
Discover these BBQ trends for 2021!
United Brands Group, formerly known as BarrelQ, has been offering the most unique BBQ products since 2015. From fully customized design charcoal BBQs within the promotional market to premium BBQ sauces, 6-burner gas BBQs and smokers for the retail market. Recently, our order platform for retail dealers went live where you can find all our brands and make quick and easy purchases. Besides renewing our yearly product range, we continuously keep an eye on upcoming BBQ trends.
Last year, we saw a huge increase in the purchases of BBQs. Where previously many people sought out the luxury table scenes outside their doors, the pandemic has meant that this luxury now can be found in more and more backyards. It looks like this trend will continue in terms of more BBQ days this year. Below, you will find our latest forecasts for this year’s summer trends.

Smokers and Smoking
When barbecuing, we do not immediately think of smoking. Low and slow cooking already made its quiet appearance last year but mainly for meat preparations only. This year we will see incorporating a wide range of techniques from using different barbecues, such as a kamado, to control the heat. The overall vibe of BBQs now is laid-back and casual, and the food is beginning to reflect that.

BBQ as gas stove
The BBQ will increasingly be used as a fully-equipped cooking appliance. In addition to the well-known grilling, pans are now also put on the fire and various accessories are used to make cooking vegetables and meat easier.

Green Barbecue
We also see a swift from animal meat to more and more plant-based products. Instead of opting for beef, pork, chicken, or fish, people are increasingly opting for a meat substitute. The increase of the availability of the number of different meat substitutes that can be found in (online) supermarkets is also accompanied by this trend. People become more and more aware of the impact we make on the world with our old-fashioned and current lifestyles.
In addition to plant-based proteins, we also see that vegetables will play a leading role instead of being used as undervalued side dishes. Of course, we will continue to grill veggie standbys, like peppers, corn, and zucchini. But we will also start grilling vegetables we would never have imagined. We will spit-roast whole cauliflowers as we do chickens and prepare mushroom skewers like we prepare beef, lamb, or shrimp skewers. Hardcore carnivores will grill veggies for their health benefits and as killer accompaniments for our favorite grilled meats. Vegetarians and vegans will grill vegetables for the smokiness and supernatural sweetness live fire imparts to plant and dairy foods.

Luxurious burgers
Hamburgers have occupied an important position in the BBQ world for years now. And you will probably ask yourself why it appears in the trend list for 2021. We see a trend emerging where a hamburger is no longer a simple patty, but a fully dressed burger bun. We are going beyond a tomato slices, crunchy lettuce, pickles, caramelised unions, and cheddar. Did you ever think of a portobello burger with blue cheese or a biological Angus burger with a slice of spicy pepper jack, red onion chutney and kimchi? Well, prepare for something like this.
Oh and don’t forget to top off your burger with a sauce from Saus.Guru!

Smart-technology grilling
This trend may not be completely new, but the new techniques are almost indispensable. They pop up everywhere. Smart devices such as thermometers that can be controlled via an app on your phone. These thermometers keep very accurately track of the exact temperature of the environment and the meat itself. This will prevent you from messing up an expensive piece of meat. High-tech barbecuing is the new (edible) black!