Why You Should Avoid Marinades When Grilling For A Big Group

As the weather warms up, spending time outside becomes totally irresistible. What's better to do when hanging out safely with friends and family than to get the grill going and make a day of it? Feeding a large group can be quite a different experience than cooking for just a couple people, and these grilling tips will make your day a whole lot easier.

No matter if you're sizzling steaks or chicken, skewering a bunch of shrimp, or knocking out burgers and portobello mushrooms, it's super important to keep things as simple as possible. Thrillist says that nixing messy marinades is a vital way to maintain sanity when you're the grill master, and it also helps keep your environment properly sanitized.

While a juicy, zesty marinade may seem like a delicious idea, save yourself the trouble of trying to deal with sloshy containers of sauce that might spill, and the unavoidable splatter of potentially contaminated liquid spread from transferring raw meat onto the grill. Sharing food is absolutely a sign of love — but nobody wants to share food poisoning with their nearest and dearest. Plus, if you avoid using marinade, your grill will probably be easier to clean at the end of the day.

The best way to keep guests' palates satisfied is to bulk up on condiments, Thrillist suggests. A huge spread of enticing items that hungry guests can use to customize their protein is not only easier to handle than sticky marinades, it also appeases picky eaters and those with dietary restrictions. A variety of cheeses, pickles, relishes, peppers, hot sauces, and mustards will absolutely keep the party going! Choose offerings with different textures, flavors, and colors to make things exciting.

Don't worry — grilling without marinade doesn't mean losing out on flavor. Now is the perfect time to break out any number of dipping or smothering sauces that pair wonderfully with grilled meats and veggies. Serious Eats outlines several condiments that can be easily pre-made and neatly distributed to enhance your delicious fare, such as spicy Argentinian chimichurri, sweet soy-garlic sauce, or herbaceous pesto. For a tangy surprise, you could also try a grape and red onion mostarda. Now, gather your pals and get grilling!