Today is Labor Day.
For one reason or another — those reasons mostly seasonal, and coinciding with the loss of the good weather that occasions cooking outside for large groups of people — Labor Day has become the official day of worshiping one’s grill.
So today, as you fire up the coals or woodchips or Hank Hill-approved propane tanks, throw some meat on the burners and crack open a cold one, know that you are part of something bigger: a mass ritual of the most benign and delicious kind, carried out by a network of grill-loving men and women all over the country.
As for what you’ll be cooking? It’s up to you. But for our money, these are the 50 best meats to throw on your grill or in your smoker this weekend, ranked.
Ed. note: If you’re wondering what our criteria are, just know that they are extremely arbitrary, but were reached through much critical discussion and decades of collective experience.
50. Turkey burger
49. Chicken sausages
48. Leg of rabbit
47. Whole turkey
46. Goat leg
45. Clams
44. Oysters
43. Duck
42. Wild boar
42. Skirt steak
40. Crab
39. Beef tenderloin
38. Bison burger
37. Beef ribs
36. Leg of lamb
35. Flank steak
34. Whole chicken
33. Venison sausages
32. Filet mignon
31. Lamb ribs
30. Italian sausages
29. Pork chops
28. Lobster
27. Hot dog
26. Tuna steaks
25. Turkey leg
24. Beef short rib
23. White fish (branzino, tilapia, mahi mahi)
22. Sardines
21. Pork shoulder
20. Shish kebabs
19. Calamari
18. Lamb chops
17. Chicken wings
16. Scallops
15. T-bone/porterhouse
14. Hot links
13. Tri-Tip
12. Swordfish
11. Pork belly
10. Salmon
9. Pork baby back ribs
8. Brisket
7. Shrimp
6. NY Strip
5. Octopus
4. Bratwurst
3. Pork spare ribs
2. Ribeye
1. Hamburgers
Don’t agree? Go yell at us on Facebook or Twitter.
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