Well, it’s just about that time of the year in Oz. That time when we say goodbye to wintery meals like soups and stews opting instead for the legendary barbecue with some summer salads!

But, despite what your old man might have told you, there is a big difference between cooking a delicious barbie and something a bit how you going?

Luckily, the big difference lies in a few small tips. You’ve got your world class barbie, you’ve picked up the best BBQ covers for sale, now it’s time to put these handy little tips into effect to cook up an absolutely succulent barbie…

1. Only cook fresh food

Sure, it might be tempting to pull out those chicken drummies or snags that have been in the freezer since some time around last summer, but those meats have long since lost their top quality freshness.

Sure, you may still be able to cook them, but that doesn’t mean they are going to taste any good. Be sure to pick up fresh meat from the butcher or market the morning of your barbie - it will make a world of difference.

2. Don’t over do it

A top class barbie doesn’t have to be complex. In fact, some of the world’s best barbecuing nations like Argentina rely on nothing more than quality meat, a bit of salt and a really good flame.

You may want to try to marinate your meat in something wild and out there, but remember that one of the best ways to make a top barbecue is to allow the flavour of the meat to be accentuated by the barbie itself!

What’s more, you don’t want to take away from the meat being the star of the show, so just serve up a couple of little side salads that, along with the meat, make up a mouth watering flavour combination.

3. Preheat your barbie before cooking

There is nothing worse than throwing meat onto a cold barbie - it just won’t cook the way you want it to! Instead, you have to ensure that your barbie is nice and hot before you go throwing any meat onto it, so turn it on and allow it to preheat with some oil on before going to work (making sure to wipe down the plate after preheating with the oil!).

4. Manage the heat situation

No one wants to eat meat that is overcooked on the outside and red raw in the middle, and this is where managing the heat comes in handy. All you have to do is turn the heat up high when preheating your barbecue before turning it down a little when actually cooking.

Also, don’t be afraid to cook meat a little off the centre of the grill, as it is generally cooler to the sides and won’t overcook your meat on the outside whilst keeping it raw in the middle.

5. Bring meat to room temp prior to cooking

When meat is taken from the fridge and put straight on the plate it tends to cook unevenly because it is shocked by the sudden change in temperature. To get a nice, consistent cook, you want to take the meat out and allow it to come to room temperature before you put it on the barbecue.

See, there wasn’t much to it: the Aussie BBQ is a summer staple, but it can be made better by just these few simple tips - enjoy your barbie!