Ah, the great summer barbecue. What greater joy is there during those sunny months? That depends on whether you’re the one having to prepare the event – and if you have what you need to make it go without a hitch.
If not, your iPhone can help. For everything from deciding on the best day to perfecting recipes, fire up an app before you fire up the grill.
Tomorrow.io: Weather Forecast (free + IAP)
Other weather apps give you a forecast and many of them include a rainfall radar. Tomorrow lets you set activities for specific locations and explore when conditions will be optimal for them. A barbecue is one such activity. Bar charts and other data will let you know whether you’re in for sunshine or a washout. Naturally, all the usual weather app features are present and correct too.
Get Tomorrow.io: Weather Forecast
Todoist (free + IAP)
If you’re planning a barbecue alone and are armed with an iPhone, you may as well stick with built-in apps Reminders and Notes. But when conspiring with others, Todoist is a good bet. Its flexible system lets you delegate tasks and define priorities, so you know precisely who to blame when you end up with 14 barbecues and yet nothing to cook on them.
MultiTimer (free + IAP)
Hilariously, the iPhone didn’t get multiple timers until iOS 17. And even after that happened, you were probably still better off with MultiTimer. Why? Because it’s so flexible. You can, on the same screen, mix and match all kinds of timers that can be colored and labeled. Ideal for keeping tabs on the time, recurring timers for turning meat on the barbecue, and countdowns for sides you’re cooking elsewhere.
BBQ Timer (free)
If MultiTimer feels a bit much when you just want to cook some food, try BBQ Timer. It pares things down to a few button presses. You tap meat types to start timers. Alarms sound when it’s time to turn your food. And if you’re cooking something other than meat, there’s (suitably) the “Other” option. Although just be mindful that’s always illustrated with a steak, regardless of what you’re cooking!
SteakMate (free)
This third timer helps when you need assistance regarding not horribly ruining all that expensive steak you bought. You identify the type of steak you have, state its thickness, and define how you’d like it cooked. The app then kicks off a timer and notifies you when it’s time to flip the meat or remove it from the grill. Usefully, the app’s queue lets you have multiple steaks on the go at once.
Tasty (free)
Want quick tips for recipes beyond hastily hacked-together salad, baked potatoes, and burgers on the grill? Tasty is packed full of inspiring recipes, which can be quickly filtered down to cater for specific difficulty levels and dietary requirements. What’s more, in each case, you get super-efficient video guides on how to make the thing. It’s like your favorite cooking shows, but with all the fat removed.
Mela (free or $7/£7)
Should your approach to recipes be more old-school, Mela gives you a digital take on a personal recipe book. You can scan paper notes or “clip” recipes from the internet, making changes to them as you see fit. Each recipe can be categorized, so you can instantly later access your barbecue favorites. And the built-in feed reader also lets you pull in the latest articles from foodie sites you favor.
Cocktail Flow (free + IAP)
You should always drink sensibly and in moderation, especially on sunny days. But a barbecue can nonetheless be a good excuse for a drink or two. However, you might want to be a bit more sophisticated during your event than lobbing cans of beer at guests. This app instructs you on how to make dozens of cocktails, which you can search by name or base.
Poolsuite FM (free)
Finally, where would a barbecue be without great music? Apple Music will do, but Poolsuite FM saves you having to spend time putting together a playlist. Instead, select a station and let its summer vibes lighten the mood. All the while, you get to bathe in your geek credentials, due to the radio’s retro visuals that evoke the original Mac, or playlists that resemble old-school spinning CDs.