Entertaining can be stressful.

The idea to have people over in summer starts out simple - but it usually ends up with a lot to organize, in not a lot of time. To add to the stress, you need to serve up something that everyone is going to enjoy.

Burgers are the solution to this problem. Fresh, easy to put together - and infinitely customizable. They’re sure to be a crowd favorite.

But it’s not just about being a master of the grill - there's a lot of things to consider when preparing for a cookout.

Know your audience

Burgers can suit all tastes, but it's important to remember that not everyone has the same taste. Ingredients that some people might absolutely love can be hugely polarizing for others. 

Even more important than taste preferences is to know your guests’ allergens, as burgers can easily include some common ones such as gluten, dairy and eggs. Reach out to  your invitees and ask ahead of the day. It’s easy to accommodate everyone with alternate options if you know what people want or need beforehand.

If you have a flavorful secret patty recipe - it can pay to make sure you’ve got a more ‘standard’ option on deck - especially if children will be there. 

Order of events

It’s easy to be so distracted by your guests, and/or that beautiful creation on the grill, that you haven’t thought about the boring stuff, like how many plates you’ll need.

Or if the buns are sliced.

Or if you’ve washed the salad. 

…. And suddenly the burgers are withered on the grill while you run off to find ketchup. 

So here are three simple things to make the experience smooth and enjoyable for everyone:

1. Prepare the patties before the guests come. They should be chilling in the fridge before you’re greeting people. 

2. Whilst your patties are chilling, prepare any loose ingredients (such as tomato, lettuce, pickles) and keep them in the fridge in separate containers. 

3. Slice your buns beforehand, so they’re ready to warm at a moment’s notice.

4. Prepare your table by moving step by step through the assembly line as if you’re a guest. Any missing utensils or ingredients will immediately become obvious. And don’t forget the napkins! A good burger can be a messy one. 

5. For any sauces, or items where the ingredients aren’t immediately clear, it can be helpful to leave the bottle out next to the bowl, to save your guests asking questions while you’re trying to focus on the meat - or worse, upset stomachs. Likewise, you can use a toothpick with a sign, a post-it or a folded piece of card to denote your medium patties from the well-cooked ones. 

Avoid gaffes at the grill

There’s a true art to creating the perfect patty, but if you can just avoid these two mistakes when you’re cooking, your burgers will likely be a hit.

• Unless you’re specifically making smashburgers - don’t squish the patties with your spatula. This can cause the juices to escape and result in a drier burger. Let the patties cook undisturbed and try to only flip them once.

• Ensure you don’t overcook your patties. There are a lot of ways you can tell the done-ness of the meat - but a thermometer is a fail-safe. Medium is about 145°F, and well-done is around 160°F.

Serving up a storm 

There’s no magic recommendation when it comes to serving - just keep it simple. 

Make it easy on yourself and your guests. Serve using a buffet or bar-style system, where all ingredients are divided onto separate dishes. This enables everyone to create their own perfect masterpiece. If you are a burger aficionado, write your serving suggestion out, and display it by the bar. 

Place all the ingredients in the general order you would layer them, to avoid a guest pile up. 

An extra bonus? This way of serving makes the top-up (and clean-up!) process seamless. 

And finally, don’t forget to have fun! You’ve done everything you need to set yourself up for a great tasting night for all - now it’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. 

And the last tip now that everyone is about to tuck in?

Remember those napkins.