Use the list below as a guideline to assist you in your tailgating preparations.  I’ve tried to divide everything in categories, providing most tailgaters with a basic checklist to follow, of course you’re going to adjust the list to your own personal tailgating needs .

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Must Haves

• Game Tickets
• Grill
• Grill Scraper
• Grill Spray or Oil
• Burners
• Fire Extinguisher
• Propane
• Charcoal
• Starter Fluid
• Matches or Lighter
• Extension Cords
• Flags-Flag Poles
• Tarps-Tents-Canopies
• Bungee Cords-Tie Downs
• Coolers
• Ice
• Pots-Pans
• Basting Brush and Pan
• Carving Knives
• Spatulas
• Tongs
• Meat Thermometer
• Lg Spoons for Cooking (Slotted and/or Solid)
• Cutting Board
• Bleach to Sanitize
• Oven Mitts-Apron
• Plastic Wrap-Foil
• Trash Bags
• Paper Towels
• Napkins
• Plastic Eating Utensils
• Plates- paper or Plastic
• Disposable Cups or Other
• Table Cloth
• Chairs
• Folding Table
• Cooking Water
• Can Opener-Bottle Opener-Corkscrew (Wine)
• Zip Loc Bags
• Disposable Aluminum Pans
• First aid Kit

Food

• Steaks
• Chicken
• Roast Beef
• Turkey Breast
• Hamburger
• Hot Dogs
• Sausages (Pork, Bratwurst, Italian)
• Bacon
• Ham
• Deli Meat
• Eggs
• Vegies

Condiments

• Hot dog-Hamburger rolls
• Bread-Sandwich Rolls
• Ketchup-Barbecue Sauce-Mayonnaise-Mustard-Relish-Horseradish-Hot Sauce
• Chili for Chili Dogs and burgers
• Baked Beans
• Lettuce-Cheese-Tomatoes-Onions-Pickles
• Sweet Peppers-Hot Peppers
• Butter
• Salt and Pepper

Beverages

• Bottled Water
• Adult Beverages of Choice (This Means Alcohol)
• Margarita Mix
• Bloody Mary Mix
• Coffee-Creamers-Sugar
• Iced Tea
• Juice
• Sodas

Salads

• Potato
• Coleslaw
• Macaroni
• Green and Dressing

Extras

• Potato Chips and Dips
• Tortilla Chips and Salsa-Nacho Cheese
• Pretzels
• Nuts
• Popcorn
• Beef Jerky
• Cookies and Crackers
• Serving Trays
• Mixing Bowls
• Skewers

Recreation/Comfort/Amenities

• Sun Glasses
• Sun Block
• Blankets
• Cell Phone
• Camera
• Camcorder
• Binoculars
• Generator
• Radio-TV
• Rain Gear
• Hat-Beanie
• Sweatshirts-Coats
• Gloves-Mittens
• Umbrella
• Heater
• Football-Poker Cards-Frisbee
• Antacid
• Aspirin
• Visine
• Tissue
• Toothpicks
• Newspapers-Books-Magazines

I use my Cobb Premier for pretty much everything you can barbecue, grill, bake, smoke, boil or fry anything. My favorite thing to make is Beer Can Chicken without the can, it’s the best Beer Can Chicken I’ve ever had and easy to do. In the Cobb Premier has a molt, simply put beer in the molt put the grill plate on the smoker, place a whole seasoned chicken on the grill and about 11/2 hours later you’ve got the tastiest and moistest chicken you’ve ever torn into. This unique light-weight cooking system is simple to use and maintain. It is portable, it is versatile, it is durable, it is safe and it is healthy.

Voted TIME magazine’s invention of the year recently, this Grill can be taken virtually anywhere for any occasion, tailgating, camping, picnicking, great for patio, not to mention natures emergencies. The Cobb Premier comes in its own convenient carry bag. It can cook just about anything. The high quality Stainless steel ensures it will be able to withstand any outdoor environment. Its design makes it safe for any situation. Its cooking system guarantees healthier tastier meals. In short, if you love to barbecue, you will love the Cobb Premier Grill.

Only 8 briquettes to cook for 3 hours at up to 450 degrees, while the base stays completely cool to the touch!

If portability is part of your lifestyle then this all new fully stainless steel award winning Cobb Premier Combo Grill with the four main accessories and a number of extras. These include, but are not limited to, the Wok, Skillet/Pan, Roasting Rack, Griddle, a smoker pot. This is one of the best value-for-money bundles you can find. The Cobb Premier is an award winning item in its own right.

The Partymate easily fits in any standard 2” receiver hitch, is perfect for both SUV and pickup trucks with its unique swivel design you simply swing the tables to the outside and lower your tailgate.

It’s so easy to clean once your tailgating party is over as it’s constructed with rustproof powder coating; so all you have to do is simply hose it off when you’re finished with it.

My Tailgate Partymate fits any hitch I have regardless of height it’s fully adjustable up and down with the pull pin located on the center shaft. Simply adjust as you see it and make sure the pin is tight when finished.

The size of the tables are 18″ by 36″ and they recommend, as well as I do, that you not exceed 30 lbs per table, which is more than adequate for most grills and all of your condiments and beverages on the other table. The total weight of the Tailgate Partymate is only 52 lbs so it’s not that heavy.

If you’re a serious tailgater like me or just need a set of portable tables for camping or picnicking, at a price of $149.95 + $25.00 S&H the Tailgate Partymate is quite a bargain. You’re going to love it and your friends are going to want it, Tailgate Partymate certainly is our choice of work tables for tailgating, camping and RV’ing.

Once you put a MOINK ball in your mouth you’ll become addicted to them. So, what are MOINK Balls, they’re part beef and part pork, hence the name MOINK Balls (Moo-Oink) simply put they’re bacon wrapped meatballs basted in your favorite sauce. Like I said they are the perfect party food and my favorite tailgating food.

So, go ahead and make a couple hundred for your next party at home or grill them at your next tailgate party, either way they’ll be the hit of the party. Detailed instructions are as follows.

Begin with a frozen bag of Meatballs, remove and thaw out what you’re going to use.

Count out half the strips of bacon you’re going to need to wrap Meatballs and cut in half. Take 1 half strip of bacon and wrap it around a meatball, secure the bacon and meatball together with a toothpick. Repeat this process until you have reached your desired amount of MOINK Balls to barbecue.

Barbecue until bacon is cooked, brush or dip with your favorite sauce on the MOINK Balls and leave on grill until sauce is caramelized and a little sticky. If you prefer to eat them plain simply remove from the grill when bacon is cooked. Plate them up and serve immediately.

This the perfect addition to your Saturdays and Sundays in Fall. Now you can stay outside at your BBQ or in the comfort of your favorite chair and enjoy the ice cold beverages of your choice. This is the perfect gift for the fan that wants it all to cheer his team to victory! GO PIRATES!

Why do I love this product so much? Mine is perfect because the beverage tub is sturdy, yet not too heavy so even you skinny guys will be able to lift/move this beverage tub. They work quite well and do not leak which was one of my main criteria when purchasing this beverage cooler. As we all know, nobody likes having hot drinks while BBQ tailgating! I would recommend this tub to any person who loves to tailgate because it’s so versatile and I will be purchasing more in the future. You can never have too many drinks at your BBQ tailgating party.

Take your versatile beverage bucket to tailgate parties, picnics, friend’s parties or proudly display it on your own patio. Buy a couple they make nice planting pots for your patio, small apartment, use as an herb garden and of course you’ll want at least one for your patio to entertain your friends.

This BBQ tailgating / camping table is light weight and fold-able featuring 4 drinks holders and a cooler bag. It also comes with a carrying bag.

Your Cobb BBQ Grill fits snugly into the center of the foldable table. Bracing straps ensure the Cobb remains level and sturdy while cooking your delicious food. Setup takes less than 2 minutes making it the perfect addition to your Cobb BBQ Smoker.

That night I briefly went through the instructions, and then I smoked/grilled some chicken breast and asparagus for dinner. I did exactly what the instructions said, lit the fire and I decided to add some white wine in the molt to add additional flavor and moisture. I was more than pleasantly surprised with the end results.

The chicken was so moist and flavorful and the asparagus was spot on. The next night, I decided to do a beer can chicken the Premier Cobb way. I simply lit the smoker put a can of beer in the molt, seasoned the whole chicken, put it on the grilling plate and in an hour and a half later I was enjoying the most incredible beer can chicken I’ve ever had.

This mighty little smoker does everything it claims it does, it burns efficiently, cooks exactly the way it was designed to do, and the two best things is that cleanup is a snap, and you just simply put it away in the custom made carrying case included with your purchase and away you go.

I tired for two days to find any “cons” about this BBQ grill, but I can’t really find any fault in the Cobb Premier Smoker and its uses are endless as it’s perfect for tailgating, camping, hiking, boating, picnicking, apartment living, the office, keep one on hand for emergency purposes to mention a few, this mighty little BBQ smoker is a must have for everyone!

Customers who bought this item also bought:

Cobb Premier Camping / Tailgating Tables

The folks behind the Bubba Keg® brand of insulated mugs, coolers, and the new Bubba Keg Convection Grill, have launched a search for the World’s best tailgaters. The Bubba Keg staff will be selecting up to 30 “professional” tailgate teams to compete in their Bubba U Competitive Tailgating Series (BCTS). One winning team will receive an all expenses paid trip to the National Championship Game in Pasadena, CA.

To start the season, each team will be outfitted with a complete Bubba Keg professional tailgaters’ package valued at over $1500, including:

• A Bubba Keg Convection Grill
• A Bubba Keg Professional Tailgater Pop-Up Tent (10’ x10’)
• A full selection of Bubba Keg mugs & coolers
• A Flip Digital Video Camera to document their exploits
• Official Bubba U Professional Tailgater shirts

Press Release

When you decide which model you’re going to purchase then proper use and care is the next step to grilling perfection. It’s important to use your new instant read meat thermometer properly. Every cut of meat is temped differently the rule of thumb is to stick the probe into the thickest part of the meat.

If you’re grilling anything with a bone make sure that the thermometer doesn’t touch any part of the bone or you’ll get a false reading. The bone always runs hotter; keep the probe in the meat. When cooking chicken slide the thermometer in to the thigh meat as it takes longer to cook (without touching the bone).

Temping a Steak

Meat Temperature Chart

BBQ TIP #1: When grilling cuts of meats such as steak and chop cuts, the proper way to temp steaks and chops is to insert the probe through the side of the meat as close to the center for a more accurate reading.

BBQ TIP #2: When cleaning and sanitizing your meat thermometer you should purchase a box of alcohol wipes from your local drug store as they’re about $2-$3 for about a hundred wipes. Simply wipe the probe with the pad until the meat and blood comes clean and the thermometer is completely sanitized.

BBQ Like A Pro Meat Thermometer Recommendations:

Laser Thermometer

Maverick Laser Infrared Surface Thermometer

This thermometer is great for outdoor grilling or inside cooking. The laser pointer can measure the meats temperature without contact. The large, bright LCD screen displays instant readings. It measures temperatures anywhere from -58 degrees Fahrenheit to 1022 degrees Fahrenheit from up to 5 feet away. We find that the convenience of point and shoot BBQ Thermometer and the food safety and sanitation benefits is a winning combination for those that are more serious about their BBQ.

Infared Probe Thermometer

The CDN Infrared/Thermocouple Probe Thermometer

The infrared / thermocouple probe thermometer combines non-contact infrared and thermocouple technologies in a single innovative tool to ensure the best culinary results and food safety.

In addition to quick scanning of surface temperatures, this versatile thermometer features minimum, maximum, and lock modes for scanning multiple targets over time. Integrated HACCP check lights and icons instantly show if temperatures are within HACCP guidelines for safe food temperatures. Multi-faceted, it also offers white light target illumination, battery status indication and a flip down rapid-response thermocouple probe for measuring internal temperatures. BBQ Like A Pro recommends this thermometer for competition cooks, chefs, and those home grill man that are a little more serious about their BBQ.

Features:

• Waterproof
• Dual function with infrared for non-contact surface temperatures and thermocouple probe for internal temperatures.
• Maximum, Minimum and Lock modes for continuous scanning.
• White light target illumination
• HACCP check lights & icons
• Battery status indication

Digital Thermometer

Taylor Digital Instant Read Thermometer

This BBQ Thermometer is the one BBQ accessory every home grill man should have. Great for roasts, grilling and rotisserie foods, you’ll get an accurate measurement every time. Large, easy-to-read display registers between 58 and 302 degrees and provides 1-second delay updates. Stores away in its protective plastic case with pocket clip when not in use. On/Off switch, battery and replacement battery included. Not oven-safe.

Originally designed for professional users, the Super-Fast Thermapen is chosen by restaurant chains, health inspectors, quality managers and chefs all over the world. The clever pocket design replaces more costly and bulky handheld thermometers while using the same professional thermocouple technology. The Super-Fast Thermapen displays actual internal food or liquid temperatures in only 3 or 4 seconds. Other thermometers make you wait another 20 seconds or more to catch up to the Thermapen. That’s a huge difference in a fast paced commercial kitchen or when you’re over a hot grill. If you’re cooking an expensive cut of meat you want a perfect outcome. You don’t want a slow temperature reading that might be misinterpreted and your meat overcooked.

Tailgating is all about food, friends and a certain amount of comfort. It goes without saying that you will in all likelihood have your grill and some kind of a menu already churning in your mind for you and your friends to eat.

The only thing left for you to think about are your comfortable things like apparel, canopies and of course chairs. When I went through my tailgating gear I noticed that a couple of my chairs were hurting for certain due to years of tailgating. So, realized that I had to do something about before the season starts.

I want to share with you a great tailgating chair that I recently purchased.

I ordered my new ECU tailgating chair from a company online called Fans Edge, this chair is not your average tailgating chair, no it was designed with big guys like me in mind. The East Carolina Pirates logo is featured on the chair front- back and carrying bag. Each chair arm is adjustable and features a cup holder. The mesh pocket on the chair back is made for quick and convenient storage for my program, jacket, or pretty much any other incidentals I might have. If you’re not a ECU Pirate fan no worries, chances are that since Fans Edge is Officially Licensed by the NCAA, they’ll have your favorite NCAA team’s merchandise available.

This BBQ tailgating chair is a must have for those that are serious about their comfort and convenience while tailgating. Make sure that if you’re in the market for a chair or any other officially licensed NCAA gear go to Fans Edge and they’ll have you Tailgating Like A Pro.