This July 4tܫh, your backyard barbecue may take a big bite out of your budget.
The cost of a 10-person BBQ has jumped more than 30% in the past decade to an average of $68ꦰ this year, . Even in just the past year, prices on many items have risen: Beef is up 7.3%, lettuce 6.2%, tomatoes 6.8%, bread 4.4% and pickles 3.6%, and chips 1.3%. Even soda and beer have risen in price (0.9% and 0.4%, respectively).
There are a variety of factors impacting food prices. Recent hikes in beef prices are due in part to small cattle herds, which hurt supply, and consumers’ demand for more and better beef as incomes have risen. Lettuce and tomato pri꧟ces were influenced by rough winter weather in some areas.
To be sure, some staples are decreasing in cost. The price of🌃 a chicken breast has declined 1.9% in the past year (serving this instead of beef could save you 10%), cheese has fallen 2.2% and ice cream 4.4%, according to Rabo AgriFinanc
Still, prices overall are higher, which means that hosting a barbecue ಌꦦcan be costly. Here are some ways to save.
Make strategic substitutions
If you’re going the chicken route, he suggests boneless chicken thighs because they are more affordable than boneless breast and have more flavor. “Chicken thighs cut up and placed on skewers are easy to cook, shrink less and come out more flavorful than chicken breasts on the grill,” he says. 💝And Lynette Rice, founder of , says that you should look to buy bigger cuts of meat (the whole pork loin, rather than a bunch of pork chops) as this too will save you money. And, she adds, the butcher might even cut the pork loin up for you at no additional cost.
says that consumers should🧸 forgo the pricey cooking sprays when greasing the grill and instead put canola oil in a spray bottle and grease the grill that way.
Opt for fresh, not frozen
Andrea Worocꦦh, a consumer savings expert, says that sometimes you can save by opting for fresh ground beef rather than frozen burger patties. “Frozen patties may seem more economical, but many grocers will put ground beef on special just before the holiday to push sale,” she says. What’s more, “many times they will actually sell these items at near cost to get you in their store for all your holiday food purchases,” says barbecue hobbyist Daniel Vaczi. And grocers often want to get rid of meat that’s close to expiration, so for consumers planning to cook it ASAP this can be a great deal. Stephanie Nelson, founder of , notes that warehouse clubs are often also a good bet for lower-priced meats, and you can freeze any leftovers to have for dinner at a later date.
Skip the grocery store
Woroch says it’s worth taking a second trip to thꦐe dollar store for items like paper plates, napkins and plasticware, as well as th♒ings like serving platters, trays and ice buckets — as the savings can be significant. Rice says that if you need extra glassware, hit up Goodwill in your area, where these items are often $1 or less.
Conserve fuel
Estimate how much fuel you’ll need ahead of a cookout and you can avoid some unnecessary spending, says Jon Lal, CEO and founder of . “For a ch꧅arcoal grill, you only need approximately three pounds of charcoal for four to six people,” he explains. “Most charcoal is ready after heating for about 15 minutes.” If you have a gas grill, he notes that, once started, it will be ready to cook in about 10 minutes.
Go high tech
Jessica Fisher, the author of “Good Cheap Eats, Everyday Dinners and Fantastic Feasts for $10 or Less,” says that consumers can find fantastic deals on condiments, charcoal and other seasonal items right now. That’s especially easy to do — and to compare prices — if you use your smartphone to search for grocery coupons. Woroch recommends looking for grocery coupons on CouponSherpa.com. Other good options include: F𒈔avado.com and Coupons.com.