Grilling season is officially here, and we can’t wait to fire up the grill and start cooking out. In honor of Memorial Day weekend, here are 6 of our best tips for saving money while cooking out this summer. Happy grilling!

Choose Your Meats Wisely

As we’ve already talked about, the price of beef is on the rise, so when it comes to grilling meat this summer, you’ll have to be a little more creative to save money. You can do this by stretching the meat you do buy or by using ground turkey for burgers or cheaper cuts of meat.

Don’t Forget About the Sides

While you’re cooking with gas (literally) on the grill, you can save money by multitasking. So while you’re cooking the main meats, consider tossing some fruits or veggies on the grill to make better use of that propane.

• 5 Tips for Fruits and Veggies on the Grill
• 12 Grilled Eggplant Recipes
• 5 Delicious Ways to Grill a Potato

Think Ahead

If you’re firing up the grill for a casual weeknight meal with oyur family, why not make the most of grill time and prepare for the rest of the week. Grilled meat can work really well in lots of meals, like salads and sandwiches for starters, so get just think ahead and prepare food for the week while the grill is hot.

Practice Proper Grill Maintenance

A grill that’s not properly maintained and cleaned will not do you much good. Make sure you clean your grill thoroughly after each cooking session. Also, rub down the grate with cooking spray or oil before and after each use to keep your meat from sticking. And when the grill is cool, make sure you wipe up any spills that may have occurred.

Use Pantry Items as Marinades

Want to make some yummy grilled, marinaded meat? Don’t go out and buy a fancy marinade. You likely have the ingredients to make your own in your fridge or pantry. And making marinades is a great way to clear out condiment clutter.

Use Herb Scraps

When you’re using fresh herbs and get down to the stems, don’t toss the stems! You can actually toss herb stems on the coals of your grill to add flavor and delicious smell to meats, fish and veggies as they cook!

What are your best grilling tips?