6 Ways To Plan A Mess-Free Spring Barbecue

There's nothing as good as hosting a good, old-fashioned cookout. Whether it is the fragrance of the sizzling grill, the delicious range of side dishes, or good conversations, barbecue is perhaps the best way to reconnect with nature and your family.

So, from hosting a spring break special gathering to calling friends to roast some good juicy meet on the weekend, we are here with some of the best ways to plan a backyard barbecue that is super high on fun but super light on the planet.

Prepare Early

To get started, decide who's gonna be a part of it and what the menu will include. It is possible that your guests might have some dietary restrictions. Therefore, it is recommended to plan the menu mindfully. You can choose to shop for all required vegetables or meats from a local store. Besides contributing to local communities, this choice will also allow you to cut down on your emissions that are usually caused due to heavy transportation.

Next, get ready with the grill. Make sure to gather all the right grill equipment. And, if you're a barbecue enthusiast, who probably has a grill lying somewhere around the attic, make sure to clean it up nicely. Besides the grilling equipment, also make sure to gather enough charcoal briquettes so that your grill can be up and running for a long time.

Pick the Right Food.

According to top chefs, simple grilled meats just won't do it. You would need some snacks to welcome your guests, the main barbecue spread, some more savory snacks, a couple of good, fizzy drinks and something sweet to end the day on a good note.

Besides this, you would also need a fruit bowl in case you love grilled pineapples (like we do) and some dips or sauces to complement the food. In short, make sure to prepare all the dips or sauces before the event starts. While you can shop for some sauces and dips, there's nothing as good as something homemade. However, if you are still keen on buying, make sure to buy organic and local. Lastly, plan what kind of food is going to be grilled.

Get your Portions Right.

Alright, now's the tough part. To ensure you don't go overboard and are left with a huge amount of leftovers for the next few days, make sure to measure the right portions. We did some research, and below is the average quantity you can go for.

For welcoming snacks, there should be two or three small servings per person. For example, three chicken wings for one person. Moving on, for the main spread, make sure you are all sorted on the protein. Technically, you should cover 12 to 18 ounces of meat/seafood per person. Next, for sides, somewhere around four sides are pretty good. Also, make sure to have at least eight servings per person, just in case.

Lastly, for snacks, include one serving per person. Moreover, if you want to cut down on some efforts, you can always ask some guests to bring over some pies, brownies, or fruit platters. And while you are at it, it's good to have 203 different kinds of drinks to help people chug down some heavy pieces of meat. You can use compostable cold cups and PLA straws as glassware.

Cook According to the Guidelines

Let's admit it, no one likes raw meat at a barbecue. So, to avoid any mishaps, make sure to dip your protein in marination the day before. Actual cook time would depend upon the kinds of meats you're cooking. You can use our plant-based compostable bowls to marinate the protein and store the mix overnight in a refrigerator.

Traditionally, beef takes about 20 minutes to cook if you want it medium rare, while meats like chicken can take about 15 minutes. Seafoods like shellfish or fish filets can take less than 10 minutes, while whole fish can take up to 30 minutes to cook. Make sure to keep your guests' preferences in mind.

Make the Party Easy for You

We get it, hosting an event, big or small, can be overwhelming. However, with the right chances, you can easily make this springtime barbecue easy to handle. For starters, you can add disposable tableware so you won't end up doing dishes later. And, we are not talking about those super flimsy plastic or paper plates. Go plant-based on this one, and try out sustainable tableware options like palm leaf plates or bagasse bowls. These plates and bowls are super easy to carry, can handle all kinds of super heavy or juicy meals without making a mess and come with easy disposal. In fact, all plant-based tableware and kitchenware at EcoSoul are certified compostable. This means that our plates and bowls can break down into tiny pieces in the soil after a few weeks of disposal. So, no more doing dishes later, and definitely no more creating a tremendous amount of waste.

Add Some Extra Touches

Go beyond plant-based plates and bowls. To fully make your barbecue party sustainable and mess-free, make sure to check out our bamboo range, too. You can choose from bamboo napkins or kitchen paper towel rolls made from nothing but bamboo. These, too, are certified compostable and FSC-certified for being sustainably sourced.