7 Hacks for Throwing the Best BBQ Ever

Warmer and less rainy days are slowly creeping back into the forecast in some parts of the country, which means that it’s about time to dust off the grill and charge that Bluetooth speaker for some quality outdoor time. Before you start marinating and mixing, check out these cool hacks that will impress all of your hungry guests.

1. LIGHT COAL IN AN EGG CARTON.

Instead of throwing all the briquettes in the bottom of the grill, soaking them with lighter fluid, and moving them around until they all ignite, place twelve of them in an old cardboard egg carton. Make sure the carton is not made of polystyrene, because burning it will release toxic chemicals. Place the carton in the grill and ignite. When it burns away, all of the charcoal will be lit and you can start your day as master of the grill.

2. TURN A BEER BOX INTO A COOLER.

If you’re buying one or more large cases of canned beer, you’re going to need something to keep them cold for your guests. Instead of breaking the box down and tossing it immediately into the recycling pile, carefully open one end and remove the contents. Line the box with a plastic garbage bag, then fill it with ice. Now you have a beer cooler that can hold most of the beer while the rest is consumed.

3. MAKE A TACO SHELL HOLDER.

Loading up taco shells with delicious ingredients can get messy, but there is a neat hack that involves cookware that you already have in your kitchen. Simply take a muffin tin, turn it upside down, and load the crevices with six-inch tortillas that have been sprinkled with salt and water. Baking the tortillas for 10 minutes will turn them into hard taco shell bowls that are ready to be filled.

4. CRAFT A LAUNDRY BASKET DRINK HOLDER.

Instead of trying to carry a dozen drinks out to your guests at once, or wasting energy making multiple trips, grab another muffin tin and place it inside of a laundry basket. Now you can confidently carry a dozen drinks at once.

5. HANG A MAKESHIFT PAPER TOWEL HOLDER.

Have you ever accidentally stepped on a plastic clothes hanger and snapped the beam right in the middle? Don’t throw it away, because as long as the hook and the ends of the beam are intact, you can use it to make the perfect hangable paper towel holder.

6. MAKE A CONDIMENT CADDY.

Instead of throwing away the cardboard carrier that came with that six-pack of beer, cut off the handle and use it as a condiment station. That way, everything stays in one centralized place and no one has to go hunting for the ketchup.

7. TURN ORANGE PEELS INTO CANDLES.

Go green and impress your friends at the same time by turning discarded orange peels (or other citrus) into candles. Cut the orange in half and gently remove the segments so that the peel is left in a bowl shape with a piece of the center stem still attached on the inside. Pour in some olive oil so that it doesn’t cover the entire stem, because that will be your wick. The candle should burn dimly for around eight hours.