Undeniably, there is nothing more that screams American summer as much as burgers and hot dogs do. Picture this: spending a long day with your friends at a lake, soaking the car on your drive home, calling dibs on who gets to shower first, and finally settling down with some burgers and lemonade. I mean, is there a more perfect summer day?
Whether or not this is controversial, I truly believe that people should start grilling most of their meals in the summertime. And before you start to doubt me, let me explain why.
It’s not as stressful as cooking on a stovetop.
Before I say what I say, let me be clear: I love cooking. That being said, I have to admit that more often than not, cooking stresses me out. There’s never enough burners, never enough prep space, and always too many things to do. In the kitchen, I’m in a constant state of going from cutting up ingredients, making sure whatever’s on the stove doesn’t burn, and cleaning up my workspace. Simply put, I get pretty overstimulated.
Cooking on a grill negates all of the stress that comes with cooking on a stovetop. You simply do all your prep work inside, toss it all on the grill, and then you plate it up for everyone. It allows you to forget all the complications with balancing burners, pots, pans, and dishes. Minimal stress and minimal mess!
It’s a great way to spend time with your loved ones.
I know I’m not the only one constantly telling people to get out of my way when they’re in the kitchen with me when I cook. I can’t help it! There’s just so much to do and as much as I wish I can socialize, I simply cannot.
Thankfully, I’m the complete opposite when I’m outside grilling. Friends and family can crowd around the deck no problem because instead of erratically running around the kitchen, I’m able to just throw all my ingredients on the grill and close the lid. And truly, there is nothing better in the world than having a drink in one hand, a spatula in the other, and a deep late night conversation with all the people I love. Bonus points if there’s a fire and s’mores for dessert.
There are plenty of delicious recipes.
Okay, as much as I’ve talked about burgers and hot dogs so far, there is much more that you can make on a grill. Of course, there’s always the typical chicken and steak that I personally can never get enough of. My family loves to make fish wrapped in tin foil, whether it be salmon or some white fish. If you’re looking for something that isn’t meat, feel free to chop up some sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and onion and put that in some tin foil as well. Additionally, you can just throw corn on the grill no problem, husk and all, and that’ll cook perfectly.
Basically, what I’m trying to say is that there are pretty much endless possibilities with the grill. If you really think about it, a grill with a cover is basically just an outdoor oven that can do anything you want it to do. Pineapple, kebabs, lasagna, mac and cheese, pizza, literally anything that you can possibly think of, there is probably a way to make it on the grill.
With all said and done, the truth is that there’s just a certain freedom with cooking on a grill. The heat of the summer, a perfect pink and orange sunset, the sounds of conversations and bugs all around, there’s no better way to spend a summer night. And after all of this, you get what really matters: a delicious meal with your friends and family.