Of course I know that all of you have already been grilling and smoking many times this year, but it is time to focus some special recognition on our outdoor grilling as this month has been set aside to celebrate Barbecue (in all its definitions). So to start off lets pull out some statistics from our friends at the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association.

• 76% of Americans prefer to cook outdoors than in
• 77% of households own a outdoor grill or smoker
• 58% of grill owners use there grill year round
• The most popular grilled food is hamburgers (82%)
• 63% of people say they would prefer grill training from a celebrity chef versus instruction from any other celebrity (ie Guitar lessons from a rock star)
• 68% percent of households that own a grill, have a gas grill, followed by charcoal (37%) and electric (2%)

Graphic © Heath, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA)