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Now that summer is here, you may feel like throwing a BBQ party in your backyard. You don’t have to be an expert in grilling in order to make your event one that the neighbors will talk about for the rest of the season. You just need to make the right preparations so you role as host is as easy and enjoyable as can be.
Plan the Scene
Don’t just rush out to the store to buy a bunch of paper plates and plastic utensils. You need to take a little time to plan out your approach. Ask yourself how many people are going to be present at this event. Are you expecting any kids? You also need to think about the kinds of foods you want to serve and whether or not you’ll need to rent some table, chairs, and tents. You don’t want things to look as if you simply put it together overnight. Your guests will be able to tell the amount of care you put into your planning your party.
Stock up on Supplies
Make sure you order more than enough supplies for all of your guests. You don’t want to run out of anything while the event is going on. Don’t assume that if you do run out of napkins, cups, or drinks that you can simply run to the store to replenish your stock. You’ll only end up paying more money in the long run and may end up losing a few guests along the way.
Clean Your Grill
Make sure that you take some time to clean your grill at least a day or two before the event. Although it is nasty work, it needs to be done. You don’t want to wait until the day of the event because you may not have enough time to get it done before your guests start to arrive.
Thaw Out Your Food
Don’t wait until the last minute to attempt to thaw your frozen goods out. You’ll need to do so a few days in advance if you want to do it safely. Take your frozen foods and place them in the refrigerator three to five days before your party. Make sure you keep your meat stored in the refrigerator where it can’t leak onto anything.
Bring Out the Coolers
Inspect your coolers and make sure they are clean and ready for use. Even though you may normally use them to keep all of your beverages cool, you can also use them to safely store food before and after it has been prepared.
Check Your Food Handling Skills
As someone who will be preparing food, you need to be extra careful about how you handle it. Wear gloves and change them each time you touch raw meat. Avoid wearing the same pair of gloves when you touch different kinds of meat. The goal is for you to prevent cross contamination. Use a thermometer to double check the doneness of your meats. Make sure you keep all raw and cooked foods stored safely and separately as well. Keep everything covered to prevent to keep insects out of your food.
Double Check Your Foods
Even though you may have been to the grocery store several times already, do a final check to see if you have all of the products you intend to feed your guests. Make sure you have a variety of foods to suit everyone’s tastes. Don’t forget that some of your guests may be vegetarians so they may maintain a plant-based diet, so be sure that you get some Hampton Creek as well.
Set Up Your Equipment
It helps tremendously if you set up all of your tables, chairs, tents, and other large equipment up several days before the big event. Double check them to ensure they are structurally sound and sturdy so that you don’t have to worry about accidents. Setting them up several days early also allows you to check out the layout and make adjustments to it as often as you like until you are satisfied.
You can use these tips to help you plan out any type of parties, picnics, and outdoor events during the summer time. Even if you are only entertaining family, you should still use a little more effort to ensure that your soirees go off without a hitch so you can enjoy being a part of the event, not just managing it.
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Hello! I am Camille, a wife, mother of four, Disney obsessed, certified teacher, and believer in creating your best momlife the way you see fit. Motherhood comes with its ups and downs, my hope is you’ll find something here to make your life a little better/easier. Let’s be friends on social!
