JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Before you toss the hamburgers and hot dogs on the grill this Fourth of July, think about where you should buy all your cookout food.
Besides the grilled meat, you might want to add prepared items such as potato salad, coleslaw and even a few deli sandwiches to your shopping list.
Finding what you want won't be hard if you go to one of the grocery stores and supermarkets highly rated by Consumer Reports.
You might not have to enter the store itself. Many major chains, including Publix, Target, Winn Dixie and even Walmart, now offer store-to-door delivery or the option to pick up your groceries curbside. Some offer both.
Seafood, salads and more at Costco
One great supermarket for stocking up for a July Fourth cookout is Costco. It's the only national chain in Consumer Reports' survey of more than 50,000 members that garnered top ratings for fresh store-prepared foods.
This week at some locations, Costco was selling quinoa salad with veggies, mung beans, brown rice and red lentils for $4.99 a pound; a kale pesto fusilli pasta salad with medium-sized shrimp for $6.99 a pound; and 20 half-croissant sandwiches filled with chicken, roast beef, ham, cheese and other fillings -- plus two dressings -- for $29.99.
You could save money making these yourself, but if you're in a rush or can't be bothered cooking, they're good bets.
Leaders in the South
In the Southeast, Publix shines for high-quality prepared salads, cold cuts and other July Fourth cookout food. The chain got highest marks in this region for fresh store-prepared foods, as well as for store cleanliness and staff courtesy. You might have to pay a bit more, though; the store ranked worse than average for the prices of organic options and for competitive prices in general.
Winn-Dixie locations in the Jacksonville area have some great sales right now if you're planning to grill out. Select styles of ribs are BOGO (buy one, get one free), as well as chicken thighs, hot dogs, ice cream, chips and more. Check Winn-Dixie's weekly ads for each location before you shop.
Make your cookout memorable
Wherever you shop, be sure to follow Consumer Reports' food-safety tips for summer cookouts, including how to use a meat thermometer, store cold dishes like potato salad and clean up properly. And take advantage of Consumer Reports' advice on keeping away mosquitoes and ticks and using sunscreen the right way.
To read the original article, visit ConsumerReports.org.