With the warm days of summer and 4th of July celebrations upon us, it’s no surprise that July is National Grilling Month. It’s the perfect time get your friends and family together and throw your favorite grilling recipes on the barbecue!
Whether you’re grilling for a large party, or just for yourself, make sure to check out the important grill safety tips below. They’ll ensure your grilling this July is safe and fun!
Plus, learn interesting barbecue facts and get a list of our favorite recipes for grilling this summer at the bottom of the post.
National Grilling Month is just one of the many food holidays to celebrate this month. Keep reading to learn more about it.
How to celebrate National Grilling Month
Would you like to celebrate National Grilling Month in a special way? Try one of these ideas.
Some of the links below are affiliate links. I earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you if you purchase through an affiliate link.
- Whether you’re new to grilling, or a seasoned grill master, check out these grilling tips to make sure you’re getting the most out of your BBQ experience.
- Make your own spice rub to flavor your grilled meats. Try this smoky spice rub, this Caribbean jerk dry rub and this all purpose spice rub mix.
- Protect your arms from grill flames by investing in a pair of heat proof grill gloves, and a set of long handled BBQ tools.
- Ever cooked your steak too much or not enough? Cook your steaks to your desired temperature with ease every time with this steak doneness guide.
- Make your own BBQ sauce! Try this clean eating barbecue sauce recipe that’s paleo, gluten-free, whole 30 compliant and sugar free.
- Learn 15 money saving bbq tips to cut down on your barbecuing cost.
- Protect your grill from the elements by purchasing a new outdoor grill cover.
- Want to try your hand at campfire grilling? Make sure the check out this list of campfire recipes and cooking tips.
Facts about grilling for National Grilling Month
There’s no better way to celebrate National Grilling Month than by learning these BBQ facts. Some may surprise you!
The most popular holiday for grilling in the United States in the 4th of July. Other popular grilling holidays are Labor Day, Memorial Day and Father’s Day.
In addition to National Grilling Month occupying the month of July, there’s also a National Barbecue Day which falls annually on May 16th.
When considering what type of grill to purchase, you may be surprised to learn there’s more than just charcoal grills and gas grills. There’s also electric grills (which plug in), pellet grills that use wood pellets, Kamado grills (also known as ceramic grills) and portable grills which are excellent for camping.
Share this post about National Grilling Month with your friends on twitter:
If you enjoyed learning about National Grilling Month don’t forget to share these grilling recipes and grilling tips with your friends. Here’s a tweet to get you started:
Celebrate National Grilling Month with grilling recipes and grilling tips on Always the Holidays! 🍔🔥🥩 #GrillingRecipes #GrillingTips Share on XGrilling safety tips
There are many ways to make sure National Grilling Month is fun, and safe too! The first thing to look at when considering grill safety is to make sure your grill is placed in an appropriate area and is able to be turned on safely.
Set your grilling season up for success with these grilling safety tips.
- Only use charcoal or propane grills outside in an area with good ventilation. Never use propane or charcoal grills inside a house or garage.
- Make sure your grill is far enough away from your home, railings and other wooden structures to be safe.
- Ensure your grill is on an even surface – operating a grill on an uneven surface could cause it to tip over.
- If using a gas grill, check the lines for any leaks before grilling for the first time of the season.
- Always open the lid before lighting a gas grill. Keeping it closed could cause gas to build up inside and even lead to explosions.
Grilling is such a fun summer activity but can be dangerous when not done properly. The ideas below are general grilling tips that will help you stay safe this July.
- Always make sure you have a fire extinguisher nearby, and never use water to put out a grease fire.
- Never leave a grill unattended while it’s in use.
- Don’t overload a grill – too much grease dripping down can lead to and flare ups and grease fires.
- Use long handled utensils to put distance between yourself and the grill.
- Wear appropriate clothing when grilling (ie. don’t wear scarves or loose clothing that could easily catch fire).
- Keep children and pets away from the grill.
Tips for grilling safely
Flames are not the only thing to consider with grill safety. You also need to make sure you’re following proper food safety procedures to keep you and your loved ones safe from food borne illnesses.
The grill tips below are aimed towards food safety.
- Keep meat, seafood and poultry refrigerated until you’re ready to grill it.
- Wash your hands with warm, soapy water before and after handling raw meat, poultry and seafood.
- Use a food thermometer to ensure your food is cooked properly.
- Discard any marinades and sauces that have touched raw meat juices to prevent germs from transferring to your cooked food.
- Avoid cross-contamination by using a clean plate and use clean utensils. Never transfer cooked food to a plate that has held raw meat.
- If you have any grilling leftovers, make sure to refrigerate them promptly.
It’s just as important to observe fire safety when ending your grilling sessions as it is when you start them. Consult the tips for grilling below to make sure to end your grill sessions safely.
- Keep your grill clean between uses, and make sure to empty the grease trap.
- If using a propane grill, make sure to turn off the gas when you’re done using it.
- If using a charcoal grill, properly dispose of coals into a metal bin once they have completely cooled.
- Make sure your grill is completely cool before covering it to prevent the cover from melting or catching fire.
July monthly observances
Did you enjoy learning about National Grilling Month? Well you’re in luck, July has more than just one monthly observance!
Here is a list of some of the other July monthly observances:
- Disability Pride Month
- National Anti-Boredom Month
- National Baked Bean Month
- National Blueberry Month
- National Cell Phone Courtesy Month
- National Culinary Arts Month
- National Hot Dog Month
- National Ice Cream Month
- National Peach Month
- World Watercolor Month
To learn about more month long celebrations, make sure to check out this list of July monthly observances.
More national days in July
In addition to monthly observances for each month of the year, like National Grilling Month, there are also national days as well. There are almost 2000 national days in the year and over 150 of them are celebrated in July.
National days are a fun way to celebrate foods, animals and items that you come into contact with. Be sure to check out this national days guide for more information about the history of national days, why we celebrate them.
To see all of the ones that occur this month, have a look at this post for the list of national days in July. There’s all sorts of July national days, including July drink days and July food days.
Be sure to also check out these national days this month:
- National Mojito Day – This rum based cocktail would be delicious to serve up beside your favorite barbecue grill recipes this summer.
- National Bikini Day – Learn about the history of the bikini before wearing one to your next pool party.
- National Pina Colada Day – Nothing says summer like a refreshing Pina Colada. Try making your own this month!
- National Milk Chocolate Day – Learn how to celebrate this national day and get a collection of recipes using milk chocolate.
- Be a Kid Again Day – Embrace your inner child on this July national day by reading some be like a child quotes.
- National Crème Brûlée Day – Learn fun facts about this dessert whose name literally means burnt cream.
For all puzzle fans, be sure to check out the July word search printable of national days. It’s one of the many free puzzles we have on the site to help celebrate the holidays and national days of the year.
Pin this post on National Grilling Month for later
Would you like a reminder of this post for National Grilling Month? Just pin this image to one of your national days boards on Pinterest so that you can easily find it later.
You can also watch our YouTube video to learn about more national food days in July.
Grilling recipes
No matter whether you have a charcoal or gas grill, you’ll be able to enjoy the BBQ grill recipes below. Pick your favorite one and try it this July during National Grilling month.
There's no better way to celebrate National Grilling Month than to try cooking some new recipes for grilling. You may even find your new favorite summer meal! Below are grilling recipes for making tasty main dishes with steak, pork, chicken, shrimp, sausage and burgers. There are also some BBQ grill recipes for side dishes too! The red wine marinade makes this recipe taste delightful, and the spicy rub gives your steak a kick of heat. It's a perfect pairing for grill night. Even though this recipe for Cajun style kebabs is quick and easy, it has a lot of flavor and makes a wonderful summer grilling recipe. These Caribbean shrimp kebabs are great for summer. The acidic marinade has a blend of flavorful spices and the pineapple on the kebabs gives them a refreshing sweetness. These honey lemonade chicken legs recipe will have you wanting to grill all summer long! The jalapeno mango salsa on these grilled pork chops is a deliicous choice for a warm summer day. Meat isn't the only thing that's delicious on the grill! Try this recipe for grilled pineapple. It's a tasty side dish and also makes a great addition to salsas and salads. The fresh herbs and garlic give this summer pork chop grilling recipe a ton of flavor, with only a few ingredients! This Cuban-style marinade will enhance your grilling experience. The mixture of citrus, herbs and spices in this mojo marinade will make your steak taste delicious. Lots of marinade recipes are not friendly for special dietary restrictions, but this marinade is gluten free, soy free and paleo! Toss your pork chops on the grill, worry free! Serve these grilled shrimp on top of a salad for a light and refreshing summer meal packed with flavor. Embrace the fresh peaches available at this time of year, and make a fresh fruit salsa to accompany your grilled pork with this recipe! This burger with guacamole is sure to be a hit this grilling season. If you're looking for a side dish for your next cookout, try this warm potato salad. The secret ingredient is grilled bacon, which makes the dish taste amazing!The Best Summer Grilling Recipes to Celebrate National Grilling Month
Grilled London Broil with Spicy Rub and Red Wine Marinade – It’s BBQ time!
About the author
Since graduating from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Jess has been living and working in Los Angeles, CA. She is a freelance writer, specializing in content related to fashion, food and drink and film industry topics. Find out more about Jess here.