Memorial Day 2025: Barbecue tips to keep things safe and healthy
This weekend begins the unofficial start of summer and with it BBQ season. If you’re planning a cookout this Memorial Day, here are some tips to stay safe.
Memorial Day weekend has arrived and with it the unofficial start to summer. Where the weather permits millions of Americans will be breaking out their grilling gear, if they ever put it away for the winter, to enjoy a cookout.
But as people do so, they should be careful when cooking in the great outdoors. Not only ensuring that they avoid incidents with the grill but also food hygiene as your outdoor cooking set-up might not be as efficient as the kitchen stove.
Sandra Eskin, the Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Deputy Under Secretary for Food Safety, explains: “Following safe food handling practices during this and all other seasons can reduce the risk of you and your loved ones getting sick.”
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Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, we did the hard work for you. Don't @ us. Our definitive ranking of barbecue sauces here: https://t.co/abtbRpbWSJ pic.twitter.com/S2W397brKC
— NYT Wirecutter (@wirecutter) May 16, 2025
How to cook meat safely on a grill
Grilling, whether using old-fashioned wood and charcoal or a gas-powered barbecue, cooks by using direct heat to the surface of the food. It’s that contact that gives the classic grill marks on the food, but the appearance of those marks can give the false impressive of done-ness.
When grilling meat, poultry, and fish, you should use a food thermometer to ensure that it is cooked through. The USDA recommends the following guideline internal temperatures:
- Beef, pork, lamb, and veal (steaks, roasts, and chops): 145°F (after a three-minute rest time)
- Ground meats (such as burgers and hot dogs): 160°F
- Whole poultry, poultry breasts, and ground poultry: 165°F
- Fish: 145°F
Remember, your thermometer should reach the part of the meat that is furthest from the surface, because this is the area that will take longest to reach the required temperature.
READ ALSO: What is the difference between Memorial Day and Veterans Day?
Memorial Day is the traditional start of summer and grilling season.
— EffinghamFireRescue (@EffCoFireRescue) May 24, 2025
🍔 Place your grill well away from buildings and trees.
🌭 Keep a 3-foot kid/pet free zone around your grill.
🍗 Open your gas grill before lighting.
🍤 Never leave a lit grill unattended. #effinghamcountyga pic.twitter.com/aS8ArtnyIL
How to store meat safely for a barbecue or outdoor cook
A barbecue is often an all-day event and that can mean that food is left out for much longer than if you were simply cooking a meal for yourself at home. The USDA advises that generally food shouldn’t be left out for more than two hours. That figure drops to one hour if the temperature outside is more than 90°F.
If you are planning to visit friends and family this Memorial Day and will be bringing food to cook there, you should invest in an insulated cooler that can keep the internal temperature below 40°F. This is also the case with trips to the park with food that would normally be required to be kept in the refrigerator at home.
If you’re the one hosting you might get the added bonus of plenty of leftovers. Make sure anything not eaten on the day is stored in sealed containers or covered in an airtight wrapping. It can be stored in the refrigerator for three to four days, or three to four months in the freezer.
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