PALATINE, Ill., Sept. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- No matter which team you're rooting for, there is one thing Americans have in common when it comes to tailgating: What's on the grill. According to the just-released tailgating statistics from the 25^th annual Weber GrillWatch Survey, the pre-game fare that takes the top spot on the grill is once again the all-American hamburger.

Since Weber started keeping score, and most likely since the dawn of tailgating, hamburgers remain America's favorite tailgating fare at 71 percent, with hot dogs (45 percent); and brats (36 percent) coming in a distant second and third place.

"Burgers are not only a mainstay at tailgate parties—they are America's favorite food to grill across the board," says Kim Lefko, EVP of Marketing, AMERICAS, Weber-Stephen Products LLC. "After more than 60 years, and more than a dozen grilling cookbooks, Weber released its first cookbook dedicated to burgers—Weber's Big Book of Burgers (http://www.weber.com/cookbooks). With more than 200,000 copies sold in just five months, we anticipate steady demand throughout the busy tailgating season." 

VIDEO: Weber's Big Book of Burgers author Jamie Purviance shows how to make a game- changing burger with his Spicy Ginger Scallion Burger with Sesame Spinach:
http://www.weber.com/recipes/beef/spicy-ginger-scallion-burgers-with-sesame-spinach

VIDEO: Learn how to grill Beer Brats with Sauerkraut, Onions and Jalapenos: http://www.weber.com/recipes/pork/beer-brats-with-sauerkraut-onions-and-jalapenos. 

Other Newsworthy Stats from the 25^th Weber GrillWatch Survey:

• While portable grill models are the top choice (63 percent) when it comes to grilling away from home (for tailgating or any other occasion), nearly one-third of grill owners take along a full-size model (31 percent).
• Over one-half of all grill owners enjoy grilling away from home (55 percent), primarily when camping, but also at parks, the beach or at tailgate parties.
• One-half of grill owners who have attended a tailgate in the past 12 months did not actually go into the game (50 percent).
• The average amount of money spent on a tailgate party by grill owners holds steady at $122 for the second year in a row, with one-quarter of the tailgaters spending between $100 and $149 per party (25%).
• Vegetables are rising in popularity, with eight percent of tailgate grillers putting veggies in their top three foods, up from four percent last year. Steak is cited by 31 percent of males as a tailgate food staple, while only 18 percent of women feel the same way.
• Grill owners report their top must-have items for a tailgate party are food (78 percent) and a grill (76 percent). Chairs (74 percent) and a cooler (71 percent) also make the top of the list.

Weber commissioned KeyStat Marketing to field the 25th annual Weber GrillWatch Survey. Toluna provided the sample of 1,000 grill owners throughout the United States who completed the online survey. All respondents were 21 years of age or older and currently own a charcoal, gas or electric outdoor grill or smoker. The sample was divided between 50 percent males and 50 percent females and was balanced demographically to represent households across the U.S. 

For more information about Weber-Stephen Products LLC, visit www.weber.com or www.thewebernewsroom.com.

SOURCE Weber-Stephen Products LLC