Whatever your plans, use the tips below to throw the Perfect 4th of July Barbeque.  If you have some tips of your own, feel free to leave them in the comments area.

Tips For The Perfect 4th of July BBQ

Be sure to plan ahead for your 4th of July BBQ.

It might seem like an easy thing to throw together a backyard BBQ, and in some cases that is true.  However, if you want to throw the “Perfect” 4th of July BBQ – throwing something together last minute is not the “cool” thing to do.  If you are inviting folks over and wanting everything to go smoothly, you should already have decided what foods you are going to cook, what drinks will be served, appetizers… you know – the whole she-bang. 

If you are going to be having a full day of stuff, you will want to have some games lined up, music and anything else to try and entertain people while the food is being Q’d to perfection.

See what I mean about planning?

And you were just going to throw some burgers on the grill and half ass the rest of it?  **shakes head**  Don’t invite me to your little “BBQ”.

Sharpen your skills, not just your knives.

The last thing you want to do is plan everything to the “T” and everyone get there only to serve them mediocre food.  It is a shame when people get excited to share in fellowship and great food and then leave with a feeling of emptiness and disbelief.  They go home and cry themselves to sleep, and spend the next week wondering why… I mean WHY things went down the way they did.

Eventually they will find new friends, friends that actually deliver when it comes to BBQ.  So do you want to be that guy/gal that doesn’t deliver or the one that comes through and has everyone talking about how KICKASS your BBQ was?  That is what I thought. 

Be sure you do your signature foods, don’t try new stuff when you have to be on point, it could end up killing you in the end.  If you do not feel like bringing your “A” game, see the next tip, it is just for you – we will call it a special super intraweb spectacular BBQ tip of the day… just for you.

**Special Super Intraweb Spectacular BBQ Tip of the Day**

Keep everyone as drunk as possible (if possible).

I know not everyone drinks alcohol – and I won’t hold that against you.  But if the truth of the matter is that you are not up on your game when it comes to the actual BBQ of the foods… then you need to be sure you keep your patrons as drunk as possible. haha  This will make everything taste good… great even.  By the time the party is over, you will be the baddest dude on the block and be known for your killer BBQs and how great your food is.

Smart eh?  That is why I’m the expert and you’re reading this blog post wondering how to throw the best BBQ in the world.  Don’t be sad… it is just how it works.

Dust off your old records & 8-tracks for some good tune’age.

Tired of the new songs on the radio these days?  So is everyone else.  If you pull out some old music, everyone will be hi-5′ing you by the third song.  Everyone loves old music… not SUPER old music, but the hits… from any genre.  Seriously.  Throw on some Eagles and see if everyone in the room isn’t mouthing the words by the end of the chorus.  Crank up some Hank Williams Jr. or Journey and watch the party turn up a few notches. 

Music makes anything better – accept taxes.  Taxes would still suck with a live symphony playing in the background.  But when you are throwing a BBQ – a killer BBQ, you have to have some good music to listen to.  Be sure to stock up and burn a few CDs before everyone shows up.  Or if you have satellite radio – then get it ready to go.

If you don’t know what music to grab for your special occasion – go hit up MusicGoat and find something you like.  With new podcasts all the time, you are bound to find something you like.  Tell ‘em Double D sent ya, he will take care of the rest.

Don’t invite that guy that makes an ass of himself anymore.

No one wants to watch someone throw up on themselves while they are eating ribs.  And along the same lines, no one wants to end up fighting someone at the end of the night because he/she “looked at his girl”.  We all know and have a few of those friends that take it to the edge and then some… or maybe could start fights with a few shots of liquor in them.  Why do you want to jeopardize your entire BBQ & rep by invited this d-bag? 

DON’T DO IT.

Save face before you even half to and let them make other plans… be known for your fantastic ribs, not your a-hole of a “friend” that tried to make out with your wife and ended up getting the cops called.

Be safe & have fun for heaven’s sake.

The whole point of a perfect 4th of July BBQ is to celebrate and have an awesome time.  Sometimes you get to caught up with the whole thing and want it to be perfect… and honestly, even though this goes against my title and some of the tips… perfect sometimes is imperfect.  That’s right, let a few things slide.  Don’t sweat the small stuff.

Having fun is the most important thing – so as long as you are not compromising that rule… you should be ok.  Keep the other tips in mind, but don’t lay it down like the law.  Step outside the box a little and be sure you are safe in doing so.

Drink responsibly and have a killer BBQ this 4th of July.  Oh yeah…

KEEP THE FIREWORKS AWAY FROM YOUR BBQ PIT.  Geeez.  **shakes head**

P.S. - If you are looking for our KILLER BBQ Ribs How-To… look no further…

How to smoke pork ribs for your 4th of July BBQ

Double Danger is about to get a new team member… you can call us Triple Danger from now on (thanks FB & Twitter friends!).

Yup – we are going to be proud parents for the first time, so I planned it perfectly and I didn’t have to get Shala a Mother’s Day gift, but she will have to get me one for Father’s Day.  See what I did there?!? 

OK – enough about me/us – let’s talk about potential gifts for your BBQing Father this Father’s Day.  These are not in any particular order – just gathered… so don’t think #1 is better than #10… it is all the same.

1. Non-Contact Infrared Thermometer

I’m a nerd when it comes to BBQing.  Hell, I’m a nerd when it comes to anything.  I am a computer guy, a guy that likes badass toys (who doesn’t right?) and so even w/ something as simple as a thermometer – I think no differently.  This is a great tool that makes sense when you are BBQing because you need to know how hot something is instantly – you need to check surfaces while staying sterile… so nothing makes more sense than this lil dude! 

Woot Deals linked to one the other day that was on sale for a little over 20 bucks, here you go…

Buy A Non Contact Infrared Thermometer For Your Dad This Father’s Day

2. A Super Portable Charcoal/Gas Grill

Is your Dad a tail-gater?  Is he one that likes to go camping?  One thing every man needs is a portable grill of some kind.  You can’t really drag your big pit around in the back of your Expedition for 4 hours (right after cooking on it) and expect to be friendly again w/ the folks having to travel w/ you… can you?  Well I used to – hell I did not to long ago, but I’m weird.  You don’t want your Father to be weird do you?  He already is?  Well… nevermind.

Seriously, a portable grilling setup is a great gift and can be used for all kinds of goodies.  Want to eat some hot dogs/hamburgers/armadillo eggs/brats… you got it. 

For portables – you gotta hit up Coleman – the maker’s of the original green gas stove (if you want to go gas).

Buy Your Father A Coleman PerfectFlow Gas Grill/Stove This Father’s Day

If you want to go charcoal – then definetly go w/ a Weber.

Buy Dad A Portable Weber Charcoal Grill For Father’s Day

3. Low & Slow BBQ Book

I have been a fan of this book for a long time, so it is a no brainer for me to recommend it to anyone.  It takes BBQing back to the basics, tells you that you don’t need fancy racks & contraptions to make good BBQ – just patience, smoke & beer.  Ok – maybe I added the beer… but still.  This book will help your dad become a great when it comes to the ‘Q.  I’m sure he already is… but this can actually make him better.

Buy Your Dad Low & Slow (BBQ Book) This Father’s Day

4. BBQ Of The Month (Tools/Sauces)

You thought that this was just for beers/wines? (that is later in the list)  Nah – they have it for everything these days.  If your dad likes to play around w/ different Sauces or he is a nut when it comes to new BBQ tools – well… do we have the thing for him.  I have recently stumbled across a BBQ Sauce or BBQ Tool of the month club that gives you just what they claim, a bbq sauce a month or a bbq tool a month.   You can sign up for different lengths of time – 3 mth, 6 mth, 9 mth, 12 mth.

Buy Your Dad A BBQ Sauce/Tool Of The Month Subscription For Father’s Day 

5. Stubb’s

Ok – so if you don’t know Stubb’s (whether you are from Texas or not) – you don’t know BBQ.  C.B. Stubblefield is a legend in Texas BBQ and his sauces, rubs & marinades are epic when it comes to BBQ.  If you are ever in Austin – you HAVE to stop in and eat at Stubb’s and experience the atmosphere that makes it famous.  If you can’t make it to Texas – you can buy Stubb’s sauces, rubs & marinades online or in your local stores.  I suggest grabbing a little bit of everything and creating a basket/gift pack for your Dad this Father’s Day – so he can experience the range of flavors Stubb’s has to offer (and of course everyone else will get to too).

Buy Your Dad Stubb’s BBQ Sauce, Rubs & Marinades This Father’s Day

6. Weber’s On The Grill App For The iPhone

If your Dad is already a nerd and has an iPhone – then you might just want to fund his addiction w/ a few BBQ/Grilling Apps.  Weber has an awesome grilling caddy app for the iPhone called Weber’s On The Grill.  It is the most talked about grilling app on the market – and hey – it is made by Weber… so it has to be legit right?  Right.  Over 250 Classic Weber recipes and also ideas for rubs/marinades and tips to keep you grilling all year long!

For The Nerdy Dad Buy The Weber On The Grill App For iPhone

7. Beer Of The Month Club(s)

BBQ/Grilling without beer?  Never.  Or at least in this household.  I hope I don’t offend those non-beer drinkers out there w/ this suggestion – but I figure you have 9 other choices to choose from, so why not.  So if the old man likes to share a cold one while he is doing his grilling/bbqing – then this is a perfect.  You can search around for different options on this one, there are tons out there – but Beer of the Month clubs have been around for a long time… so try to find the one that works best for your dad.  They have all kinds, imports, micro, domestic, local – whatever you choose… check out the specifics to be sure you aren’t getting into something you don’t understand.

Buy Your Father A Beer Of The Month Club Membership For Father’s Day

8. Firewire Flexible Grilling Skewers

These are one of my new favorite grilling accessories – especially since we are gardeners… it means we can use our fresh veggies on the grill – in a super cool way.  These things make so much sense it is dumb that it has taken this long to come up with.  Firewire is a skewer… that is flexible.  Need I say more?  So instead of all these skewers taking up a big section of your grill, you can actually weave them around your already-grilling-greatness.  Awesome right?  Right.  So next time Dad says he is going to throw on some steaks (when really he should be eating his veggies too) – you can remind him of your Father’s Day gift – Firewire Flexible Grilling Skewers.

Buy Your Father Firewire Flexible Grilling Skewers This Father’s Day

9. BBQ/Grilling Light

So it happens to all of us, we plan a to grill – we don’t get started when we should.  Before we know what happened… it is dark – and you can’t see what your doing anymore.  Dad does his best to get the steaks cooked right – but honestly… what can you expect when he is doing it blind.  So instead of eating burnt steak or raw chicken – get your old man a grilling light.  The one I got this past year actually has these heavy duty magnets on the bottom that cling to your grill so you don’t have to worry about dicking around w/ a clamping mechanism or some sort of screw down crap that always gets loose. So be sure you get a nice quality one that will get the job done for Dad this Father’s Day.

Buy Your Dad A BBQ/Grilling Light For Father’s Day

10. Custom BBQ Trailer

Maybe you won the lottery.  Or perhaps your whole entire family has been saving up since birth to get Dad this one of a kind custom trailer he always wanted.  Ok – maybe Dad has been asleep all afternoon and dreaming – and this is what he has been dreaming about.  A custom bbq trailer, smoker trailer or custom pit is what I dream about.  Ask anyone.  My dream is to float around on a big lake and sell BBQ from my custom bbq boat.  Seriously.  Look me up in about 10 years – that is where you will find me.  So the ultimate of ultimate Father’s Day gift… a custom BBQ trailer.  HINT HINT. 

Buy Dad A Custom BBQ Pit, BBQ Trailer or Smoker For Father’s Day

To help you BBQ the best you can, we are stringing together a few easy to remember tips this weekend – so keep coming back often.

First tip… ALWAYS have a BBQ rag to keep your hands clean.  Seriously, this seems simple – but it is important.  The last thing you want to do is have dirty hands – because then you have dirty beer…

No one likes a dirty beer.

I have the same BBQ Rag. Ever.Single.Time.  I feel naked (nekked) if I’m w/out it – here is mine…

I know some of you gangstas out there are going to say – hey… dont’ be disrespecting our “color” like that.  Not my intent my gangsta buddies.  Total respect to the Crip BBQers out there – nothing but respect.  I’m an equal opportunity gangsta BBQer – sometimes I might rock the red – sometimes the blue… this is mine at the moment.  Simple & effective.

More BBQ Tips:

Double Danger’s BBQ Tips

We lied on this one, because when I thought about it – it was actually a Sunday Morning Nursery Crawl… not Saturday.  Sorry.  We don’t lie… a lot.  Just on the weekends… and.. umm Tuesdays.  Crap.  Busted.

What was in this week’s haul?

Watermelons, cantaloupes, lady bugs, tomatillos, cucumbers, jalapenos (much nacho), big jim, sweet banana peppers, daisies, dahlias and umm… a few other things that I can’t think of at the moment.  Because I’m drunk (#drunkgardenchat on Tuesday nights on TWITTER!  SPREAD THE WORD).

What was in your haul this week?