The fact is, I don’t actually like cooking all that much, so I prefer a low-fuss approach. If I can’t cook something on the stove or in the oven, I usually can’t be bothered. 

That was until a Gozney Tread pizza oven came into my life. Here’s why this addition to my family’s kitchen has won my heart.

You can make it as simple or as complicated as you like

If I’m preparing for a family pizza night (more on that later), I usually begin by making the dough and sauce the day before. Despite my general aversion to cooking, mixing up the ingredients for a perfect pizza base, shaping the dough balls, letting them rise, and having everything ready to go when it’s time to cook is a somehow enjoyable ritual. 

But for the days that I don’t want to think that far ahead? No worries, pizza dough is available from the supermarket, or you can easily use a shop-bought base.Ìý

The same applies to the sauce. Homemade is great (and you can do white sauce or red, depending on the toppings you have in mind), but buying one off the shelf is also an option. Too easy!

Pizza is a popular choice

Is it any wonder that pizza is one of the most popular takeaway and home delivery options around? Who doesn’t love the combination of carbs and fat (mmm, cheese) and the choose-your-own-adventure approach to toppings? Everything from potato and rosemary to pepperoni and ham has its place on the dough.Ìý

It can also accommodate most dietary restrictions. Vegetarian or vegan? No problem, there are lots of options for you, too. For the coeliac in the family, we’ve found that the gluten-free bases sold at the supermarket taste pretty good. 

Everyone gets involved

Sometimes, catering for a family can feel like a lonely pursuit. You’re in the kitchen while everyone else waits for you to deliver the meal. Not so with the pizza oven. Everyone wants to get involved! From stretching the dough to form a circle, to laying it on the paddle and arranging toppings to your liking, to sliding it into the oven and manipulating the peel to get the perfect cook on all sides – all of it makes cooking feel more like a fun group activity than a chore.Ìý

At a recent pizza night for my extended family, it seemed like the entire crowd of 15 people took a turn with the oven. It has quickly made our place the number one choice for family get-togethers, with everyone keen to have another go.

More reasons to love a pizza oven

Not convinced? Here are more reasons why the pizza oven has won a place in my heart. 

• When the weather is hot, I can cook outside and not make my kitchen even hotter.
• It’s fast! Once you get the pizza oven heated up (ours takes less than half an hour to come to temp), you can cook a pizza in under two minutes.
• It’s for more than just pizza. My husband decided that to really get the most out of a pizza oven, we needed a special cast-iron skillet so he could use the oven to cook steak. The high heat means the steak is rapidly seared while still staying juicy and tender.Ìý

Fancy a go yourself? If you think a pizza oven could become a valued member of your family, ÌÇÐÄVlog’s pizza oven review looks at 12 of the latest products on the market. We put each pizza oven through its paces, testing how well they cook thin and thick-crust pizzas, and how easy they are to use and clean.

The post Why I’m a pizza oven convert appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

But beware the hype. There’s a fair bit of set-up to get this type of robot up to speed, and we recommend you do your research before handing the lawn over to a bot. After all, these can be more expensive than even the most expensive conventional push lawnmower.

On this page:

• What are robot lawnmowers?
• Getting started
• How loud is a robot lawnmower?
• What to look for in a robot lawnmower?
• Are robot lawnmowers safe?
• How much do robot lawnmowers cost?
• Are robot lawnmowers more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers?

What are robot lawnmowers?

Much smaller than a conventional lawnmower, the robot mower is a mostly automated lawnmower that is battery-operated. There’s no catcher, as a robot mower cuts the lawn fine enough to leave the grass on the lawn. 

They’re expensive compared to most conventional lawnmowers – some can equal the cost of a ride-on mower. They’re suitable for lawns up to 5000 square metres (sqm), but all require a little bit of set-up to get to their reasonably autonomous state.

Getting started

Most robot mowers will come with the main cutting unit, a charging dock and a guard wire. The guard wire is used to set the perimeter of the area it will be mowing. In order to get your mower up and running, there are a few steps you’ll need to take.

How does the robot lawnmower know where to mow?

Many robot lawnmowers use a technology called geo-fencing to guide them where to go. You may have heard of this technology if you’ve used robot vacuums as well. In short, you download the manufacturer’s app to your smartphone, and set up a map of the area you want mowed. This is usually done fairly easily by dragging your finger across the screen to mark out the distances and any unusual lawn shapes (not everyone’s lawn is a perfect rectangle or square).

Install the guard wire

Some older robot lawnmowers will come with a guard wire, which is used to set the perimeter of the area it will be mowing. This allows your mower to detect the edges of your lawn. You’ll need to set up the guard wire using the supplied pegs, although some models let you hide the wire under the soil (some manufacturers can even do this for you). Either way, the wire is not too noticeable, so shouldn’t be an eyesore once it’s installed. 

The guard wire connects to the charging unit, so it can guide itself back to the charging unit. This means you’ll have to place the charging dock close to an electrical outlet.

Set up the app

Once the guard wire is installed, many robot lawnmowers can be set up through an app on your phone, or on the mower itself. You’ll need to create a schedule for the robot mower so it knows when to start cutting.

Prepare your yard

Remove any movable obstacles, such as toys dropped by children or pets. If you’re starting off with long, overgrown grass, you might need to use a regular lawnmower to get the grass down to a shorter length before you start on your robot lawnmower journey. Robot mowers only have so much oomph, so there are limits to the length of the grass they can cut.

Monitor the first mow

You’ll need to monitor the mower’s progress to make sure it isn’t getting stuck anywhere, and check that it reaches all parts of your lawn. From that point on, it should be fairly autonomous – at least until you need to replace the batteries or have the blades sharpened or replaced.

How loud is a robot lawnmower?

Unless you’re very close to the robot lawnmower, you’re unlikely to be annoyed by its noise. They tend to reach around 60dB, which is the equivalent of a conversation.

There are some that can reach 70dB (a loud conversation), which is reflected in the scores of our robot lawnmowers test, but this is when you’re very close to the mower. This volume is equivalent to a regular battery mower.

A standard petrol mower is much noisier and can reach up to 80dB, which is the point where hearing protection is recommended.

You’re unlikely to be so close to a robot lawnmower as it goes about its business, so it’ll come across as very quiet most of the time.

What to consider before buying a robot lawnmower

Smartphone app

In most cases, it will be easier to control the mower via an app (if it has one) than fiddling with onboard controls. But it really depends on how autonomous the robot mower is. 

Some apps will let you set up a map of your garden so the mower knows where to go rather than moving in a random fashion. Some can also let you see whether the robot mower is currently in action. 

In previous testing, we’ve found that some apps will only work with either Apple or Android phones, but not both. All the apps for the models in our current review work with both phone types, but if you’re looking at a model we haven’t reviewed, it’s worth checking the app compatibility before you buy.

Other apps might use Bluetooth rather than Wi-Fi to connect to the mower, which means you’ll need to be close to the robot mower to connect to it.

Lawn size

We’ve seen robot mowers suitable for lawns of up to 5000sqm and as small as 250sqm. The maximum stated capacity of a robot mower we’ve tested was 3000sqm.

If you select a robot lawnmower that’s designed for a smaller yard than what you have, you’re likely to run out of guard wire, or the mower is going to run out of puff and need to return to charge before finishing the job. Manufacturers recommend buying a model that’s suitable for a yard a little larger than your own.

Slopes and uneven lawns

If your lawn is on a slope, it’s important to work out the angle and make sure the model you buy can cope with it – the maximum slope they can handle should be stated in the specifications. 

An uneven lawn means dips, and not all mowers handle these equally (we test this as part of performance). If the dip is significant, you might consider filling it in or putting a barrier around it and buying a model with obstacle sensors so it can avoid it. Also, the flatter your lawn, the more likely the mower is to be able to make a full round on one battery.

Sensors

Obstacle sensors

Most robot mowers have sensors for anything they encounter (all models in our review have built-in obstacle sensors). If you have trees, bushes or other obstacles that can’t be removed before the lawnmower starts, it will avoid these elements, just as a robot vac would in the house.

Rain sensors

A rain sensor can be an optional extra or may come with the product by default. Depending
on the brand and model, it might make the robot lawnmower skip a scheduled mow, or it might alert you and ask if you wish to continue.

Multi-zone

Want your robot lawnmower to mow both the front and back lawns? You might need a multi-zone mower, so you can program both lawn sizes and designs. You’ll have to carry or wheel the robot lawnmower between the two spaces, as they aren’t smart enough to move themselves there – yet.

Battery life

The most expensive element of any mower will be the battery, and the size you require will depend on the size of the lawn you want it to cover.

All the models we’ve tested use lithium-ion batteries. Check with the manufacturer before buying to see how long they’ll stock the batteries for and the cost to replace (replacements can be expensive). 

Like with all lithium-ion batteries, you’ll start to see slow degradation over time – the robot mower will start returning to its base unit more frequently for recharging. You can expect batteries for robot mowers to last at least two to five years, depending on environmental conditions such as heat and cold during use and storage, how often the mower is run and what time of day it generally cuts the grass.

Are robot lawnmowers safe?

Each manufacturer will instruct you not to leave pets or children near the robot lawnmower, whether in use or not. There are plenty of built-in safety features for robot lawnmowers, but follow the guidelines regardless.

Even though we haven’t seen a documented case of a pet’s tail getting cut or robot lawnmowers climbing up a shoe, there’s no reason to tempt fate.

How much do robot lawnmowers cost?

Robot mowers are generally more expensive than the average battery or petrol mower, but this is dependent on their feature set and battery size. You can expect to pay around $1000 and up, stretching into tens of thousands of dollars. 

The most expensive robot mower we tested covers up to 2000sqm and costs $3999, whereas the cheapest is $999 and only covers 700sqm. This is enough to cover a small house block.

Are robot lawnmowers more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers?

Robot mowers are more sustainable than petrol models, but only when it comes to direct emissions from the machine. You also need to consider the electricity use for recharging its batteries – if that’s coming from coal, it will offset some of those emissions you’re saving. Then include the rare metal extraction included in the lithium-ion battery and the fact that you’ll have to replace it at some point in the next several years, and you might narrow the margin on overall emissions.

We haven’t done the full Life Cycle Assessment to tell whether robot lawnmowers are more sustainable than petrol lawnmowers, but battery lawnmowers are getting much more popular, so we expect these to pick up the pace of ownership for smaller yards over time.

The post How to buy a great robot lawnmower appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Tasks you can’t see – like wiping the tops of cupboards and exterminating dust bunnies behind the fridge – are all effort and little to no reward.

But cleaning jobs you can see? So satisfying. 

Pressure cleaning would have to be up there as one of the best visible chores: you can see exactly where you’ve been and your cleaning efforts are satisfyingly contrasted against the grime you’re fighting.

To spread the joy of pressure washing, we’ve compiled a list of 11 ways you can use your pressure cleaner around the house.

1. Concrete and paved areas

This isn’t news to anyone – it’s the most common way to use a pressure washer. 

But if you haven’t experienced the sheer pleasure of pressure cleaning your driveway or patio, you really should!

The rotary nozzle (aka turbo nozzle) is your best bet for footpaths and driveways. It makes a circle of pressurised water – which does mean it can leave circular water marks on the area. 

It might take a couple of passes to remove these circular marks, but it’s worth the effort as it’ll leave your concrete sparkling. 

Try your pressure washer on outdoor concrete or paved steps while you’re at it to refresh your whole outdoor space. 

2. Windows

On the outside of your house only, obviously. Don’t try this inside, kids!

Some glass can be pretty fragile, so start with a lower pressure to begin with and see how it goes. 

Try the fan nozzle, which you should be able to tweak so it hits the sweet spot between being gentle enough not to break the glass, but strong enough to get rid of the grime. 

Depending on how your windows dry, you might end up with water spots, so you could find that you need to re-do them with window spray and good old-fashioned elbow grease. But if you’ve pressure-washed them first, it’ll remove all the spider webs, dirt and grime so you won’t have to scrub as hard. 

And if you’re wondering if a robot can really make short work of dirty windows – we reviewed the Ecovacs Winbot W1 Pro and more recently the Hobot-R3 robot window cleaner to find out.

3. House exterior

While you’re pressure washing your windows, you might feel inspired to clean the rest of your house’s exterior.

A pressure cleaner is just the tool for the job: it’ll take care of dust, cobwebs, mould, algae and mildew. (Don’t forget the garage door while you’re out there!)

Brick will generally stand up well to a high-pressure cleaning, but you’ll need to be a little more cautious with painted weatherboard. Start with a lower pressure, especially if you’re working with older paint. 

However, if you’re planning to repaint your house, a pressure washer can be a quick way to strip the paint – it’ll save you hours of scraping. Just make sure that you’re not dealing with lead paint as pressure washing it can release lead particles into the air.

4. Fencing

Cleaning your front fence is a quick and easy way to spruce up your house – if the fence is sparkling, it’ll lift the look of your place. 

Pressure cleaning works especially well for metal fences, such as the Colourbond brand, but can also work on timber fences as long as you don’t blast them too hard. Again, start with a lower pressure and increase it if the fence can withstand the pressure. 

If you’re planning to repaint your white picket fence, you can use your machine on a higher setting to blast away the surface paint, which will reduce the amount of sanding you have to do. Just make sure it’s not lead-based paint, as mentioned above.

5. Outdoor furniture, shade sails, umbrellas

Outdoor furniture is designed to withstand the elements, but even its tough exterior could use a little TLC from time to time. 

Pressure cleaning your outdoor setting will take care of algae, mould, dust, dirt and droppings, giving your entertaining space a makeover. 

The same goes for outdoor umbrellas and shade sails: you can spruce up the look of your outdoor space by giving them a good clean with a pressure washer. 

6. BBQs

You know how some people justify the crud on their BBQ grills as ‘extra flavour’? Yeah, that’s really just gunk. 

To get rid of it, you can use – you guessed it – your pressure washer.

Remove the burners and disconnect the gas first, and be careful of the inlets as you clean. Let everything dry out completely then re-season the hotplates before you use it again. 

7. Kids’ play equipment

Kids will inevitably lose interest in outdoor equipment, no matter how much you spend on it. You can renew their enthusiasm by giving it a refresh with your pressure washer. 

And if they’re still not interested, well, you’ve now got clean equipment that’ll be easier to sell.

You can also turn your pressure washer on trampolines, especially the vinyl sections that cover the springs. A clean trampoline is more likely to appeal to your kids than one that’s covered in cobwebs and algae. 

8. Garbage bins

Cleaning out your Sulo bin might seem a little OTT, but hear us out. 

If you misread the calendar and put the Christmas prawn heads out too early, you’ll be regretting it for months to come. And even if you’re fastidious with your garbage bin, it’ll still develop an unpleasant odour after several years’ service, especially now that many councils collect food waste as well.

Now, if you were to clean your bin by hand, you’d pretty much have to climb into it to reach the bottom. Even the most putrid of bin smells couldn’t induce most of us to do that. 

But using your pressure washer means you can stay well outside the bin, and you won’t have to scrub off any stuck-on gunk. Simple. 

Warning: you’re likely to still get splashback using this method, so don’t do this in your Sunday best, or near anything that you don’t want covered in bin juice.

9. Wooden decks

Timber decking has a tendency to grow moss and become discoloured from being out in the weather. 

Pressure washing it will bring it up beautifully so you can enjoy your deck again. 

Just be aware that if you use too much pressure, it can strip the paint or stain from the boards – which is good to know if you’re planning to re-stain it once you’ve cleaned it, but not good if you’re just wanting to tidy it up. 

10. Cars, motorbikes, mountain bikes, trailers

If it’s got mud on it, you can pressure wash it. (Well, within reason.) 

Instead of spending a fortune having someone else clean your vehicle, get your pressure washer on the job. 

For cars especially, though, don’t use a high-pressure setting on the body as it can damage it. But it’ll work wonders on muddy wheels and tyres. 

11. Plant pots

Are your plant pots looking a little tired? While some of us might like a bit of an algae patina on our terracotta pots, it’s not everyone’s cup (or rather pot) of tea. 

You can give pots a new lease of life by cleaning them with your pressure washer – and it’s cheaper than buying new ones. 

ÌÇÐÄVlog writer Margaret Rafferty swears by this: “I buy second hand pots cheaply and then tidy them up by giving them a good clean with a pressure washer. They come up beautifully!”

Just make sure you don’t hit the plant with the pressure washer spray – it’ll damage or kill even the most hardy plant. 

You can also use this method to freshen up secondhand garden tiles and pavers. It’s a great way to save money and it’s more sustainable too, since you’re buying something that might otherwise go to landfill.

The post Things you can clean with a pressure washer appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

They’ve cooked thousands of steaks, sausages and chicken wings over the years, which means they know how to get the best from a barbie (to see which models they recommend, visit our barbecue review).Ìý

We asked them for their top expert tips to becoming the ultimate chargrill chef, and this is what they said.

Before you get grilling

1. Choose the right fuel

The type of fuel and the type of barbecue you’re using makes a huge difference to what you’re cooking, says Fiona. 

Gas barbecues heat up fast and are generally easy to control and use. But if you want to get that smoky, charred flavour, you need to use charcoal or a pellet barbecue.Ìý

Getting a smoky flavour using gas

If you want the type of results you get from a charcoal or pellet barbecue, but you’ve only got a gas barbecue, you could DIY it.

“It’s pretty easy to create a homemade version of a smoker box,” says Fiona. 

“Wrap wood chips in foil, and pierce a few holes at the top of the foil pouch to let the smoke out. Place the packet directly on the grill plate above a burner while the barbecue is preheating, and it’ll start producing smoke that will infuse the food as you cook.”

Then, she says, you add your meat, and remove the wood chips halfway through the cooking time. 

One final tip from Fiona: “Avoid opening the hood too much as it lets the heat out and slows down the cooking process.”

2. Prep properly

You’ll get the best results from using the freshest, best-quality meat, vegetables and seafood you can afford. You can, however, improve a cheaper cut of meat by marinating it for at least a few hours or overnight.

“This will really help tenderise the meat and add flavour,” says Fiona.

Here’s her go-to tenderising marinade:

• 1 sliced garlic clove
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar.

Place meat in a large bag with the marinade, season with black pepper and add a few sprigs of rosemary. Using the ball of your hand, gently press the meat out flat and massage the marinade in and set aside for at least three hours or overnight.

And regardless of what protein you’re cooking, don’t forget to remove it from the fridge at least 30 minutes to an hour before cooking. 

“Bringing your meat to room temperature before cooking will give you juicier and more evenly cooked results,” says Chantelle.

3. Treat large cuts of meat

Another prep trick to elevate your BBQ is to brine and dry rub large cuts of meat. It not only adds incredible flavour, but will guarantee the most juicy and succulent results.Ìý

Here’s Fiona’s go-to technique when slow cooking meats such as briskets, topside, whole turkeys and whole chickens in the barbecue: 

1. Bring 1 litre of water to the boil and remove from heat.
2. Whisk in 80g salt until it has completely dissolved, then set aside to cool completely.
3. Add the meat to the brine, cover and place in the fridge overnight or until ready to cook.
4. Remove the meat from the brine and pat dry with paper towel.
5. Generously sprinkle with a dry rub mix (5 teaspoons unsmoked paprika, 1½ teaspoons of freshly ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon of garlic powder and 1 tablespoon onion powder) and massage into the meat. 
6. Cover with foil and cook indirectly (not over a direct flame) on a low temperature (about 90–110 degrees) for up to 4–5 hours with the hood closed.ÌýRemove the foil in the last hour of cooking to caramelise the meat.

ÌÇÐÄVlog tip: For indirect cooking on a three- or four-burner barbecue, turn on just the outside burners and put the meat on a tray in the middle of the grill, away from the flames.

Let’s get cooking

4. Cook with the hood down

Both Chantelle and Fiona prefer to cook with a hooded barbecue. 

“It allows you to cook so much more,” says Fiona. 

“You can use a hooded barbecue in a similar way to an oven and cook everything from sausages and ribs to whole fish, roasts, whole cauliflowers and pumpkins and jacket potatoes.” 

“Cooking with the hood down will cook things faster, and you’ll also get less flare ups and juicier food,” adds Chantelle. 

Remember to always rest your meat after cooking it, too, as this gives the juices more time to settle and gives more succulent results. Steaks should be rested for 5–10 minutes and roasts for at least 20 minutes.

5. Make foil your friend

Aluminium foil is your secret weapon when barbecuing, says Fiona. 

You can wrap fish and vegetables in foil to steam them, and use sheets of foil to help meat cook more evenly – either by covering up areas that are cooking too quickly, or by covering whole roasts with foil before cooking. 

This will also help speed up the cooking time. Just remove the foil at least 30–40 minutes before the end of cooking to allow it to caramelise and get evenly browned and crisp.

6. Use a meat thermometer

“If your barbecue has a thermometer on the hood, you can use it to easily monitor the temperature inside, and use your barbecue like a second oven to roast or bake,” says Chantelle. 

But if you want perfect BBQ results, a meat thermometer is a must. It helps ensure your meat is cooked to the right temperature, so you won’t accidentally cook your chook to a crisp or create a food poisoning fiasco with undercooked meat. 

“A meat thermometer is an essential piece of cooking kit – it reveals exactly what’s going on inside your steak or roast,” says Chantelle. 

“You just insert it into the meat to test the internal temperature, which will tell you how cooked it is. For a medium-rare steak, for instance, your thermometer needs to register 63°C in the middle.”

And if you don’t want to have to keep checking the meat to see if it’s done, there is, of course, an app for that. 

“Some barbecues now incorporate smart technology and have digital meat probes that connect via Bluetooth to your smartphone, so you’ll get an alert when your steaks are ready,” says Chantelle.

After the cook-up

7. Keep it clean

No-one likes cooking on a grotty and greasy barbecue, and there’s nothing worse than pulling out the barbecue when you’re ready to cook dinner and finding it dirty from last weekend’s cook-up. 

“A clean barbecue is a safe barbecue,” Fiona says.

“Cleaning away the grease and fat that accumulates after cooking will help reduce flare-ups, and scrubbing off any food that has stuck to the grill could help prevent the spread of bacteria and potentially avoid an invasion of cockroaches and flies.”

The easiest time to do it is while the barbie is still warm.

“Ensure you brush any food residue off the grill plates while your barbecue is cooling using a non-metal brush (preferably an all-natural bristle brush) and remove fat from the drip trays. Pre-lining your drip trays with foil will make cleaning easier.”

 8. Look after your gas bottle

“It’s really important to take good care of your gas bottle,” says Chantelle. “Turn off the gas at the gas bottle between uses and store it out of direct sunlight.”

Some barbecues come with storage for gas bottles, perhaps a spot underneath the barbecue or a hook for it to hang on, which can be useful to keep them safely tucked out of the way when not in use. 

“When you’re finished cooking, take a look at the gas level and check whether you need to get a refilled bottle. That’ll save you running out of gas next time you want to cook something,” says Chantelle. 

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The post The 8 barbecue habits our ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen experts swear by appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What is a line trimmer?
• Petrol line trimmers
• Cordless battery line trimmers
• How much should I pay for a line trimmer?
• Features to look for

What is a line trimmer?

Line trimmers – also known as whipper snippers, string trimmers, edge trimmers, lawn trimmers or weed whackers are a gardening tool predominantly used to cut grass edges. However, they can be more versatile than just providing precision-perfect lawn edges or garden borders. You can go crazy with horizontal trimming along fences and walls, cut wild patches of long grass down to size and even mow reasonable-sized areas of lawn.

Petrol line trimmers

Petrol models are the best choice for really big areas or for professionals, as you can refuel them quickly and they’re generally more powerful and therefore the most effective at cutting through swathes of long tough grass. Here’s what to consider when buying.

Straight or curved shaft?

Petrol trimmers with curved shafts tend to be more common in the domestic trimmer range. Straight-shaft petrol trimmers, often referred to as brush cutters, tend to be more powerful and heavy duty than curved-shaft models, and can also have a longer reach.

Other considerations

• A transparent fuel tank makes it easy to see when you’re running low on petrol; it also makes refueling easier as you can see when the tank is getting full.Ìý
• Most petrol models have two-stroke engines, which are still the most common type of small petrol engine; that means you’ll need to mix the fuel with oil. Two-stroke oil for the fuel mix can be bought at hardware and auto stores, mower shops and petrol stations.Ìý
• Four-stroke engines can be more convenient as they use straight unleaded petrol and emit less pollution too, but make sure to check and fill them with oil before first use or you risk damaging or completely destroying the motor.
• A clutch will stop the cutting head from spinning when the motor idles – this is safer while you’re moving between areas. On clutchless models the line continually rotates when the motor’s running so you’ll need to exercise caution if you walk around while it’s switched on.
• Think carefully about the size and shape of your lawn, the type of grass, and the sort of edges and obstacles it contains (paths, walls, garden beds, trees and so on), and choose the type of line trimmer most suitable for your application(s).

Cordless battery line trimmers

Cordless battery-powered models tend to have less cutting power than petrol trimmers but the gap is closing as battery technology improves, and they can be much more convenient for smaller yards. They’re easier to start than petrol models (there’s no pull-cord start, just a push of a button), safer as they don’t use flammable petrol, and also quieter.

Some cordless models’ motors are at the cutting head rather than the handle end. This means there’s no actual drive shaft, and the length of the shaft can often be adjusted.

What about corded electric trimmers? These require dragging an extension cord behind you, which is potentially dangerous, so they’re only suitable for a small backyard. They aren’t as popular now that cordless models have improved in performance, and our tests now focus on petrol and cordless models only.

Batteries

There are two numbers to consider when it comes to batteries:

• Voltage (V), which indicates the power of the battery. 18V batteries are common, but many models now come with batteries rated at 36V, 40V, 56V and even 82V. Our tests find that a higher voltage usually leads to better cutting performance.
• Capacity (amp hours or Ah) which indicates the relative running time; the bigger the capacity, the longer the running time. While a 1.5Ah or 2.0Ah battery is probably enough for a typical yard, look for larger capacities if you need longer running time.

Consider getting a spare battery; it can be handy if you have a larger yard that can’t be covered with one battery charge, or if you get out the trimmer only to realise you didn’t recharge it after the last use.

Battery ‘ecosystems’

Many manufacturers now produce battery systems, or families, where the same battery can be used in a variety of different tools, including your line trimmer. This is great, as it means you only need a couple of batteries for all your equipment, and as batteries tend to be the expensive part this will save you a lot of money as you can buy your line trimmer, cordless drill or impact wrench as just the tool, no battery.Ìý

It does, however, tend to lock you into a single brand – it no longer makes financial sense to buy tools from different brands as you then have to buy separate battery systems for each of them. So if you already have such a battery system you may find yourself only considering line trimmers from that manufacturer.

Conversely, if this is your first foray into cordless tools, think very carefully about the brand you go with as it will probably dictate or limit all future purchases of cordless tools to that same brand.

How much should I pay for a line trimmer?

Line trimmers typically cost around $200 to $300, but we’ve tested line trimmers that range in price from $59 to $1047. Sometimes battery line trimmers are sold “skin only“Ìý´Ç°ùÌý“baretool“, which means they don’t come with a battery system or batteries. Make sure you double check this, as you could be up for twice the cost you thought once you factor in batteries. The prices we display in our line trimmer review is for both the trimmer and batteries combined.

Features to look for

Safety guard

Mounted around the rear of the cutting head, this reduces the amount of debris flying around. Some guards can limit your view of what you’re cutting, and even with a safety guard fitted you still require eye protection. All the models we’ve tested have safety guards.

Line length-limiting blade

Many models have a small blade mounted on the safety guard that cuts the trimming line off at the correct length (any models that don’t have this usually have blades instead of a line, so they don’t need the line-length limiter). An over-long line can overload the motor.

Shoulder harness

A harness that clips onto the shaft supports the trimmer’s weight, making it more comfortable for extended use, and allowing for bullhorn-style handles. It’s usually an optional extra, but it’s not available with all trimmers.

Line-feed system

Line trimmers use a spool of thick nylon line that spins extremely fast to cut through weeds and grass. Typically two ends protrude from the spool head and perform the actual cutting. The line will occasionally break as it wears out or hits a rock or other hard item, requiring more line to be fed out from the spool.

Found on most trimmers, the “bump feed” system is easy to use – simply tap the cutting head on the ground when you need more line to feed out. An automatic system sends out more cutting line when it gets too short, while a manual feed requires you to turn off the trimmer and pull or unwind the line inside the head (which may sometimes be necessary even with bump or automatic feed, if the line gets tangled).

Rotating head

A cutting head that can be positioned horizontally for grass cutting or vertically for edging. Without this feature, you’ll need to turn the whole tool for vertical trimming, which can be less convenient and lead to petrol trimmers stalling as the fuel pickup is now at the top, not the bottom of the tank.

Edging guide

If you are looking for super straight edges for your paths and garden beds, look for a model with an edging guide.

Spool type

Fitting new cutting line (re-spooling) can be one of the fiddliest tasks when it comes to using a line trimmer. A trimmer with a single cutting line is easier to re-spool than one with twin lines, though the latter can give better cutting performance.

While most line trimmers use flexible nylon line to avoid damage when trimming around trees or fences, some can be fitted with plastic or metal blades, for use as a brush cutter in heavier scrub.

Cutting diameter

A wide diameter is useful if you want to trim open areas. Petrol line trimmers usually have a wider diameter than the cordless and electric models.

Handles

Most models we tested have an adjustable handle that can be rotated on the shaft when you turn the trimmer over, to change from horizontal trimming to vertical edging (on some models, the cutting head can be rotated instead for the same purpose).

Accessories

Adjusting tools such as a spanner are often included as standard. Some trimmers have other accessories (usually as optional extras), such as brush-cutting blades or extra edging heads.

The post How to buy the best line trimmer appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

If you’re working with a smaller outdoor space such as a balcony, courtyard or postage stamp-sized backyard, there are plenty of options – tabletop barbecues, compact grills, small charcoal kettle grills, fold-up portable options – so you can still grill in the great outdoors.

(Just make sure you’re following the rules and regulations for your building.)

We’ll explain what to look for in a compact barbecue, which one to avoid and how to safely barbecue on your balcony. Plus, exclusively for ÌÇÐÄVlog members, we’ll reveal which ones are worth making room for in your small space.

If you want to find out which compact BBQs come out on top in our tests, join ÌÇÐÄVlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews.

If you’re already a member and you just want to see the best products, you can jump straight to the results now.

How much should I pay for a balcony BBQ?

The small barbecues in our review range in price from under $200 to more than $1000. If you’re paying a higher price, you should expect extra features like electronic gas ignition, fold-out side tables and a more solid construction. 

There’s a range of different features that can account for a hefty price tag, and you may find a bargain barbecue doesn’t last as long as a pricier model.

“Barbecues are one of those appliances that I find you generally get what you pay for,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog’s expert barbecue tester Fiona Mair.

What to look for in a compact BBQ

Before you hit the shops (or the sites), there are a few things to consider.

Size

How many people do you plan to cook for? Most compact barbecues can accommodate food for four to six people – although you can cook in batches if you’re feeding a larger group.

A barbecue’s external dimensions aren’t always an indicator of cooking area, so check out how big the hotplates and grill plates are to make sure there’s enough room for your food.

Portability

If you need to shuffle things around, a BBQ trolley with four wheels will make it easier to manoeuvre. If you’re looking at a trolley with only two wheels, make sure you can lift it easily.

Some compact BBQs don’t come with trolleys or stands, so if you want one it’ll cost you extra. Or you could do away with the trolley concept altogether and make space for them on an outdoor tabletop or bench instead, then tuck them away in between uses to make the most of your space.

If you’re working with a very tight space, you could consider a travel barbecue: they’re lightweight and mobile, so you can put them away when you’re done. And you can take them with you to the campsite, park or beach.

Whether you’re considering a portable or a compact barbecue, check the weight before you buy to make sure you won’t put your back out when moving it.

Durability

Since your barbie will likely be outdoors, it’ll be at the mercy of the elements (even on a balcony) – so look for a BBQ that’s solidly constructed using quality materials.

If you have room, storing your barbecue somewhere undercover in between uses will extend its life. Otherwise a cover is the next best thing.

Balcony barbecues: Keep it safe

If you’re planning a balcony barbie, there are some safety considerations.

• Check the by-laws for your complex and/or the owner’s corporation to see if there are any restrictions on using a gas BBQ on your balcony. (If you’re struggling to find this info, it could be hidden somewhere obscure, such as in a section relating to storage of hazardous material, i.e. an LPG gas cylinder.)
• Renting? Check for restrictions in your contract. 

Got the all-clear? Before you go ahead…

• Never store more than one gas cylinder on your balcony – and never store them indoors, including in your garage, shed or under the house. Keep them outdoors so any gas leak will vent safely. 
• Make sure you use the BBQ in a well-ventilated space. The fumes can be toxic.
• Don’t BBQ in an enclosed balcony. Even spaces with louvres, cafe blinds or a significant amount of privacy screening pose a fire risk.

Another option is to go for an electric barbecue rather than gas. They produce less smoke, have accurate temperature control and are easier to clean.

To find the best electric barbecues, check out our BBQ reviews.

The worst compact barbecue

For $949 you’d expect brilliant barbecuing, but this Gasmate absolutely underwhelms.

The Gasmate Paragon Digital Electric BBQ is the most expensive electric barbecue we’ve tested but ranked lower than barbies costing less than $400.

It’s not great at cooking sausages, which are a BBQ staple.

A $900 barbie that can’t handle snags? Sounds like a recipe for disappointment.

And it’s patchy in terms of heat distribution – so if you’re aiming for medium-rare steaks, you might end up with half well done and the other half rare.

What are the top 3 balcony barbecues?

We recommend barbecues with an overall score of 80% and above, and electric barbecues with an overall score of 70% and above. 

Only ÌÇÐÄVlog members can access our detailed BBQ testing data. If you’re not yet a member, join ÌÇÐÄVlog to get instant access to all of our expert, independent reviews. 

Or log in to unlock this article and find out which three barbies we hand the golden tongs to. 

The post The best compact BBQs for balconies and small spaces appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Is an outdoor kitchen worth it?
• Barbecues, pizza ovens and meat smokers
• Finding the right fridge
• Speakers you can use in the sun
• Outdoor ceiling fans
• Can you build an outdoor kitchen on a budget?
• Safety considerations for outdoor kitchens

While it can be an expensive undertaking, you don’t need a blank cheque to build a fun outdoor dining area. There are options for comfortable, DIY spaces that don’t cost quite as much – even on larger balconies or patios.

Note, this article focuses on tools and appliances. We don’t test outdoor furniture and it doesn’t cover construction, plumbing and electrical.

Is an outdoor kitchen worth it?

When the weather is right, outdoor dining is a fun, laid back way to entertain. Adding a kitchen to the mix saves you from having to ferry food and drinks from inside, so you can keep cooking and conversing with your guests.

As an extension of the living space, ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair  says an al fresco cooking area is not only useful and a great place to entertain, but could also be a desirable asset. “Making your guests feel comfortable and enjoying the outdoors all year round is a much-desired feature of any home,” she says.

You can always use your outdoor kitchen in tandem with the one inside as well, if you’re feeding a bigger group. It basically doubles your cooking options and saves you from having to fire up the oven inside in the middle of summer.

Can I build an outdoor kitchen on a small patio or balcony?

While a full-blown outdoor kitchen may be impractical, you can find outdoor cooking equipment suitably sized for smaller spaces. ÌÇÐÄVlog tests portable gas pizza ovens, two- or three-burner barbecues and other smaller cooking appliances that could be used outdoors.

Some indoor preparation and storage may be required, as most balconies don’t have the room to install things like benches and bar fridges. But while it won’t be the most elaborate set-up, it can certainly get the job done!

Just remember to check the local council and body corporate rules (where applicable) before firing up the grill.

Solid fuels like woodchips, charcoal and heat beads may give your meals an appealing smoky flavour, but your neighbours probably won’t appreciate the haze. Although if you invite them around to enjoy the delicious smoked meats with you, they might change their minds.

What do I need in my outdoor kitchen?

At minimum, you’ll need: 

• A gas barbecue (or outdoor grill of some kind)
• Benches or a table for food prep and serving
• A bar fridge or esky to safely store perishable foods and cool drinks

It’s also worth installing a sink to keep everything clean as you go, but hiring a plumber can be pricey. This isn’t essential but it is highly recommended.

After that, you can go as far as your budget, space and culinary tastes desire. Pizza ovens, meat smokers or charcoal barbecues and a range of food and drink appliances can really expand the menu.

Even tech has a place in your entertainment space. Dust and water-resistant Bluetooth speakers are essential, unless you enjoy the awkward silences that come with a break in the conversation.

Be aware of feature creep. You can end up spending far too much money, or feeling like your space is incomplete, without a solid plan and set budget.

Barbecues, pizza ovens and meat smokers

When it comes to outdoor kitchens, a barbecue is the undisputed, non-negotiable item. Gas is the easiest option as you can maintain a consistent temperature and won’t need to worry about regularly topping up solid fuels like charcoal or woodchips.

The trade-off is a lack of smoky, barbecue flavours. That’s where solid fuels come into play, and partly why smokers have become a popular addition to many outdoor kitchens. If you go down this path, warn your guests ahead of time as they may end up smelling like a campfire by the end of the day.

The size of the barbecue is basically determined by your entertainment area. Aim for a larger barbecue if you have the room, one with at least four burners. You’ll have the flexibility to cook larger meals or a variety of foods with varying heat requirements at the same time. 

Fiona says it’s worth looking into extra cooking features as well. “Some barbecues come with a wok burner and others can cook rotisserie chicken, for example. These can add a bit of variety to your outdoor get-togethers.”

“You should also invest in a meat thermometer,” she adds. “It makes it much easier to get your meat cooked just right and you don’t necessarily need to spend a lot of money.”

Built-in barbecues that fit into the cabinetry are also available. While they look neat and tidy, they are very expensive. ÌÇÐÄVlog hasn’t tested these.

Setting up a pizza oven or meat smoker

Piping hot pizzas or meat smoked low-n-slow can take a little more time to prepare, but the effort is always worth it. Not only are these meals a cut above the usual steaks and snags, they’re the ultimate chef flex in front of your guests – and that’s what an outdoor kitchen is really all about, right?

But they aren’t quite as versatile as a barbecue and can take up a lot of space. Before you attempt to bring the shores of Naples to your suburban backyard pizzeria, really be honest with yourself about whether you’d use it often enough to justify the cost.

“Pizza ovens and meat smokers are more of a barbecue supplement than a substitute,” says Fiona. “ÌÇÐÄVlog has tested some barbecues that can also smoke meat, but they’re very expensive.”

“You can also get wood chip smoke boxes for gas barbecues that aren’t too bad,” she adds. “They’re an inexpensive alternative to a dedicated smoker, for the occasions where you feel like American-style pulled pork or brisket.”

Portable gas pizza ovens are a good option for most yards. Some can also use wood or charcoal while others burn wooden pellets to infuse a smoky flavour, while gas does the rest of the cooking. Most can only accommodate one pizza at a time though, so factor that into your meal plans for the day.

Aspiring pit masters should look into pellet meat smokers as well. Purists may baulk at a smoker that does most of the work for you, but they’re a safe, easy way to cook meat over many hours thanks to the pellet tube which consistently feeds in wood while maintaining a consistent temperature.

Finding the right fridge

Keeping cold food and drink within reach, rather than having to run back inside, is very convenient. And an outdoor fridge just feels fancy compared to an esky or the humble plastic tub filled with ice.

Bar fridges are your first port of call for an outdoor kitchen if space is limited. They’re compact and pretty discreet, with enough room for some food and drinks. But they usually lack proper freezers, can fill up quickly and may not be big enough to store premade meals, sides and desserts.

A full-sized fridge can solve these problems, as long as there’s enough space to place it your outdoor kitchen. Start by looking at small- to medium-sized models as these may have enough room for entertaining without tearing chunks out of your energy bill.

Positioning is important as well. Place it in a space where it’s protected from the elements, like moisture and direct sunlight. And remember, hot and cold don’t mix, so when you’re designing your kitchen, keep the fridge well away from the barbecue.

Once the party’s over and the fridge is cleared out, you can safely turn it off to save money. It’ll need a little time to get going again so to ensure best performance, turn it on the day before your next get together so it can get nice and cool overnight.

Cool drinks and hot sandwiches

Smaller, lighter appliances are easy to move outside, taking your food and drink options beyond the BBQ and bar fridge. A soda maker, sandwich press and even a slushy maker will work just fine on a flat, stable surface.

“Just remember to bring them inside when you’re done,” says Fiona. “Benchtop appliances aren’t designed to live outside like a BBQ.” 

Don’t try to set them up on the ground either, the last thing you want is a panini press falling into the picnic circle. You’ll also need a power supply for most of these to work.

Kitchenware for outdoors

You may want to keep some more kitchen tools and cookware on hand for outdoor entertaining. Things that you’ll only use occasionally and are a bit easier to replace if they get dropped or damaged.

“ÌÇÐÄVlog has tested plenty of kitchen knives, Dutch ovens and frypans that perform well without breaking the bank,” says Fiona. “They may not be the best in our tests, but the price is right.”

Speakers you can use in the sun

Ever been to a party without music? Zero vibes.

“These days, you don’t really need to shell out for dedicated outdoor speakers,” says Denis Gallagher, ÌÇÐÄVlog’s home entertainment expert. “There are lots of Bluetooth speakers with great sound quality and long battery life to bring a touch of ambience to your outdoor dinner party. 

Obviously, you want to look for speakers that sound good, but there are other things to consider for outdoor entertaining. These are:

• Battery life: look for the right balance between battery life and sound quality. Once the speaker dies, the party dies with it.Ìý
• Dust and water resistance: buy a speaker that advertises some form of weather sealing, preferably one with an ingress protection (IP) rating. The two numbers denote dust and water resistance from zero to nine. The higher the number, the better the protection, with the first number representing dust and the second representing water.Ìý

Try to avoid speakers that don’t have a battery. Not only do these mains powered models need a power outlet, which may not be nearby, they’re also not usually designed for outdoor use.

Outdoor ceiling fans

Over half of the ceiling fans in our latest test batch are safe to use outside. While not essential, they’re a nice addition that can help keep the heat at bay.

These fans are designed for covered areas only. Avoid installing them in a space without a roof as the exposure could cause damage. Make sure the model you choose is built for outdoor use before buying as the motor needs to be sealed to keep out moisture.

Can you build an outdoor kitchen on a budget?

Before you get started, it’s important to do your research and set a budget. How much you can save depends on the extent of your kitchen, how much of the set-up and installation you can do yourself, and the calibre of the items in your design.

Used goods and factory seconds can really bring costs down and appliances tend to go on sale pretty regularly throughout the year. If you see something you like, keep an eye on major retailers and try to grab it at a discount.

Cabinets, plumbing and electricity are a different subject altogether. You can save a bit of money by taking the DIY route, with more affordable (if less extravagant) kits from retailers like Bunnings, Harvey Norman and IKEA.

Are outdoor kitchens expensive to maintain?

Yes and no. Outdoor life is harsh, exposing your entertainment space and equipment to sun damage, soggy days, dust and dirt, visits from local wildlife and possibly even sea salt if you live near the coast. There’s a reason most humans prefer to live inside.

Protective covers and regular maintenance are key. Buy a BBQ cover and make sure the other appliances have some sort of rust proofing if they’re going to stay outside 24/7.

If you’re using wooden benchtops, clean, treat and seal as often as you need to depending on the type of wood. As the seal breaks down, wood can absorb water and experience sun damage causing it to splinter, split or curl and make your prep space unsafe. Food scraps and waste can attract animals that can damage or soil benches used for preparing meals. 

Regularly maintaining and cleaning the area will keep things in good nick. It’s much cheaper than having to repair or replace your equipment every few years.

Safety considerations for outdoor kitchens

As with any home improvement, you’ll need to assess the area for any safety issues. And, being a kitchen, there are some clear guidelines to follow.

“Outdoor kitchens are usually under cover, so it is important to have good airflow that will take any smoke away from the house,” says Fiona. “An open area behind the barbecue needs to be considered, or some sort of ventilation exhaust system.”

For charcoal barbecues and smokers, Fiona says it’s best to position them away from the house, in a well-ventilated area. For gas barbecues, she suggests storing the gas bottle in a cool place that’s easy to access.

In summer, keep on top of fire rules and regulations. It may be illegal to use solid fuels during a total fire ban, which includes meat smokers. 

And though it may sound obvious, don’t forget that BBQs, pizza ovens and smokers get hot – sometimes, very hot. Install them a safe distance from the dining space and away from appliances that could be damaged by radiant heat.

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The post How to build the perfect outdoor kitchen appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

On this page:

• How popular are beach shelters? 
• What should I look for in a beach shelter?
• Types of beach shelters
• Beach umbrellas
• Beach tents
• Cabanas and gazebos
• Canopies and sails
• Beach etiquette: dos and don'ts

Sally Blane is the Chair of Cancer Council’s Skin Cancer Committee, and she says that we need to use all five forms of sun protection whenever the UV index outside is 3 or above.

“Sunscreen is essential, but it is just one part of sun protection,” she says.

“Start with covering as much skin as practical with clothing that blocks the UV, then combine with broad-spectrum, water-resistant, SPF50 or SPF50+ sunscreen, a broad-brimmed hat, shade, and sunglasses for the best protection. For the beach, rashies and longer swimsuits are best when swimming.”

Good quality shade is also essential, reducing UV exposure by up to 75%.Ìý

“Having portable or temporary structures on the beach gives you somewhere to retreat from direct UV radiation. Umbrellas, large tents, marquees and beach shelters are good options to create shade when other shade structures like trees or built shade structures might not be available,” says Sally.

She adds that UV radiation can still reach you via reflection, particularly around water, which is why it should be used in combination with other shade protection measures.Ìý 

“Shade structures should also never be used to extend your time in the sun. While not always possible, minimising exposure to UV radiation from the sun is the most effective strategy to prevent skin cancer,” she adds.Ìý

Different types of shelters and shade structures are a familiar sight on Aussie beaches, from umbrellas to tents and cabanas, and you can spend anywhere from $9 up to hundreds of dollars on products that promise to keep you protected from the sun.

Here we look at a few of the different types available and some things to consider before you buy.

How popular are beach shelters? 

In a recent online survey, we asked the ÌÇÐÄVlog audience about their use of sun shelters at the beach.

96% of respondents said they had used one when visiting the beach. Those who hadn’t said it was because they found them cumbersome or inconvenient to use , or didn’t visit the beach often or long enough to make it worthwhile.Ìý

Of those who had used a sun shelter, pop-up tents were most popular, with 77% of people using one.Ìý Umbrellas were next most popular (50%) followed by cabanas (35%). Non pop-up tents and canopies or sails were the least popular type of shelter.Ìý

Complaints about different kinds of shelters mainly related to their flimsiness, heaviness and their unsuitability for use when there’s any kind of wind. Several pop-up tent users described problems packing away their shelter at the end of the day.

What should I look for in a beach shelter?

Level of protection

Of course, the very first factor to consider is the level of sun protection it gives.Ìý

For portable shade, a good-quality product provides protection from direct UV from the sun, as well as scattered and indirect UV from reflective surfaces like water, sand and snow.Ìý

“This means that the fabric or materials used in the product have a UVE (Ultraviolet Effectiveness) rating of 95+% and [the structure and design]  considers indirect UV radiation with an option for vertical screening,” says Sally.Ìý

Shown as a percentage, UVE applies to shade fabrics and measures the transmission of solar UVR (Ultra Violet Radiation) through the fabric. The closer the weave, the greater the protection. Materials with a high UVE rating offer better protection and a UVE rating of 95+ is the most effective.

Size

Start by working out how many people you intend to fit under your beach shade so you can look for the right size. If it’s a big group, you may need more than one structure, (eg, two or more umbrellas) or one very large one, like a cabana.Ìý

Weight and set-up

Weight can also be a deciding factor, plus ease of set-up. For instance, is it a one-person job or will you need extra help? The last thing you want is a sweaty struggle to put up or pack away a beach shelter while standing on scorching sand.Ìý

Also, be mindful of the quality of the fabric and the shelter’s overall durability – will it last? How sturdy will it be in those sea breezes? If you’re after something that offers privacy when you’re wriggling into or out of your swimmers, you want to be sure your shelter won’t blow away in a gust of wind.

Types of beach shelters

Not all shade-throwing devices are created equal and each type has its pros and cons.

“Any portable structure that provides shade is an important part of sun protection,” says Sally. “As a general rule, the more coverage provided by the product, the better the protection offered.”  

Beach umbrellas

What is it and what’s it made from? 

These large umbrellas use shade fabric with a sun-protective coating and a long pole to stake in the sand.

As well as the traditional umbrella design, you’ll also find options that include built-in side panels that are designed to be used close to the ground.

They create more shade than the more familiar design and can appear quite similar to a small beach tent.Ìý

Price

Can start from as little as $9, but expect to pay upwards of $150 for some of the big-name brands. There are plenty of options between $50 and $100.

Pros

• Easy to put up and down, plus they come in a variety of colours and pretty prints.
• Lightweight, portable and don’t cause too much of a visual block for other beach users.Ìý
• Users told us they loved the portability and ease of use of beach umbrellas. They were praised for being easy to carry, providing better views of the beach and allowing adjustment so that you can change the angle as the sun moves to keep you shaded.
  
  “Umbrellas are light, easy to carry and set up/take down. They are also adjustable when the sun moves,” one survey respondent told us.Ìý

Cons

• Complaints included their unsuitability in breezy conditions and the limited shade they provide.
• Others found them difficult to secure and expressed concerns about the risk they pose if they catch the wind and tumble down the beach.Ìý
• “Umbrellas require digging a hole in the sand with your hands that is deep enough to hold the umbrella – hard work! And they fall and blow over and only provide shade for a couple of people,” one noted.Ìý

Beach tents

What is it and what’s it made from? 

Usually lightweight polyester with a frame of some kind, designed for easy set-up. Pop-up models allow you to simply unclip, and the whole structure will spring into shape.

Guy ropes, sandbags or pegs create extra staying power.ÌýHowever, be warned: some users find it challenging to fold them down when they’ve finished using them.Ìý

This was the most popular type of shade structure in our survey: 77% had used a pop-up tent and 15% a non pop-up variety.

Beach tents that are not pop-up models will typically have a mechanism to pull the frame into shape. Sand pockets and pegs keep the shelter anchored, and may allow you to open the back or sides to boost ventilation.Ìý

Many of these types of shelters include a floor to help keep the sand away, and the larger models may allow you to stand inside, which can make them more convenient to use. You’ll find a range of sizes to suit one or two people or family groups of five or more.

Price

We found models starting at $25 all the way up to many hundreds of dollars.Ìý

Pros

• They are often quick to set up.Ìý
• Models that zip up can provide privacy if you need to change.Ìý
• Models that open on the sides are good for catching a cross breeze.Ìý
• “Mine is a cheap and cheerful Kmart one I’ve had for years. It’s easy to set up, and has three walls so it has more privacy. I love having a shady place to relax in,” one happy camper told us.Ìý

Cons

• Complaints include their tendency to get quite hot.
• Many told us that they were hard to put away, especially in windy conditions. “I am traumatised by pop-up shades that I can never get back into the correct shape and always end up breaking,” said one respondent.
• Versions that come with a floor may trap a lot of sand that has to be swept out later.Ìý
• Others complained that the structures are unsuitable for even a little bit of breeze and will collapse easily.

Cabanas and gazebos

What is it and what’s it made from?

Imagine that a tent and an umbrella had a love child – that’s essentially what a cabana is. It’s a square-shaped shelter with four legs (which have sandbags to secure it to the ground), a central pole to stake into the sand and a roof. Judging by the number of them on Aussie shores in the past few summers, they’re a beach trend that’s now well established.

Price

Prices start from less than $50 for a budget model all the way up to $500. There are plenty of options around the $200 mark.Ìý

Pros

• Great for families because they’re roomy and as they don’t have a sloping roof, there’s no need to slouch to fit under it.Ìý
• If set up properly in safe conditions, cabanas are sturdy, as they’re anchored in five spots.Ìý
• Manufacturers claim they’re simple to put up and down.Ìý
• With no walls, they’re well ventilated and don’t block out views entirely.Ìý
• “I like the cabana for its simple setup and the generous shade it provides. With its height and four open sides, getting in and out is effortless. It stays put in the wind far better than an umbrella and feels safer without the risk of a sharp pole flying away,” one cabana enthusiast told us.Ìý
• “My Cool Cabana is the best investment as a redhead who lives in Exmouth! It is easy to put up and does not fly away in the wind (unlike my beach umbrella). It also does not get stinking hot, unlike a pop-up shelter,” another told us.Ìý

Cons

• Not the cheapest option, so you’d need to be a committed beachgoer to get your money’s worth.
• No privacy for getting out of your salty swimmers.Ìý
• They take up a lot of room on the sand.Ìý
• You can’t tilt the top of the cabana to follow the sun, so the shade can end up outside the cabana instead of under it as the sun moves.
• The space they take up was a definite con for many. “Cabanas should be outlawed! Or only allowed far away from the shore. They are just too big and overtake the beach” one beach-goer complained.
• Models that come with guy-ropes create trip hazards and add to the amount of beach real estate you’re taking up, which may make you unpopular with others, particularly at busy beaches.

Canopies and sails

What is it and what’s it made from? 

Canopies and sails consist of a coated fabric for UV protection, held up by aluminium poles and ropes. The result is an ‘open-air tent’ look.

Price

You can find them for under $60 but you might pay hundreds for some of the larger models.Ìý

±Ê°ù´Ç²õÌý

• They can be very lightweight and easy to carry.Ìý
• Some styles can be set up in different ways, depending on what kind of shade you want.Ìý 
• Once packed, a canopy doesn’t take up too much room, so you can keep it in the car ready to go.
• Fans of this style like the coverage they provide. “You don’t need to keep moving around to stay out of the sun,” one told us.Ìý

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• It can take up a large area, so it’s not ideal on a crowded beach.Ìý
• Guy ropes used to hold up the canopy can also create a tripping hazard and you may need two people to hold the poles and ropes while setting up.Ìý
• You may need to adjust its tautness as the day goes on, depending on how windy it is.Ìý
• Because a canopy is entirely open, it won’t give you privacy either.

Beach etiquette: dos and don’ts

Whichever beach shelter you choose, try to be considerate towards other beachgoers when staking your claim to a patch of sand.Ìý

We surveyed our ÌÇÐÄVlog audience to come up with a list of dos and don’ts for using shade structures at the beach.Ìý

Dos

• Try to avoid setting up directly in front of other people – stick to the back of the beach if possible.
• Secure your beach shelter properly so it’s safe.
• Be careful when packing your things away, as lots of sand can blow off and go in people’s eyes.
• Watch out for extra-long tent ropes being a trip hazard.
• Use a shelter that’s the right size for your group.

Don’ts

• Don’t set up too close to somebody else’s area – give groups already on the beach as much space as possible.Ìý
• Don’t block people’s view of the water – or their kids – with your shelter.Ìý
• Don’t be too noisy, either with your music or your conversation (and try to keep the chat PG-rated!).
• Don’t leave your rubbish behind – take your litter home with you or use the nearest bins. And always recycle whatever you can.

The post How to choose the right beach shelter appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

Or maybe you’ve mastered the art of the perfect slice, and you’re looking for new ways to put your brand-new pizza oven to the test.Ìý

When ÌÇÐÄVlog experts recently tested and reviewed a range of pizza ovens, they found many that reliably turned out excellent pizzas – perfectly charred, puffy and crispy in all the right places. (Others were not so great, but you can check our pizza oven reviews to find out which ones aren’t worth the dough.)

It’s definitely an appliance that will take your outdoor entertaining game to new heights. But even the most dedicated pizza aficionados need a break from Margheritas every now and again, and you may want to experiment with cooking foods other than pizza in your pizza oven.Ìý

Before you get carried away, though, what you’re able to cook will depend on which type of pizza oven you have.Ìý

What type of pizza oven can cook more than just pizza?

“Some styles of pizza oven do just cook only pizzas, particularly the smaller countertop models,” says ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair.Ìý

“This is mainly due to the size and shape of the appliance, and that they have pre-set functions and a pizza stone specifically designed for cooking pizzas.Ìý

“But if you have a larger pizza oven, these are more versatile. They have a fairly large oven area that you can fit various different foods in – everything from desserts to a roast dinner.”

Models such as the Ooni Koda 12 pizza oven and the Gozney Roccbox have a large pizza stone surface area, so it’s possible to cook foods such as fish, small cuts of meats and vegetables.

“The key to cooking foods other than pizza is getting the right temperature and having the right cooking tools. And be prepared for a bit of trial and error – practice makes perfect!”

What other things can you cook in a pizza oven? 

Roasts

If your pizza oven is large enough, you can roast things such as whole chickens, pork loins, and beef or lamb joints.

“The trick with cooking roasts in a pizza oven is that you need to monitor the temperatures, as they can get extremely hot and burn food quickly,” says Fiona.Ìý

“Temperature gauges are not always accurate either, so invest in a sensor temperature probe so you can easily check what temperature the oven is and also a meat thermometer so you can check your meat is ready to eat.

“For best results, you’ll also need to use a heavy-based stainless-steel roasting tray with a rack.”

Steak or fish

Some pizza ovens have relatively flat or narrow openings, so foods such as a piece of fish or steak that you can easily fit in while placed on a cast-iron frying pan are fine to try.Ìý

Again, you need to be mindful of the temperature, as foods cook extremely quickly – when you cook pizza, the oven temperature will be as high as 400–500°C.Ìý

But for fish you’ll only need a temperature of 300°C, so you will need to wait until the oven cools down. A pair of long-handled tongs and heat-safe cookware is important too, according to Fiona.Ìý

“Pizza ovens can be quite dangerous because of the intense heat they produce, so it’s important you use frying pans and cookware that can withstand high heat and use long-handled tools so you don’t get burnt,” she says.

Bread and jacket potatoes

A woodfired pizza oven is essentially an outdoor oven, so you can cook a wide range of foods in it, once you get comfortable with cooking over fire and practising getting the right temperature.Ìý

You can wrap jacket potatoes in foil and chuck them in with your roast – they’ll just need to be turned a few times throughout the cooking process and may need to be placed on a rack off the brick or stone base.

“Foods such as bread require a lower temperature for cooking than pizzas (around 250°C) and a longer cooking time (around 30 minutes),” says Fiona.Ìý

“Remember the heat on the stone is very hot, so foods can easily burn on the base. When cooking bread in a pizza oven, you’ll need a cast-iron bread pan for best results, too.” 

Desserts and sweets

Cooking in your pizza oven can be an all-day affair, taking you from the beginning of an event into the night, or even perhaps the next day.Ìý

Some of the woodfired pizza ovens we tested can take two to five hours to cool down. (If you stoke the fire, though, it can run as long as you need)

So, you could kick off your shindig with pizzas when the oven is at its hottest, then let the oven cool down for a few hours and use the residual heat to cook dessert.

You’ll have best results with desserts that don’t require constant, specific temperatures, as this is difficult to monitor. Try sweet foods that can be cooked in a frying pan/skillet such as brownies, Tarte Tatins, baked apples or apple crumble.

“As with savoury foods, cooking desserts in pizza ovens can require a bit of trial and error to work out how to get the best results,” says Fiona.Ìý

“Remember that foods will cook much more quickly than in a standard oven. Where you place the food is important too – obviously the further away from the flame the food is, the less intense the heat will be.Ìý

“Turning the food a few times throughout the cooking will help it cook evenly as well.”

Can’t I just use my oven or barbecue?

“Many conventional ovens these days do have a ‘pizza mode’ as standard that’s really great at turning out good pizza,” says Fiona. “Plus, if you have a barbecue with a hood you can also just purchase a pizza stone and cook pizzas outdoors with that.

“So if you don’t actually think you’ll be using your pizza oven to cook a lot of pizza, perhaps you need to reconsider whether you really need one.”

The fun factor

Of course, a conventional oven or barbecue won’t necessarily help you with that ‘summer pizzaiola party in Napoli’ vibe you’re going for.

And as our ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen experts found out when they were turning our dozens of pizzas a day for testing, a pizza oven is fun to use, once you get the hang of it.Ìý

Find out more about the pros and cons of pizza ovens here: Should you buy a pizza oven?

The post Things you can cook in a pizza oven that aren’t pizza appeared first on ÌÇÐÄVlog.

As far as appliance purchases go, a pizza oven rates fairly high on the romance scale.

It’s easy to imagine yourself in the backyard, pizza peel in hand, with the sun streaming through the woodfired smoke as you belt out ‘That’s Amore’. 

Excuse us interrupting your pizzaiolo dreaming for a moment, but have you thought about whether it’s really worth buying a pizza oven?

ÌÇÐÄVlog experts have tested a range of popular pizza ovens to uncover which ones offer the best results for your dough. These are the pros and cons they say you should consider before you buy.

Which type of pizza oven should you buy?

Before we get to the upsides and downsides of pizza oven ownership, let’s look at the types of domestic pizza oven on the market. 

They range from electric and gas to wood- or charcoal-fired, and include models that sit atop your kitchen bench all the way to brick domes. 

No matter which you choose, ÌÇÐÄVlog kitchen expert Fiona Mair says there’s one thing you can’t compromise on: temperature. 

“To get a perfectly cooked, slightly charred, crisp and browned pizza base, you need intense heat of at least 400°C,” she says. So if your pizza oven doesn’t make the grade, you may as well stick to your oven. 

We’ve covered the different types of pizza oven and lots of buying advice in our pizza oven buying guide, but here’s a quick breakdown.

Electric benchtop

These models can be plonked straight on your kitchen bench for a Friday night pizza party, but can usually only do one pizza at a time. They can cost anything from around $200 to more than $1000.

Gas (natural and LPG)

Gas-powered pizza ovens have an inbuilt pizza stone and sit on a trolley or bench. While they can only fit one pizza at a time, they can also accommodate other foods. They’re easy enough to set up and light, but can take up to 40 minutes to reach the required temperature.

Natural gas pizza ovens will have to be plumbed in by a qualified professional; LPG models only need to be connected to a gas cylinder, just like a gas BBQ.

Wood or charcoal

These are the real deal, but they call for patience. They can take work to light and may take some time to reach the right temperature. Once they get there, though, they can maintain the heat for hours and, depending on their size, can often cook more than just pizza, such as roast meat or vegies.

What are the pros and cons of pizza ovens?

Con: Skills required

In Naples, Italy, being a pizzaiolo (pizza chef) can be a prestigious profession that takes years to master, so don’t beat yourself up if you don’t nail it on your first attempt. 

“Making pizza perfectly requires some trial and error,” says Fiona. “Don’t expect to produce restaurant-quality woodfired pizza the first time you use your pizza oven. And definitely allow enough time to practise using it before you invite everyone over for a pizza party.”

Pro: They’re fun

If you’re a true entertainer or enthusiastic home cook, a pizza oven can be a great appliance in your culinary arsenal. If you have an outdoor kitchen or space in your backyard to install a pizza oven, there’s no doubt your house will become the preferred location for many a gathering. 

It’s an appliance for all seasons, equally perfect for summer evenings and winter nights, when its warmth is as inviting as the aromas it produces. Everyone will enjoy getting involved in making and cooking the pizzas – it virtually does double-time as an entertainer. 

Con: Ongoing costs

Regardless whether you buy a gas, electric or woodfired pizza oven, you’ll be up for extra costs.

Some woodfired ovens we tested ran up costs of $400 per year, based on being used once a week. This price included buying wood, kindling and natural fire starters from a hardware store, but if you have access to wood and kindling, you’ll save yourself plenty of money. 

On the flipside, the LPG models we tested were cheaper to run – costing up to $130 a year – while electric ovens were by far the thriftiest at a maximum of $13. Even if you factor in $400 a year in running costs, if you’re buying store-bought pizza once a week at $50 for two, you’ll probably still come out on top, even when you add the cost of ingredients. 

But on top of running costs, you’ll probably also need to buy accessories, as the things you need (a long peel, broom, pizza stone or long tongs, for example), aren’t always included with every model.

Con: Safety issues

A pizza oven needs to be very, very hot for that crisp perfection to manifest in all its bubbly glory. 

But all that heat can present a safety issue, particularly if children are present. Exterior surfaces can really heat up on electric and gas models, as they generally don’t have the same insulation as a brick oven. 

“A few of the cheaper models we tested were quite flimsy and became dangerously hot, meaning they are quite serious safety hazards,” warns Fiona. So make sure to check out our pizza oven reviews before you commit to your purchase – we’ve listed any safety issues we encountered during our testing.

Pro: Not just for pizza

Apart from those ovens that are designed solely for pizza, and only one pizza at a time at that, some larger models can cook a variety of foods. 

Other types of breads, such as focaccia, roast meats, and even sweet pies and tarts can benefit from contact with stone and high heat.

Con: You already have an oven…

How serious you are about pizza will probably inform your decision-making in regard to what you’re prepared to spend. 

But remember that many ovens these days have a pizza mode (fan-forced and base element or top, and bottom element and fan).

Even so, domestic ovens rarely reach temperatures higher than 250°C. If you’re OK with reasonably good pizza, your oven, paired with a pizza stone, might suit you just fine.

Still, there is something about that smoky, charred dough that a home oven will never quite recreate. But then neither will some pizza ovens.

“Not all pizza ovens will give you that authentic woodfired flavour and look – they will produce similar results to cooking a pizza in an oven,” says Fiona. 

So it’s worth trialling homemade pizza in your existing oven before handing over your cash for a second appliance that may not deliver results that are much different.

Pro: They’re fast, once heated

“Being able to produce authentic pizza in minutes with the right pizza oven is the biggest pro,” says Fiona. 

Once your pizza oven is heated, you can enjoy a slice of pizza in as little as two minutes. 

But it’s not a set-and-forget appliance – your presence is required to watch the dough bubble away, so you can whisk it out just before the char takes over. But then that’s part of the fun, isn’t it?

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