Call it the Father's Day predicament. We want to honor the fathers in our lives. But on a nice June weekend, we often want to celebrate with a cookout, so Dad ends up manning the grill and cooking his own dinner. Is that fair? Perhaps not. But here are five ways to sweeten the deal and lighten the load for the hard-working grill-master at your house:
1. Double down.
Just because your dad has a grill doesn't mean he doesn't want, even need, another. "Consider making him a multiple grill owner," suggests Steven Raichlen, author of The Barbecue Bible and several other books on grilling. If he has a gas grill (about 70% of U.S. grill owners do), consider giving him a charcoal grill. Along with the added cooking surface, Raichlen says, you'll get a better smoker than you get on any gas model. You'll also be giving Dad the not-to-be-underestimated gift of literally playing with fire.