Photos via: Houzz

According to statistics the food and drink industry currently employs over 4,000,000 people and is worth over £22 billion to the economy. There are also over 260,000,000 posts that sit under the #food hashtag on Instagram because let’s face it, if we didn’t take a picture of our meal, did it even exist?

This era of the foodie certainly involves a lot of eating out and specifically visiting food markets and street food stalls, going directly to the source of tasty treats. However, there are also a lot of foodie folk who want to cook at home, who want to get the best produce and make something Instagram-worthy in the comfort of their own digs.

Cooking in the kitchen is popular, as is cooking in the garden with popular additions like pizza ovens and of course, barbecues. Barbecuing food used to be something that was occasional in the UK (when that one sunny day finally arrives in summer!) but mainly culturally belonged to Australia. However, with the foodie fad, everybody wants to be a barbecue master now, otherwise known as a pitmaster.

Despite statistics showing that there was a massive 987% demand for vegetarian options in 2017, plenty of us still favour the caveman way, enjoying meat every which way, but especially fall-off-the-bone smoked or barbecued.

If you’ve always wanted to be the master of the orange coals in your own backyard and you’d love to post pictures of glistening briskets and perfectly barbecued steaks on your Instagram account, maybe it is time for you to become a pitmaster in your own home?

What Is A Pitmaster?

To be precise, a pitmaster is somebody who owns or operates their own barbecue pit which is a construction made to sit above an ‘earth oven’ or, pit which is used to cook and smoke vegetables and meat. Some people say that a pitmaster is somebody who has mastered the barbecue and who knows how to make excellent barbecue food.

It depends how pure you want to be about the term, but the fact is, if you’re not making a living from barbecuing or operating a pit at home, nobody is likely to pull you up on using the pitmaster hashtag, especially not your friends and family who get to enjoy the delicious food you are making.

Should I Install A Barbecue Pit?

If you have a very large garden and you’re handy, then you could install a barbecue pit. The process of smoking food is much more detailed than barbecuing so this is a good choice if you want to be a true pitmaster and you want to get really deep on this practice of cooking. Here is a handy video on YouTube to help you construct a barrel smoker which won’t affect any ground in your garden. Alternatively this YouTube video demonstrates how to build a brick barbecue and smoker if you want something more robust.

If you don’t want to build an actual pit or run an actual pit, then there is nothing wrong with perfecting the art of barbecuing food and sticking to barbecuing only is something much more accessible to the inexperienced pit enthusiast.

Remember That Barbecuing Is Not Grilling

Grilling food is searing a burger, cooking some sausages and quickly cooking up food to put in a bun with some tomato sauce and some fried onions. Barbecuing is slowly cooking food with heat to eventually get the most sumptuous, fall apart, juicy meat. Knowing the difference is so important because there is more of an art to barbecuing than many people realise. Before you fire up your barbecue, check out our article on barbeque season prep!

Are You Going To Get Competitive?

There is a huge culture within pitmaster groups and competitions and if you’re not interested in competing in the pitmaster competitions then you can look to learn from these groups and make friends. If you are going to get competitive then you may want to look more along the lines of learning from books such as these top 10 pitmaster books.

There are also plenty of Youtube videos, forums, handy articles and even courses you can look at and get involved with. Learning is certainly important but do protect your winning methods if you do really get into barbecuing and smoking food because it could have value later down the line if you do start competing.

Should You Make Your Garden More Comfortable?

If you are going to get into running a barbecue pit as a hobby then your garden needs to be more comfortable. It should be an area you look at improving over the next few months so that the barbecue pit and indoors or your home are separate. Firstly, consider making your garden more accessible with something like external bifold doors such as these examples from Vufold.

Next, look at how you interact with your garden. At the very least a paved area with seating and somewhere that offers weather protection means there is a place for you to sit down and rest between trying out cooking methods. You may also want to consider some level of outdoor kitchen.

It sounds a little bit extra, but actually, think how handy a sink with running water and preparation area would be if you’re taking meat from the barbecue or smoker and preparing it for friends?

Use Your New Hobby For Hygge Gains

Being a pitmaster can be a fun solo hobby but it is much more fun when you share the results of your hard work with friends and family. Capture those Hygge feels often and invite friends around for feasting. Remember that the meat you have smoked and barbecued is the main event so think about pairing the meat with delicious sides such as:

• Coleslaw
• Mac and cheese
• Crisp and fresh salad
• Lots of delicious sauces
• Artisan bread
• Crispy potato wedges
• Mashed potato
• Corn on the cob or smoked vegetables

Be creative with your meat and keep your sides simple to highlight the incredible cooking you’re doing.

There are two different things: there’s grilling, and there’s barbecue. Grilling is when people say, ‘We’re going to turn up the heat, make it really hot and sear a steak, sear a burger, cook a chicken.’ Barbecue is going low and slow. – Guy Fieri

Becoming a pitmaster at home could be an amazing hobby for you to invest in if you love meat, you love entertaining and you love cooking good food. Do your research before you invest in anything and consider taking a look at the Jimmy and Jamie’s Friday Night Feast episode where Jimmy cheaply makes a smoker as it is an accessible place to start your pitmaster journey. Soon enough you’ll be making melt in the mouth, fall off the bone meat that will have you feeling like the master of your smoker, pit or barbecue in no time.

Summertime is still in full swing in some areas of the globe, making it a great time to get started on building your swimming pool! If you’ve finally decided on building a pool but are unsure of what type to get – there are 3 major styles that have to be taken into consideration. Choosing the right type all depends on several factors such as available space, geographic location, your budget, e.t.c.

Mehus Construction

Above Ground Pools

As the name suggests, this type of pool is one that is installed above ground level. They vary in size, with models ranging from 10 ft. to over 30 ft. in diameter. One of the main reasons that one would want to install one of these pools is that they don’t want to dig up their backyard and install an in-ground pool.

Agpco Co.

They are also the cheapest of all the options and can be dismantled if the owner decides to move and, in terms of the construction process, most of them can be built using pre-fabricated kits. This is a financial advantage as the owner can put it together without having to bring in a contractor. The installation of this pool requires a flat surface and will also need access to an electrical and water supply.

Agpco Co.

But with every advantage, there are always going to be disadvantages. These pools do not last long and aren’t as visually appealing as in-ground pools. There are also two types of above ground pools: soft-sided pools and hard-sided pools. Soft-sided pools are made from rubber or latex, while hard-sided pools are made using metals and fiberglass, making them more durable and expensive.

Brothers 3 Pools

In Ground Swimming Pools

People who have a bit more cash to spend will usually opt for these pools. Not only are they the most popular, but also, they are the most expensive. The beauty of this type is that they can be customised to whatever the customer wants with regards to shape, length, depth and width.

Mcdugald Architects

You can’t do this with any other pool type. Also, having an in-ground swimming pool will increase the property’s value. The 4 types of these pools are:

• Vinyl-Lined In-Ground Pools: These pools use a flexible vinyl liner that is installed over a frame, usually made of metal or resin. Vinyl liners are cost-effective and easy to install, but may need to be replaced every 5-10 years as the liner can become damaged over time.
  
• Poured Concrete Swimming Pools: They are custom-built on-site by pouring concrete into a formed structure. They are highly durable and can be shaped into virtually any design, but are more expensive to construct than other options.
  
• Gunite Pools: These pools are created by spraying a mixture of cement, sand, and water onto a steel or polymer framework. This creates a very strong and customizable pool shell. Gunite pools are known for their long lifespan and ability to be built in complex shapes.
  
• Fiberglass Pools: They are pre-manufactured in a factory and then delivered and installed on-site. They are smooth, durable, and require less maintenance than other pool types. The average fiberglass pool cost usually depends on size and features.

Portable swimming pools

This type of pool is one that everyone will have had at some point during their life, most likely in their childhood. Similar to above ground pools, they can be relocated to any location in your backyard as well as being able to be filled and drained. The models with air rings and a support structure can be easily built on a flat surface and obviously don’t require the skills of a contractor, which is financially advantageous.

Conversely, they can be easily taken apart and stored conveniently in a back shed or a garage for later use. The main reason why people would opt for a portable swimming pool are purely financial. They are great for parents who don’t want to break the bank, but still want to give their children a swimming pool.

Volusion

Diving Pools

Diving pools are a fairly expensive option and are another type of in-ground pool that can be customised, but to strict regulations. These include the size, depth, distance between the diving board and platform etc. and need to be strictly followed to ensure safety.

Larry Boeder

The two types of diving boards that are available are: commercial and residential. Generally, diving boards should be tough and have a non-slippery surface, however, despite all of this, diving pools aren’t popular in residential homes due to accidents taking place.

Armond Pools

Before installing your swimming pool, be sure to determine which type you want. If you’re not too concerned with durability or the look, then an above-ground swimming pool would be better suited as they are cheaper and can be easily built. If durability isn’t an issue, then an in-ground pool would be the best option.

Exteriors CR