The best part of the Fourth of July is indisputably the cookout, whether that's lakeside with your family and a huge grill or TV-side in your unfurnished apartment with your roommate and a stovetop. (It still counts as a cookout because we opened the windows.)
Regrettably, though, our stomachs do not have an infinite capacity for food. If you're looking to maximize your available storage this Independence Day, you'll need to prioritize your treats -- not by how good each food is on its own, necessarily, but by how vital it is to the cookout experience.
SEE ALSO:Song of the Summer talking points to sound like you know what you're talking about at BBQsWe'd suggesting prioritizing according to this ranking. And, for the record, you don't actually need to wait an hour before getting back in the pool.
American Style Macaroni Salad; Shutterstock ID 528002851Credit: Shutterstock/Brian YarvinHere's the problem with macaroni salad: it's usually not good. Sure, it canbe good (with capers and lots of salt, specifically), but why take the risk when there's potato salad to be had?
Credit: Shutterstock/ehrlifLet us be clear: cherry pie's low ranking here is not an indictment of cherry pie. Cherry pie is delicious, second only to strawberry rhubarb in the "summer pies" department. But it's not the quintessential Fourth of July dessert. Save your sweet tooth for something a little more on-the-nose.
Credit: Shutterstock/Anna HoychukMuch like macaroni salad, coleslaw is too likely to fail for you to take the risk. One exception: a pulled pork sandwich could use a little.
Credit: Shutterstock/Tanya PolovikPotato chips are more fun to eat when you're eating them outside, but that doesn't mean you should eat them at the expense of, say, corn on the cob with lots of butter. This is a cookout, dude! There's plenty of MSG to be had elsewhere.
Credit: Shutterstock/Brent HofackerYou might be shocked that burgers are so low on this list. Honestly, we totally understand. But burgers are so versatile -- delicious in each season, compatible with so many toppings, cheeses, and sauces -- that it seems too vague to focus on them at your cookout. Please. Trust us on this.
The Brat sausage is served on the charcoal grill with the grill tongs; Shutterstock ID 623401586Credit: Shutterstock/beckartBratwurst is a delightful summer meal on the grill, but it's not the Fourth of July summer meal on the grill. Not as long as there's a hot dog around, anyway. Please save your brats for July 5 and be sure to add lots of sauerkraut.
Credit: Shutterstock/farbledSweet, biscuit-y cake, sugared strawberries, enough Cool Whip to fill a small boat -- what's not to love? Well, the only caveat here is that strawberry shortcake is a little messy, and it'll probably need its own plate or bowl. If the extra mess is cool with you, shortcake away. It's a verb now!
Deviled eggs garnished with fresh dill.; Shutterstock ID 515806939Credit: Shutterstock/Arina P HabichDeviled eggs are great for two things: a big church lunch reviewed favorably by your grandparents and the Fourth of July. If you are truly bananas for this country, you can even make a barbecue version.
Grilled shish kebab or shashlik on skewers closeup on white background; Shutterstock ID 587620817Credit: Shutterstock/Sea WaveKebabs of all kinds are wonderful for a cookout because they're customizable -- and vegetarian-friendly, if you want. Plus, the savory char of chicken on the grill is one of summertime's most essential flavors.
potato salad with fresh radishes in a white bowl on a rustic wooden table; Shutterstock ID 275792861Credit: Shutterstock/Ekaterina KondratovaThe hard truth about potato salad: it's only good during Fourth of July weekend. But on that weekend, you gotta save room for a huge helping -- preferably with mayo andmustard seeds.
Closeup of a bowl of boston baked beans on a picnic table; Shutterstock ID 105195938Credit: Shutterstock/MSPhotographicAny food (for humans) repped by a golden retriever is bound to be good, right? And baked beans are one of the finest Fourth of July sides of them all. In fact, if baked beans are around, it is practically a sin to eat a hot dog without eating them on the side. You don't want to disappoint Duke the dog, do you?
Slabs of barbecue ribs.; Shutterstock ID 102536075Credit: Shutterstock/FeyginFotoBBQ anything is an automatic Fourth of July win, but ribs rule them all. And if you don't want to talk to your relatives, just offer to be the grillmaster!
Credit: Shutterstock/Charlene BayerleGrilled corn slathered in butter is a delight all summer long (and especially during corn harvest time), but it's also an indispensable part of July 4. Here's why: those little corn holders that also look like corn. They are not optional.
Credit: Youtube/ILuv FuzzySTUFFFirecracker Popsicles, also known as Bomb Pops depending on which brand you prefer, require virtually no preparation. Why? They are just popsicles in a box. Some other good things about them: they are red, white, and blue; they are so cold, and you can eat them while you're floating in an inner tube. Friends, they are the perfect Fourth of July dessert.
Plate of freshly grilled hotdogs with mustard. Extreme shallow depth of field.; Shutterstock ID 290273714Credit: Shutterstock/Stephanie FreyIt's an obvious choice, but it's also the best choice: no summer cookout is complete without hot dogs. Make them all-beef, make them turkey, make them veggie -- do what you gotta do -- but bless your hot dogs with grill marks and potato buns and they will bless you right back.
We don't care what toppings you use.
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