Every year around this time in many houses the same ceremony is repeated: lean out on the balcony, assume that it is much smaller than the terrace that we would like to have, but start to think of ideas to take advantage of it in good weather. A process in which there is always a chapter dedicated to barbecues that at the moment of truth is usually discarded due to lack of space. Luckily, there are more and more solutions to set up a small urban barbecue with very little space.
Although space is usually the main drawback when thinking about a barbecue on the balcony, in reality it is not the only problem. Smoke, security or possible disturbance to the neighbors are also issues to take into account before buying a barbecue or banishing the idea.
What does the law say about it? There is no national application rule in this regard, so it will be the municipal legislation that governs in each case. But, broadly speaking, it can be said that having a barbecue on a community terrace is a bad idea that can lead to problems, while doing it on a private balcony has much more legal coverage.
Despite this, in addition to a good dose of common sense, it is necessary to take into account the Horizontal Property Law that indicates that "the owner and the occupant of the apartment or premises are not allowed to carry out prohibited activities in it or in the rest of the property in the statutes, that are harmful to the property or that contravene the general provisions on annoying, unhealthy, harmful, dangerous or illegal activities”.
In other words, the community of neighbors could establish rules in this regard and limit their use if they cause inconvenience to other residents. Hence, choosing the model well is important to avoid annoying those who live nearby and that your barbecue appears on the agenda of the next neighborhood meeting.
And what do the fire and grill experts think about setting up a small barbecue on the balcony? Mikel López de Viñaspre, one of the founders and managers of Grupo Sagardi and a great connoisseur of Basque grilling, gives us some advice for having a good barbecue without having problems with the neighbors: little fat to minimize smoke.
So bet on low-fat meats, give priority to vegetables -which we can cook beforehand and finish off on the grill so that they cook faster without giving up the griddle effect- or add the oil at the end, already off the heat, these are tips to take into account.
The Argentinian Javier Brichetto from the Piantao restaurant in Madrid aims high and bets directly on a kamado-type barbecue, but in a compact version. And the smoke? It is true that it generates a little, he admits, but only at the beginning. Then it turns out a very versatile oven and capable of roasting all kinds of pieces.
Having written down the legal and culinary advice, it's time to take a look at the market to see some of the most interesting options in this barbecue format.
For some time now, small charcoal barbecues have been sold on the market whose main attraction is that they promise not to generate smoke. LotusGrill is the best-known brand, although there are already dozens of versions of different sizes and at very competitive prices.
Normally circular in shape and designed to be placed on a table, some models are advertised directly as options for interiors thanks. They are relatively clean -the coal is placed in a central area- they allow you to regulate the temperature thanks to the fan that they incorporate and are very safe. We have seen some in operation and, as LotusGrill indicates very well, the most correct thing to do would be to talk about an “almost” smokeless barbecue. In any case, an interesting option for balconies.
We would all like to have a garden to prepare the barbecue, but even the best-known brand in this sector -Weber- is aware that the reality of the majority is far from that postcard. For this reason, its range includes more and more compact models designed for small spaces and electrical solutions that solve the possible hassles and inconveniences of coal.
Models like the Lumin range confirm this trend. It is true that they are not the cheapest option among the electric options, but they have features that promise to ensure that even barbecue purists do not miss the fire. It reaches a temperature of more than 300 degrees, they manage to mark the roasted pieces and it can also be used for steaming and smoking.
If you are one of those who are about to discover that CampingGaz is a brand, welcome to the club. Having clarified this point, it turns out that in addition to camping equipment and the classic blue cylinders, this company also has a range of compact tabletop barbecues that can be used perfectly for a small balcony or terrace.
The Attitude 2Go models have a cast iron grill that makes good use of all the available space and a lid, a system to cover the flame and make it safer, and they are easy to store and transport, weighing around 13 kilos.
An alternative to the barbecue are electric plates. They are surely the simplest and most affordable option, with dozens of models that can be used without problems indoors and, of course, on the balcony or terrace. Within this range, the proposal of the Jata brand stands out, which has different models that replace the traditional grill with a terracotta plate.
Made in Spain, they offer a high roasting temperature, ability to maintain heat and promise great durability and easy cleaning. The type of cooking moves away from barbecue roasting and is more reminiscent of those stone plates that some restaurants use to finish off grilled meat at the table itself. In fact, that's exactly the idea.
The kamado-type ovens that Brichetto recommended to us have become fashionable in recent years. Although at first they were scary due to their size and price, the range has grown and it is now possible to find relatively compact models for much tighter budgets. Lidl, for example, offers a ceramic barbecue with a diameter of 50 centimeters for around 130 euros.
It must be borne in mind that, despite being the most compact version, they still have a considerable weight (about 30 kilos) so a resistant table will be needed. In addition, they are charcoal barbecues, so you have to take into account that the smoke when lighting the fire can be a problem. But if we are clear about the drawbacks, and that we are buying more of an oven than a regular barbecue, these ceramic models can give a lot of play for cooking.
If this kamado-type barbecue represents the most complex option at all levels -also the one that will tempt cooks the most- a table grill would be the simple and economical answer to that craving for homemade barbecue. The range is immense in brands, sizes and prices starting at just over 20 euros.
Aiming a little higher, for around 100 euros, for example, the WMF Quadro Lono is perfect for not complicating your life. A very compact tabletop electric grill that can even be used indoors, with five temperature settings and a 14" x 11" cast aluminum griddle. Perfect to keep in any closet and take out only on days when you want to have a barbecue on the balcony.
