Everyone knows that #grilling for a #cookout can help keep one’s home comfortable in the summertime by eliminating the heat coming from the oven or cooktop. But it’s also an energy-efficient and cost-effective choice! A single air-conditioning unit can use up to 5.14 kWh per hour, according to Beltrami Energy Cooperative, a Minnesota-based utility. “If you are looking to maintain a cool vibe and lower your AC’s energy consumption, head outside to the grill,” it says. “Rather than generating heat indoors, the heat is dispersed outside, reducing strain on the AC, which ultimately lowers utility bills.” #NoSweatSummerCookout
Tag: food preparation
Summer Grilling Can Build Healthy Habits
Grilling can be a healthy way to cook in the #summertime and throughout the year, says Mountain Pacific Healthcare. It requires less oil than frying and allows excess fats to drip off of meats; it also encourages the use of fresh ingredients. “Build a menu that includes lean proteins such as chicken breast, turkey burgers, fish, shrimp or tofu [and] colorful vegetables like zucchini, bell peppers, mushrooms, asparagus and onions.” Watch portion sizes and experiment with citrus marinades and spice rubs to avoid the added sugars of store-bought barbecue sauces. Grilling offers “an opportunity to build healthier habits.” #NoSweatSummerCookout
Uncomplicate Your Cookout Plans
A backyard #cookout is one of the simplest ways to host friends and family, and it doesn’t require hours of preparation, says Piggly Wiggly Birmingham. Keep the menu straightforward: Focus on a main dish or two and a few sides. Hamburgers and hot dogs are the easiest to cook, but as you gain confidence at the #grill, you can expand your repertoire to include grilled chicken, fish and vegetable dishes — and pick up a ready-made potato salad, chips, corn and a watermelon to round out the meal plan. Summer is made for relaxing, so don’t feel you have to make a cookout complicated! #NoSweatSummerCookout
How to Have a Stress-Free Summer Cookout
Hosting a #cookout? Don’t stress, says Chiavetta’s. Keep your schedule flexible — instead of setting a specific time for dinner, arrange service around a two-hour “grazing window.” Serve everything buffet-style and let your guests load up their paper plates whenever they get hungry. Keep food out of direct sunlight, of course — especially those mayonnaise-based potato salads and sour cream dips. If side dishes need to be chilled, fill a plastic bin with “two inches of crushed ice and nestle the serving bowls directly inside it” to keep foods fresh for hours. #NoSweatSummerGrilling
Keep Your Cookout Safe for the Fourth
#Fourth of July and other #summer #cookouts can be hotbeds of foodborne illnesses. To gather and grill safely, keep hot foods hot (above 140°F) and cold foods cold (below 40°F), says the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. Cook meats to a safe internal temperature, and don’t leave anything out for more than two hours. Always keep raw and ready-to-eat foods separate and use different cutting boards, plates and utensils for raw meats and cooked or ready-to-eat foods. Marinate in the refrigerator and discard sauces that have touched raw meat. Wash hands, cooking surfaces and containers often. #America250 #SafetyTips