The smell of fresh cut grass, the taste of watermelon and the feeling of your skin soaking up the warm sun; it must be summer. Backyard BBQ’s have been a long standing tradition in the United States, but it’s sometimes easy to get bogged down in the details. To help you throw a great barbecue in order to kick of the season, here are 5 summer BBQ tips to help work out all the kinks.
Know How To Keep Safe
An open flame on the grill may seem perfectly fine when the griller is the only one with direct contact. However, adding more people into the equation, including kids who just want to have a good time, increases the stakes (no pun intended). As long as you know some simple BBQ safety, you can be sure no one goes home with something more than a full tummy and new memories.
- Keep the grill at least 10 feet away from the house
- Clean the grill
- Check for gas leaks before starting
- Keep the grill away from hanging decorations
- Keep a spray bottle of water handy
- Know where a fire extinguisher is
- Don’t leave your grill unattended
- Don’t load it up with too much food
Bring Some Entertainment
We’re not saying that you have to hire a live band or find the closest fire juggler for your party. Entertainment can be something easy like some board games, a game of horseshoes or a televised sports game if there’s one on. Talking and catching up with old friends is great, but you want to make sure there’s something to do when the words stop flowing.
Start Planning Early
Know how much time each thing you’re planning on cooking takes. If that requires marinating steaks overnight, then throw them in there the night before. You don’t just want to be remembered for hosting a great party, but for having great food that was ready on time too!
Know Your Guests
You’re favorite drink may be sweet tea, but that doesn’t mean everyone else’s is as well. Make sure you know the likes and dislikes of the people you’re inviting so you know you’ll have something on hand for everyone. That includes people with dietary restrictions. For instance, if you’re having burgers, make a veggie burger, or if you’re serving up kabobs, make one with just vegetables. Small changes like these aren’t hard to make as long as you look into things ahead of time.
Don’t Break The Bank
You may be looking to impress your guests, but that’s not worth buying the most expensive cut of meat just to show them that you know your steak. It’s perfectly acceptable to stick with the staples: hamburgers and hot dogs, or try an easy new summer BBQ recipe. If you are going to do this, but still want a way to dress it up, change up the condiments you have on hand. Have cheddar and blue cheese, mayo and guacamole. This way your guests can have a fun time experimenting and making new favorites while you stayed within your budget.
A summer barbeque doesn’t have to be a big event. The company you keep should be more of the centerpiece than the actual centerpieces you spent hours and hours trying to think of. Because of this, there are many quick and easy ways to prepare for your party without spending weeks planning. If you decide there is something you need to buy, like cups (those are important), visit MyPaperShop.com and we’ll help you find exactly what you need.
