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How To Host The Perfect Backyard Barbecue

Are you planning to host a barbecue in your backyard? A successful barbecue depends on proper planning and preparation of not only the food but also the presentation or ‘tablescapes’ as people say. Here are seven tips for planning and hosting the perfect backyard barbecue. 

Tip #1. Bulk Buy Your Food

The golden rule of hosting a fabulous barbecue is always having enough food. Running short on food is the cardinal sin of hosting. To avoid this, prepare a portion and a half of each main dish per guest. To ensure you have plenty to go around without breaking the bank, you’ll want to go to a wholesaler for your ribs, brisket, hotlinks, chicken and seafood. Wholesalers will give you quality, fresh ingredients for a fair price and your guests will never know the difference. 

Tip #2. Try And Have A Little Bit Of Everything

The second golden rule of hosting a barbecue is to try and have a little bit of everything. Not everyone you invite will like everything. You’re going to want some ribs, chicken, beef, pork, ham and hotdogs at a bare minimum. Your guests may not expect seafood but they will expect the usual sides such as coleslaw, pickles and salad.  

Tip #3. Get A Theme And Keep It Clean

While ensuring that you have a range of food for your guests to try, choosing a theme for your barbecue isn’t a bad idea. It is a barbecue so keep it simple and fun such as ‘Wild West’ or ‘Turf And Surf’. Make sure you decorate your yard nicely and have a good clean up to make the guests feel welcome. 

Tip #4. Prep As Thoroughly As Possible

A large factor in how successfully you cook the food is how well you prepare it. Don’t skimp on the prep time. If you bulk-buy, the cases of chickens will take the most time to prepare. Set aside a good three to four hours for getting the chicken in the sink, cleaning it and using salt to get rid of the film under the skin. If you do bulk buy, you’ll likely find feathers on the thighs so you need to go through it methodically, divide the pieces into food plastic bags and add some seasoning. 

Tip #5. Have A Great Rub

Preparing your meat and food will take hours and cooking it fresh on the day is no easy task. You can reduce your workload by preparing the cold food such as salads, cheeses and sides a day or two beforehand. One day prior to your barbecue, use your favourite dry rub for the ribs, steak and chicken and if you are marinating, let the meat sit for an extra long time to ensure that your barbecue goes down a storm.  

Tip #6. Kit Yourself Out Like A Pro

The difference between a good barbecue and a great one is your attention to detail. Consider buying good utensils and using a food thermometer to check the internal temperate of your meat. This helps avoid undercooking the meat and will save you from the embarrassment of poisoning your guests. 

Tip #7. Rent What You Don’t Own

At the end of the day, it’s a barbecue and its supposed to be fun. It isn’t rocket science and you aren’t likely to host that many barbecues all that often. If you don’t own a decent grill, why not rent one? Many BBQ catering firms offer everything from charcoal and propane grills to tables, cutlery and tents, all up for rent. Renting professional equipment will ensure that you host the perfect barbecue. You can rent a top-end grill, lots of tables and chairs and even some tents to keep your guests nice and relaxed. 

Conclusion

These seven tips should help you host the perfect barbecue. Have fun and good grilling!