Your Memorial Day Cookout Is Going To Cost You

This weekend kicks off a couple of my favorite seasons of the year. First, Memorial Day weekend means the beginning of summer. Pool time, beach time, late afternoon golf time, all of these are MY time. And second, Monday means Memorial Day cookout and the official start of the grilling season. And this year, you better plan for some cost increases.

As someone once told me, "You can be upset, but you can't be surprised." Think about it. Does anything cost the same-much less cheaper-than it did a year ago? Of course not. Especially when it comes to food, right? Unless your trips to the grocery store are a lot different than my family's, when I tell you the cost of your Memorial Day cookout is 10% more expensive this year than last, you're shrugging in disgusted acknowledgment.

For starters, a shocker. If I was to tell you to beware of the cost of...RELISH this year? I know, right? According to WCNC, the cost of relish is up nearly 50% since Memorial Day 2023. And if you're thinking of grilling burgers for your Memorial Day cookout, get ready to fork out a few extra shillings. The cost of hamburgers, year to year, is up around 14%. Ouch. The good news is, if you do go with burgers, you can go ahead and get the buns to go with them. The cost of those has only increased around 1% since last Memorial Day.

As the advertising jingles and cliches remind you there's nothing more American than the hot dog. And if you're Memorial Day cookout plans include grilling a frank or two, good news. The cost of beef hot dogs has remained relatively stable in the last year. One can assume the buns are on the same level as their hamburger brethren.

Memorial Day weekend and summer are almost here. Let the grilling begin! Of course, for some us, the grilling never stops. That's one of the nice things about our weather in the Carolinas. We can cook our food outdoors practically year-round. The question is, what are your go-to grilling foods?

According to a survey of 3,000 U.S. adults conducted by OnePoll on behalf of Tabasco Brand, these are America's favorite foods on the grill: