Columbus-based Char-Broil asked grillers across America for an inside look at their plans and preferences for today’s Independence Day cook-out. The how, when and what’s cooking varies by region of the country. Closer analysis of the 3,000 plus responses from Americans coast to coast showcases clear regional preferences:

While burgers and dogs remain an overall favorite, almost half (46 percent) of backyard chefs in the Midwest will be grilling brats and sausages this year, and 53 percent of households in the Northeast will be having chicken.

A barbecue in the Southeast is more likely to include ribs on the menu than in any other region.

This year’s cook-out will be limited primarily to family members, with 69.5 percent of Americans planning a backyard barbecue with only family. One third (33.2 percent) of folks on the west coast, however, are preparing for a cook-out with family and friends.

Northeasterners will spend the most time cooking this holiday, with almost a quarter (23 percent) planning to be on the grill all day.

While 23 percent of the country (heaviest concentration in the Southwest) will be listening to rock music while they grill, the preferred soundtrack of the cook-out is the sound of the great outdoors only — accentuated by the sizzle of the grill.

When asked which historical figure they’d invite to their cook-out, Americans chose Abraham Lincoln over Ben Franklin by a slim margin, followed closely by George Washington. (Options offered were Ben Franklin, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, Susan B. Anthony and Martin Luther King Jr.). Americans in the West deviated slightly, choosing Thomas Jefferson instead of George Washington as a top three choice.

Source: Char-Broil