If you’re originally from Georgia, you know exactly how summer cookouts can be. Summertime backyard barbecues are all the rage. That is until you’ve experienced the 90-degree heat and accompanying 90% humidity. Unfortunately, gnats, flies and mosquitoes rule the skies of many backyards and must be fought with swatters, zappers and citronella. But summer isn’t the only option for grilling out. In our opinion, Labor Day doesn’t have to mean the end of BBQ season! Get out there and enjoy the beautiful Fall weather while it lasts with these easy BBQ tips and patio ideas!
Of course, you’re much more familiar with your grilling setup than we are. Whether you’re running a gas grill, an old fashioned charcoal grill or a smoker, keep doing your thing! Think of these tips as general advice that anyone can use to host the best cookout possible!
Three Beginner Tips to Host the Perfect Fall Cookout
Tip #1 – Failing to prepare, is preparing to fail. Not only is this good general advice for life, but it’s pretty darn applicable to throwing a great cookout. Tons of prep for your BBQ can be handled in advance. Beforehand, get a headcount of who is coming, find out preferences and food allergies, plan your menu, do your grocery shopping, and prep both your ingredients and your cooking area. This includes mixing your sauces and rubs, slicing veggies, making patties, etc. Doing these things long before guests arrive will make grilling out much quicker and easier.
Tip #2 – Timing is everything! Nobody likes cold burgers, and nobody wants to stand around for 6 hours waiting on your famous beef brisket. This is the biggest rookie mistake in party preparation. If you start cooking too early, the food gets cold. If you wait until everyone arrives to start preparing the meal, you miss out on all the fun! Crunch the numbers on how long cooking will take, and plan accordingly. The goal is for you to have just as much fun as your guests!
Tip #3 – Lastly, take advantage of the shorter days and earlier sunsets! This makes time spent lounging on the patio so much more comfortable. The days are longest and hottest in early July, but from that point on, days get shorter and sunsets get earlier. It’s ironic that we spend so much time on our decks and porches in the summer, but neglect them when the weather is perfect for it. Consider building a fire or lighting some tiki torches and having a slightly later cookout this fall.
…And a Few Brief Patio Ideas from WFMO
Do you have a fire pit? If so, make a campfire and roast marshmallows! If not, browse our selection of fire pits for when the weather cools off. With a fire pit, you can enjoy your patio year-round! Also, our selection of handmade Adirondack chairs and loveseats are the perfect rustic pieces to accompany your backyard campfire. If mixing-and-matching furniture isn’t your thing, consider a sectional chat set like the Spring Dew 7 Piece Square Sectional pictured below! This is an easy way to outfit your whole patio in one fell swoop.
North Georgia’s Home for Brilliant Patio Ideas
We hope some of these tips will help you plan and execute the perfect fall cookout! Here at WFMO, we’re big fans of using patios as extensions of the home no matter the season. Our own patio is covered and open to the public year round! Swing by our locations in Acworth, Dallas/Hiram and Rome to see our selection of quality outdoor furniture and maybe develop a few patio ideas of your own!
Join us on the blog next week to learn about the newest brand offered at all our Woodstock Furniture & Mattress Outlet locations – Symbol Mattress!