Tom Kerridge just sold me on this cosy outdoor cooking method this winter – it's convinced me to get my BBQ out of storage

Plus, the inexpensive kit he says is a must

Outdoor kitchen with green bbq and tiled wall
(Image credit: Future PLC/Joanna Henderson)

If you packed your barbecue away the moment the clocks went back, Tom Kerridge is here to say you’re missing out, as it's the ultimate cosy season cooking tool. The celebrity chef is a devoted year-round griller and, yes, he's even tackled a full roast turkey on the barbecue at Christmas.

'Barbecuing isn’t just for the summer months,' he says. 'I’m a huge fan of cooking outside all year round whenever it’s possible.'

tom kerridge x M&S collection

(Image credit: M&S)

'A really helpful way to approach cooking on a barbecue is to think of it like using the grill in your kitchen oven, but the heat is coming from the bottom rather than the top,' he explains in Tom Kerridge: The BBQ Book, was £25 now £10.99 on Amazon.

In fact, if you have an egg-style barbecue (like a Big Green Egg or any ceramic kamado model), Tom says you can treat it 'almost exactly like a domestic oven at home.'

These barbecues heat evenly, hold temperature beautifully, and respond quickly when you open or close the vents. That’s how he pulled off the outdoor Christmas turkey as it’s surprisingly hands-off once you hit the right heat.

Tom is adamant you don’t need a shed full of gadgets to nail a barbecue, 'You don't need loads of equipment to get some seriously tasty results,' he says.

But a couple of clever pieces do make it easier, especially when you don’t want to linger in the cold.

Tom's BBQ essentials

So grab your coat, spark up the coals and embrace your inner winter BBQ-er. Tom would absolutely approve.

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Thea Babington-Stitt
Assistant Editor

Thea Babington-Stitt is the Assistant Editor for Ideal Home. Thea has been working across some of the UK’s leading interiors titles for nearly 10 years. 

She started working on these magazines and websites after graduating from City University London with a Masters in Magazine Journalism. Before moving to Ideal Home, Thea was News and Features Editor at Homes & Gardens, LivingEtc and Country Homes & Interiors.

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