Celebrate summer with a stress-free backyard barbecue and these tips for getting the most out of your grill:
In the 10 min. it takes to heat your grill, prep your sides and get organized! You’ll need:
See all our grilling tools to make your cookouts easy.
Tumble-marinated meats, barbecue sauces, rubs, and bottled marinades all add loads of flavor without much prep. Wegmans basting oil, salt, and pepper alone will keep food moist and enhance your flavor.
Once your food gets those great char marks, move it to a lower heat area to finish cooking. For coals, create a hot zone by bunching them in one area. After searing, use tongs to move the food several inches from the coals.
Put a new spin on the basic grilling technique with a Charcoal Companion Smoker Bar. Fill it with specially flavored wood pellets, put it on the back of the grill and heat on high for 10 min. until the pellets smoke. Then grill your recipe, lid closed—a vent forces the smoke out onto your food.
A digital thermometer will tell you whether your food has reached its target temperature, but “carry over” cooking continues several minutes after you’ve taken it off the grill. Let your food sit 5-10 min. before slicing or serving to reach its target temp, keep more juices in, and make it extra tender and juicy.
Summer’s warmer weather and holidays make easy-going outdoor cookouts a must. And you don’t have to go over the top to impress! Just use these tips to keep your summer cookouts easy, relaxing, and fun.
Have something for everyone but skip the extra kitchen prep! I focus my efforts on the main meal, so I pick a few grab-and-go items to maximize my time and offer variety. My favorites: veggie tray with dip, queso & guacamole, and cheese & charcuterie.
Let cold salads and grilled meats be your BBQ stars. Family-pleasers like mustard potato salad, penne mozzarella salad, classic mac salad, or a green salad with a simple homemade dressing can all be made ahead of time. Our marinated chicken is also grill-ready. I like using a variety of ready-to-cook specialty burgers for a build-your-own-burger bar. Watermelon or ice cream sandwiches are a great way to round out your meal.
Using buckets and beverage tubs to chill and serve your favorite beverages and save on precious fridge space. Make sure to have plenty of ice on hand!
There’s no better way to get the party started than some fun music and friendly competition with lawn games and other outdoor activities.
Be ready with paper plates, towels and napkins, and cookout essentials like ketchup, mustard, and BBQ sauce. An assortment of beverages and storage containers are also a must.
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