Fire Up the Grill: America’s Memorial Day Obsession by the Numbers

Memorial Day weekend is officially here, and you know what that means — someone in your neighborhood is already stress-cleaning their grill grates and arguing about charcoal versus gas. It’s basically a national tradition at this point.

Memorial Day is a time for Americans to honor the military personnel who made the ultimate sacrifice in service of the nation. It also marks the unofficial start to summer — and for all those self-appointed pitmasters out there — grilling season. And Americans take that title very seriously.

How Many Americans Are Actually Grilling?

A lot. Like, a whole lot.

According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association (HPBA), almost two-thirds — 64% — of U.S. adults own a grill or smoker. And owning one isn’t enough for some people. As of the end of 2020, there were an estimated 100 million grills in homes across the United States, spread across approximately 128.5 million households. Do the math — some of you have more grills than you do sense.

The 4th of July holds the crown as the most popular holiday for barbecuing, with 68% of Americans firing up the grill. Memorial Day follows closely behind with a 56% share. So yeah — more than half the country is out there flipping patties this weekend.

It’s also estimated that over 800 hot dogs are consumed on Memorial Day — per second. That means nearly 72 million hot dogs are eaten on this day alone. Bun shortage incoming.

Summer Grilling Is Practically a Religion

A survey by M&M Food Market found that a staggering 95% of people grill during the summer. Not some of them. Not most of them. Basically all of them.

And it’s not just a holiday thing — 42% of Americans grill at least one day per week, while around 23% said they would grill two days a week. Another survey of 2,000 American adults revealed that 56% grill throughout the year. Apparently, seasons are just a suggestion.

What’s Everyone Throwing on the Grill?

Meat. Mostly meat. Among Americans who have recently attended a barbecue, 88% chose meat or steak as their preferred food of choice.

According to the M&M Food Market survey, the top grilled items are:

• Steak — 58%
• Hamburgers — 55%
• Chicken — 42%
• Sausages or Hot Dogs — 35%

On Memorial Day specifically, there is a 72% use of beef overall, with 43% being ground beef and 29% beef steak. Basically, cows should probably be nervous this weekend.

Nearly 75% of consumers say burgers are a “must-have” food for grilling, and nearly 60% say the same about steak. So if you show up to a Memorial Day cookout without a burger option, expect to be judged.

Don’t sleep on the veggies, either. About 51% of Americans have grilled vegetables and fruits, with corn, potatoes, asparagus, pineapple and zucchini receiving top scores for best taste off the grill.

Grillmasters

Here’s where things get interesting. The M&M Food Market survey found that 34% of men consider themselves expert grillers. Women? Only 13% would agree with that assessment — about themselves, that is. Make of that what you will.

Overall, 44% of grilling households have a male “grillmaster” versus 22% for women. However, women (62%) actually like to experiment more with their grill sessions than men (50%). So maybe the real experts are flying under the radar.

The top reasons Americans say they fire up the grill? Better flavors, personal enjoyment, and entertaining family and friends. Translation: food tastes better outside, and any excuse for a party will do.

The Bottom Line

Whether you’re a self-proclaimed grill god or you’re just there for the potato salad, Memorial Day weekend is one of the biggest grilling events of the year. As costs keep rising, barbecuing is likely to get more expensive — but it’s unlikely to cause any decline in the habit among American consumers. Honestly, that tracks. You’d have to pry the tongs from our cold, charcoal-stained hands.

So fire it up, America. You’ve clearly been waiting all year for this.