Here’s the latest Shop Til You Drop, my column for the Courier-Post, the great South Jersey newspaper:

Warehouse stores and outdoor entertaining go together like hotdogs and mustard.

You can buy the fixings for your Fourth of July cookout, plus the gadgets and goodies you need to grill and serve the feast.

There’s a feeling of power, pushing that big cart around BJ’s Wholesale Club. Think of it as a tank. And you are about to conquer your shopping list.

The first item into the cart is a large round planter brimming with red geraniums ($17.99) that will make a cheerful centerpiece. Then a Marie Callender’s cherry pie (for $2.99, we will let Marie wield the rolling pin), a gallon of vanilla ice cream and a 2-pound box of juicy blueberries ($6.99) for the red-white-and-blue dessert table.

You don’t have to knock yourself out grating carrots and cabbage to make coleslaw for a crowd. BJ’s has done the work for you, serving up three pounds of its private-label Wellesley Farms slaw for a mere $5.29.

Deviled eggs? Naturally. Let’s grab two dozen of Eggland’s Best for $4.39 and a two-jar pack of Hellman’s mayo for $7.29. With the money we are saving we can treat ourselves to strip steaks, priced at $9.99 a pound.

Infrastructure—the patio set, the big umbrella, the kiddie pool—is essential in outdoor entertaining. This season, I will beef up my barbecue with a Farberware digital instant-read thermometer ($14.99) and a pair of copper-topped torches on tall metal posts  ($12.99 each). A Norfolk 5-liter beverage dispenser ($17.99) allows guests to readily refill their ice tea glasses.

Each year, hosts in pursuit of the perfect soiree discover new products to trot out at splash parties, picnics and cookouts. Here are a few recent innovations:

• The Cookina Barbecue Reusable Grilling Sheet is a high-tech alternative to aluminum foil. Place the non-stick sheet on the grill and toss on the burgers. The sheet is grooved to produce those coveted grill marks. It’s also great for veggies and shrimp, which tend to fall through a traditional grill. (Available at Home Depot for $14.99.)

• Made by IMUSA, the Lava Rock Molcajete is a hefty mortar and pestle made from volcanic rock. It’s big enough for a fiesta-size batch of salsa or guacamole—and heavy enough to keep your table cloth from blowing away. (Sold at Macy’s for $59.99.)

• If your cookout is a rainout, plug in the T-Fal OptiGrill. This gadget is equipped with a sensor that measures the thickness of the food and adjusts the cooking time accordingly. In addition to grilling, you can use it to defrost foods. The OptiGrill is outfitted with removable plates and a drip tray you can pop in the dishwasher. (Priced at $179.99 at BedBathandBeyond.com, target.com and other retailers.)

HOLD THAT LINE: Amazon’s Fire Phone is red hot. But it might be wise to play it cool and hold off on placing a preorder for the smartphone, which debuts on July 25.

Research by DealNews, which evaluates 2,000 online retailers, reveals that even the most popular Android technology phones typically are discounted up to 50 percent within three months of release. In a market sizzling with competition, odds are Fire Phone’s price will melt, too.

The Fire Phone is currently priced at $199-$649, depending on the service agreement with AT&T. Add an extra $100 for the 64GB model. Amazon is kicking in a free year of Amazon Prime membership, a $99 value.

Shop Til You Drop appears on Wednesday. Reach Eileen Smith at esmith@smithreports.com