Outdoor cooking often starts simple. An evening with friends, a piece of meat over the fire and the discovery that cooking outdoors feels different from standing behind a kitchen stove. It's more relaxed, more direct and more social. That's exactly why more people are choosing to cook over a wood fire or on a plancha BBQ.
For beginners, the most important thing is to choose a style of outdoor cooking that remains easy to manage. You don't need complicated techniques or a complete outdoor kitchen from day one. Start with a setup that allows you to quickly develop a feel for heat, timing and cooking in the open air.
With the right basics, you'll be surprised by how quickly you discover the versatility of outdoor cooking. From grilling vegetables to slow cooking over a wood fire, without making the process technical or complicated.
Choose an accessible way to cook outdoors
Many beginners start with a compact wood-fired BBQ or plancha. A plancha BBQ is particularly accessible because it gives you direct control over the cooking surface. You can work with different temperature zones and prepare meat, fish and vegetables at the same time without needing complicated accessories.
A GrillRing BBQ is also popular with people who enjoy cooking together. The warm cooking surface naturally creates interaction, with everyone gathering closer to the fire and dishes being prepared gradually rather than everything needing to be ready at once.
A fire bowl BBQ works well for smaller groups or long evenings outdoors. The combination of warmth, open fire and cooking makes it an accessible option without immediately needing a complete outdoor kitchen.
Start with simple dishes
Beginners often make outdoor cooking more complicated than it needs to be. Large cuts of meat or elaborate dishes require more experience with temperature control. Simple ingredients help you build confidence more quickly.
Think of:
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Vegetables such as courgette, peppers or onions
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Burgers or sausages cooked over direct heat
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Chicken thigh fillets instead of large pieces of chicken
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Fish cooked on the plancha
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Potatoes wrapped in foil and cooked beside the fire
Outdoor cooking is largely about timing and developing a feel for heat. You'll learn both more quickly when you keep your dishes simple.
Learn to work with different heat zones
One of the biggest differences between indoor and outdoor cooking is heat distribution. With a wood fire, the temperature will never be exactly the same everywhere. That's not a disadvantage. Once you learn how to use it, it actually gives you more control.
On a plancha or GrillRing, the centre is usually hotter than the outer edge. This allows you to sear ingredients over intense heat first and then move them towards the outside to finish cooking more gently.
Beginners who understand this will gain control over their cooking much more quickly. You'll need to make fewer adjustments and reduce the risk of ingredients burning while the inside is still undercooked.
Good firewood makes outdoor cooking easier
Wet or soft wood often creates too much smoke and unstable heat. Dry hardwood burns more steadily and provides a more consistent temperature. You'll notice the difference immediately when cooking on a fire bowl or wood-fired BBQ.
For beginners, oak or beech are usually good choices because they burn evenly. Smaller logs are often easier to manage than large pieces of wood that take longer to catch fire and reach the right temperature.
Keep your outdoor cooking setup practical
A comfortable outdoor cooking area doesn't need to be large. A stable surface, enough workspace and somewhere to keep your firewood already make a big difference.
Keep your basic tools close by:
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A good pair of tongs
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Heat-resistant gloves
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A chopping board
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Oil or butter within easy reach
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A dish or tray for cooked ingredients
Many experienced outdoor cooks still keep their setups relatively minimal. Not because they have to, but because cooking around a fire is easier to manage when you only use what you really need.
Slower cooking often gives better results
Outdoor cooking has a different pace from cooking indoors. The fire partly determines the rhythm. Constantly trying to maintain maximum heat or rushing through the cooking process often gives you less control.
Beginners in particular will quickly notice that a more relaxed approach produces better results. First get the fire stable, then start cooking. Don't constantly turn ingredients. Give meat enough time before moving it across the cooking surface.
After a few evenings, you'll naturally start to develop a feel for timing, temperature and positioning on the BBQ. And for many people, that's exactly what makes outdoor cooking so enjoyable.
🔥 Explore our fire bowls, GrillRings and plancha BBQ accessories.
🔥 Looking for more tips on cooking over fire? Discover our other blogs.
