11 Things You Absolutely Need At Your BBQ This Summer

Nothing goes better with summer than BBQ, so making it perfect = a very big deal.

1. Spiked popsicles made by filling plastic molds with large-batch cocktails:

Especially necessary for the hottest of hot days. Pro tip: Make sure you get the right recipe because if they're too potent, they just won't freeze.

2. An extra-long plastic sheet and a hose for a homemade slip-and-slide:

Throw the sheet down (preferably on a bit of a hill), weigh it down, and turn on the hose. You're never too old for it, we swear.

3. An egg carton full of charcoal briquettes for easy lighting:

This char-ming solution will save your life — no one wants to spend all day trying to light the grill.

Instructions here.

4. Marshmallows and a rake for roasting a million marshmallows at once:

Well, maybe not a million, but it's a lot. A LOT a lot.

5. Watermelon slices with popsicle sticks inserted in them:

It's a fact of life that all food is more fun served on a stick.

6. Prescooped ice cream stored in cupcake papers:

Sundae SAVIOR.

7. An onion for expert grill-cleaning:

Onions are natural disinfectants, so abandon your grill brush and give this a shot next time you power down the barbecue.

8. Burger toppings kept in muffin tins:

Keeps everything so crisp, fresh, and easy to transport. Top that.

How-to here.

9. A headlamp for night grilling so you can tell when your meat is done:

It's hard to tell if your chicken is raw by moonlight, and holding a flashlight is so unwieldy. The sartorial sacrifice = WORTH IT.

10. Premade cocktails put in sealable plastic baggies for more portable potables:

Stick in a straw, and you are READY. TO. GO.

11. Apple juice in a spray bottle to spritz on your meat:

Warning: This is only for weirdos who like their meat tender, flavorful, and juicy. If you like it bland and dry, this isn't for you.

All images from Thinkstock.

Make sure to level it alllll up with the ultimate summer BBQ hack: re-sealable, non-carbonated Smirnoff Ice Electric Flavors, so you can #KeepItMoving throughout the summer.

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