If you’re one of the many BBQers who haven’t included a spit roaster in their arsenal, you’re missing out on a really versatile piece of equipment that produces great food, hassle-free cooking. It caters for anywhere from 1 or 2 people up to a delicious feast for your family and friends at a large gathering. In this blog post, we will help to decide what is the perfect spit roaster for you. Depending on your needs.
When it comes to BBQ spits, there is so much variety that it’s easy to get lost in. All the different options or forget to consider factors that are actually very important to get right in order to enjoy using the spit. Here are some important factors to consider when making your decision.
Quality
There are plenty of spits available at lower price points, which is fine if that fits your budget. Just keep in mind that if you pay less, you’re getting a spit that was less expensive to make with lower-cost materials.
Thinner spit walls will deteriorate faster, chrome-plated spit rods and grills will crack and flake and motors will handle less weight in the food. If your budget allows it, look for a spit with food-grade stainless steel rods, forks, discs, and grills, as well as solid wall construction and motors rated for the weight of the food you intend to cook.
Fuel
You can use either charcoal or gas as a fuel source, or you can use both with a dual fuel spit rotisserie. Essentially, gas is more convenient, while charcoal provides the most flavour.
More information on deciding between a gas and a charcoal spit can be found in our blog post: Choosing a gas or charcoal BBQ spit
Versatility
It’s easy to believe that a spit is only good for roaster cooking and nothing else. While the food produced by a roaster would be worth it on its own, the one you choose will most likely be able to do much more for you. Spit Roaster with grills allow you to grill your food, whereas a hooded roaster allows you to roast with charcoal as well. In terms of versatility, my personal favourite is the Cyprus spit, which, depending on the model and accessories you choose, can provide you with the option of using three larger skewers, twelve smaller skewers (all motor-driven), multi-use baskets, gyros discs, rotisserie forks, and a height-adjustable grill (which is very useful when grilling with charcoal).
Size
Spits are available in a variety of sizes. Choosing the right roaster size for you is obviously comes down partly on price but it also depends on where you fall on the sliding scale between portability and cooking capacity.
Choose the Perfect Spit Roast for You
Camping and portable spits offer the most portability and (with the exception of our heavy-duty portable spit) give a cooking capacity of around 8kg.
Small spit roasters have a slightly larger capacity – around 8-15kg per motor – and can be wheeled to different locations (or, in some cases, fit in the car).
Large spit roasters have the most food capacity, catering to large crowds, with motors capable of handling up to 100kg. Of course, due to their larger size, this category of spits is less portable than the others.
Make sure you have the knowledge you need to choose the right spit roaster. And to help you find the perfect spit roaster for you, we prepare a FREE spit buying guide.
You might also be interested in:
Free spit roasting recipe book
Blog: What is the perfect cooking height when roasting on a spit?
Blog: What spit roasting accessories do I need?
If you have any questions about choosing a spit rotisserie or any of our products we’d be happy to help – please get in touch!