National Hamburger Day and Memorial Day weekend fall within three days of each other this year, turning late May into the biggest backyard-cooking period of the season. May 25 marks the unofficial start of summer with grills firing across the country, while May 28 gives burgers their own moment on the calendar. Together, the overlap turns the cookout into a far more ambitious affair, and nobody shows up with a bag of frozen patties and calls it done.

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