Cheap Gift Basket Welcomes the celebration of the 4th of July!

Top 10 Barbecue Tips For Simple and GREAT Barbecues

Cheap Gift Basket believes that when it comes to a good fourth of July Barbecue, “Simple is better!”

Top 10 Barbecue Checklist for an way too much fun cheap barbecue gift basket!

1 – Prepare ahead – Patty up the burgers, marinade the steak , lamb pork, fish or other marinated food items in advance – The night before  makes a great prep time if you want to spend your time enjoying your guests on the 4th instead of preparing.

Set out tablecloths, paper plates, napkins, spoons, knives, and forks, glasses (if you plan to use them) the night before just in case you don’t have enough you can run to the store (or wash up some extras) without leaving anyone sitting at the table without a plate!

Set out ALL condiments the night before – including anything you need for any special drinks – ingredients and preparation both!  example – mustard, mayonnaise, ketchup, pickles, olives, lemons, limes, skewers,  and don’t forget to check your ice supply to keep drinks cold . . .

2 – Clean your grill and keep it clean.  Get rid of old ashes so that your grill has better circulation of air and burns foods more evenly – and faster.  Get rid of any grilled food particles left stuck to your grill wires or plate – Makes for such a better taste to any new food you cook!

If your food is sticking – use a fine coat of oil on your grill – not too much, though.

Removing the ashes from your barbecue every time you grill will keep your grill lasting longer because the corrosive ash that mixes with rain water will create holes in your barbecue equipment.

My friend worked in a meat plant once as a youth and here is what he learned from that experience – ALWAYS wash your meat and vegetables and NEVER put cooked meat on a platter that held raw meat.  If I told you what he told me about that experience beyond this then you would never buy meat again – EVER.  So, Wash all food items.

If you have never used the wood chips to barbecue with  - Barbecue Smoking Chips – then now is a good time to try them.   You’ll find that they add a certain flavor to your meal that seasoning can’t and doesn’t add.

On a barbecue – Cook as well done as you can (not overdone) – especially chicken!

3 – Start your fire early – about 45 minutes or so before you are ready to barbecue is said to work best.  This way you let the lighter fluid dissolve completely enough that the odor of the fumes won’t be absorbed into your food items.

4 – You can’t cook ‘too much,’ with a barbecue because leftovers always freeze and re-heat great!

Bonus – they taste as good a second time as they did the first time.  So, prepare and grill more food than you will eat that day.

5 – Get yourself an inexpensive spray bottle and keep it filled with water beside your grill.  You can use it to keep flames under control and ‘turn down the heat’ on your ashes.

6 – If you are the cook – Be the cook – Stay at the grill and do not leave it unattended.  Think about what you need ahead of time – Like seasoning or serving platters, or trays to carry food and meat from the grill to the table on.  Do not wander away collecting those things you ‘forgot’ to grab.  Many accidents can be eliminated with this one little step.

7 – Get one extra propane tank for your barbecue and keep the one not being used filled.  No need to ever run out and ruin your barbecue fun that way!

8 – Fire can be scary – know where your fire extinguisher is in case you need to grab it quick.  If you don’t have a fire extinguisher then you’ll want to invest in one – Also FYI – check with your insurance agent and find out if your home insurance is lower if you have a fire extinguisher (or two) in your home.  The life you are saving could be well worth the cost!  Make sure the kids know how to operate them too!

9 – Use long handled barbecue tools – Always -

You know how squashing your hamburger on the grill makes that neat popping sound – Stop it.  You are squashing all the good stuff right out of them.  Let those burgers lay!

10 – Want simple and cheap desserts that taste great!  Barbecue pineapple chunks on your grill – yummy!  Kids will think it’s even better with ice cream!

Happy Fourth of July from Cheap Gift Basket!

We hope you and yours enjoy this 4th of July holiday!

>