When you're planning a family reunion that will take place in your backyard, it's important to think about how you'll serve your guests. If you plan to take care of the food yourself — perhaps with the help of a few family members who are skilled in the kitchen — it will be advantageous to rent a number of pieces of catering equipment. Doing so will make it considerably easier to prepare a large volume of food that will satisfy the sizable turnout at your event. Here are some things that you should make a point of renting.

Propane Boiling Pot

A propane-powered boiling pot, which essentially consists of a burner that sits beneath a large metal pot, will be a valuable piece of equipment for your family reunion. The strength of this equipment is the number of ways that you can use it. For example, if you're having a seafood boil, this pot can hold lots of food for your guests. You might also wish to use it for boiling corn on the cob. The pot that comes with this device is typically larger than any cooking pot you own, which will make it easier to prepare the volume of food that you need.

Barbecue

Even if the barbecue that you own is large, it probably won't be sufficient for cooking food for a large group at a family reunion. Regardless of what you plan to grill, you need a sizable cooking surface that will allow you to cook dozens of things at the same time. It's a good idea to rent a barbecue for this event. You'll notice that the barbecues that you can rent are much larger in size than what you likely own, which will make it easier and less stressful for you to grill hamburgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken breasts, or whatever is on the menu.

Chafing Dishes

Preparing food ahead of time is a good strategy when you're cooking for a large gathering such as a family reunion. The challenge, of course, will be to keep hot dishes hot. Fortunately, you can rent a number of chafing dishes. This equipment keeps your food hot, thus ensuring that it is appetizing — even a long time after you cook it. Chafing dishes are available in many sizes and even a few shapes, so you can rent specific equipment based on what you'll be cooking.

Talk to a catering equipment rental service to learn more.