddle, rotisserie, and utensils in one pack.
Burger Special
The ultimate set for homemade burgers with restaurant-quality results.
Featured collection
Barbecue
We have gathered everything you need for your barbecue in one collection: grill, burgers, cold drinks, and a table for snacking. All just one click away.
See the Barbecue Collection →📅 Plan your summer barbecue
With the heat in the mix, a summer barbecue is planned a bit differently than the rest of the year. Some key points:
- When: the hottest hours of the day (12:00-17:00) are the warmest. If you can choose, start in the mid-afternoon or save the grill for the last hour, when the sun is no longer intense.
- For how many: calculate servings per person and add a margin if there are children or if the after-meal lingers with good weather; in summer, people eat and drink more slowly and more often.
- Shade and space: reserve a shaded area for the table and a ventilated one for the grill, separated from the seating area so the smoke doesn’t bother anyone.
- Water and protection: have water available for guests in addition to alcoholic drinks, and don’t neglect shade for the cook as well.
For the grill team, utensils, and step-by-step cooking technique, the reference remains our perfect barbecue guide.
🍽️ Seasonal Menu
In summer, the menu lightens: grilled meats and fish, roasted vegetables, and homemade burgers always work as the star dish. With the Barbecue Set you have the griddle and utensils to cook everything, and with the Burger Special you master the restaurant-style smash burger at home; the step-by-step cooking with griddle and press is detailed in the perfect barbecue guide, so here we focus on what fits best on the summer table: dishes that prepare quickly, are eaten warm, and don’t require anyone to stay by the fire for long.
To complete the table, a good appetizer while the meat cooks always helps organize timing (see below under "Table and Appetizers").
🧊 Seasonal Drinks
With the heat and the grill on, a cold drink is half the barbecue. An ice bucket to keep several bottles handy, or a gel cover to always carry wine and beer fresh without relying on the fridge.
Ice Bucket Cooler
From 1 to 6 bottles to keep drinks cold and within reach throughout the barbecue. Available in transparent or black.
Cooling Cover with Gel
Store it in the freezer and it cools the bottle in minutes, no ice or drips needed. Perfect for outdoor use.
Cover with Thermometer
Cools and shows you the exact temperature of the wine. To serve each bottle at the perfect temperature during the meal.
💡 Want to learn more? We have a complete guide dedicated solely to chilling drinks — ice buckets, champagne coolers, cooling covers, and ice cubes that don’t water down — at How to chill drinks like a pro, and if wine is the star of your summer table, at How to enjoy wine in summer you’ll find everything about chilling, opening, decanting, and storing it in the heat.
🧺 Outdoor storage in heat
Heat is the main enemy of food at an outdoor barbecue. Basic food safety guidelines make all the difference:
- Shade for all perishables: meats, cold cuts, sauces, and dairy should not be left in direct sun or near the heat of the grill; reserve the coolest part of the table for them.
- Cooler or ice bucket: for anything not going to be cooked or consumed immediately, it’s best to keep it cold until the last moment; our cooling covers and ice buckets (above) also help keep sauces or side dishes fresh if you store them alongside the drinks.
- Don’t leave food out too long: as a general rule, the less time prepared food spends at room temperature and in the sun, the better; serve it in batches instead of putting everything out at once.
- Clean surfaces: with the heat, washing hands and cleaning boards and utensils between uses is even more important than at any other time of year.
🗓️ Organize the event
A summer barbecue usually gathers more people and lasts longer than a regular meal. A bit of organization prevents stress:
- Schedules: announce a broad arrival time window and roughly define when cooking will start, so the grill doesn’t catch anyone off guard.
- Groups and shifts: if there are many of you, stagger the cooking (start with what takes the longest) and divide tasks: someone at the grill, someone with the drinks, someone with the snack table.
- Space: separate the cooking area, shaded dining area, and seating area; this way, the smoke and heat from the grill don’t invade where people sit.
- Cleanup: with the heat, don’t leave leftovers out after finishing; put them in the fridge as soon as possible.
🧀 Table and snacks
While the grill works its magic, the snacks keep guests happy and help organize meal timing. Cutting and serving boards, a slicer for cured meats, and plates for appetizers: the table is a feast for the eyes.
Bamboo Board with Knife
Cut and serve on the same piece. Durable bamboo and included knife: ready for meat or appetizers.
Slate Cheese Tray
Includes 3 utensils. Present cheeses and cured meats with an elegant touch that’s enviable.
Slicer for Cured Meats
Slice chorizo, salchichón, or fuet into perfect, effortless slices. A classic that wins on any table.
Snack Plate with Bamboo
Well-organized appetizers and sauces. Porcelain and bamboo for a neat snack presentation.
🍖 Your summer barbecue at a glance
Five fronts to make the barbecue high season a success:
| Front | Purpose | Key points |
|---|---|---|
| Planning | Avoid the hottest hours | Schedule, portions, shade, and water |
| Menu | Summer plates, griddle, and burgers | Barbecue Set, Burger Special |
| Drinks | Drinks always fresh | Ice bucket and cooling covers |
| Storage | Food safety with heat | Shade, cold, and short rounds |
| Table | Snacking and presentation | Boards, slicer, and snack plates |
💡 Looking for the complete step-by-step? For the full guide on utensils, griddles, and cooking techniques, check out our perfect barbecue guide, the go-to reference on our blog for cooking, chilling, and serving at any barbecue.
Light the grill. We’ll take care of the rest.
Plan, choose the seasonal menu, keep drinks cold and food safe from the heat: find all the equipment gathered in our Barbecue collection.
See the Barbecue Collection →
