Hosting a BBQ Grill Cook-Off: Tips for Organizing a Fun Competition
Hosting a BBQ cook-off is a great way to excite your network of friends and the community about BBQ competitions. While it may seem simple, hosting an event is a lot of work. Following these guidelines ensures everyone is having fun and getting the most out of their grills!
Choose a Sanctioning Body for Official Guidelines
If you’re hosting a larger BBQ contest, consider involving a sanctioning body. Sanctioning organisations like the Kansas City Barbecue Society (KCBS) set clear rules and provide judges, ensuring your event runs smoothly and maintains legitimacy. If you don’t want to go this far, you can have the local foodies or some notable locals as the judges to taste the BBQ feast.
Categories and Rules
Decide which categories of BBQ cooking will be judged, such as ribs, brisket, pork shoulder, or chicken. Make sure there are clear rules for each category, especially regarding the cuts of meat allowed and cooking methods. To help level the playing field and make it easier to judge, provide guidelines on cook times, temperatures, and presentation ideas.
Pick the Perfect Location
Kirsty from The Garden Living Company says “Where you host your BBQ cook-off is crucial. Ensure there is space for competitors to set up their grills, smokers, and equipment.” Public parks, fairgrounds, and even large backyards work amazingly as spaces for an epic BBQ showdown.
Set Up a Tasting Area for Spectators
Everyone watching a BBQ contest will want to taste a few of the goods. Set up a tasting area where spectators can sample the different types of BBQ cooking on display. If you want to do a fundraiser, this is a great way to provide value for the attendees and a great cause to donate to.
Plan for Judging
Your judges will need to know their BBQ to make it an interesting competition. Depending on the size of the event, you may want to recruit official judges from a sanctioning body or rely on local chefs and BBQ enthusiasts to decide who has the best BBQ around.
Have Prizes for the Winners
Competitors love recognition, and having great prizes will motivate them to bring their best BBQ skills. Larger events can have cash prizes, BBQ equipment, or even trophies, and smaller events can have small prizes like a bottle of wine, BBQ sauce, gift cards, or other great options. Offering special awards like “Best Cut of Meat” or “People’s Choice” can make the event more exciting for everyone involved.
Set a Timeline for the Event
BBQ cooking often takes hours, so plan accordingly by staggering start times for each category. Clear deadlines for when meats must be turned in for judging and when winners will be announced need to be in place for a well-executed event to unfold. Make sure competitors know the rules for resting and presenting their meat to the judges.
Have Fun!
BBQ events are supposed to be fun, so make sure that your contestants, attendees, and judges are having a great time. Music, decorations, and the smell/ sounds of BBQ grilling will all help create this wonderful atmosphere.
BBQ Grill Cook-Off: A Worthwhile Venture
The time, effort and planning involved in making a competition like this come to fruition can be daunting, but the payoff is worth it. Enjoy the sights and sounds of the love of BBQ and bask in the glory of the competition-worthy entries while creating memories with your friends and your community.
