13 outdoor kitchen essentials for great food and good times

Outdoor kitchens have come a long way in recent years. Not so long ago, an outdoor kitchen meant not much more than a grill and a few deck chairs. However, times have changed and new products have emerged to complement the established staples to take outdoor dining to a whole new level. Now, you simply have to have a full range of modern outdoor kitchen essentials to help create memorable experiences for one and all.

When hosting an outdoor dinner party, you don't want to check the weather forecast every few minutes for fear of what might happen.

A pergola with shade canopies will shelter you from the sun and the rain, keeping everyone protected no matter what happens. It also presents the opportunity to add a bit of style through its design or with the addition of natural foliage or lighting to add a magical and enchanting feel.

Ceramic charcoal grill barbecues also go by the name of egg barbecues because of their unique egg-like shape. And they are a hot trend in 2023 thanks to their ability to add delicious smokey flavours to your meat. The ceramic frame is great for heat retention which helps ensure evenly cooked meat, every time.

It’s one to add to your shopping list if you're a keen cook and want to show off your delicious, homemade marinades.

If you like barbecuing during the warm summer months but don't want to slow-cook meat for hours, be sure your outdoor kitchen includes a large gas grill.

This could be a large standalone model or a built-in gas grill that will give you plenty of cooking area to cook large quantities of food at once. With proper care and maintenance including a good quality cover, it will serve you for many years.

There are two advantages to storing your drinks outside in a refrigerator.

The first is obvious. It means you can rest, put your feet up and grab a cold beverage an arm's length away instead of heading back indoors. But the second advantage is that it will give you more cold storage for all your ingredients, keeping them fresh and ready when you need them.

It's not only your food and drinks that deserve ample storage space. You'll have plenty of other things you want to store when creating an outdoor kitchen, including serving cooking appliances, dishes, cutlery, and plates.

You probably also want a concealed trash bin and recycling bin to keep your outdoor dining area neat and orderly. This typically means having a storage solution that comprises at least two or three kitchen cabinets or cupboards. Some incorporate this into a kitchen island as part of their layout. Be sure to think about its build materials too as it will also be exposed to the elements.

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Keeping your kitchen clean will be significantly easier if you opt for an outdoor sink. It also gives you an area to wash and prepare food and vegetables, again without having to go inside.

For a practical, minimal, stylish outdoor kitchen, go for a modern stainless steel kitchen sink with a bit of counter space.

Sometimes you'll want to relax and unwind in your outdoor kitchen area rather than host a formal al fresco dining experience.

With that in mind, it's best to look for a table and seating combination that offers some flexibility. You can get adjustable tables that switch from dining to coffee tables and modular seating that you can push together into benches or sofas to provide extra space for guests.

Brighten your seating area with colourful cushions, candles, and plants. And don't forget to add beautiful low lighting to soften the look and bring relaxing vibes to your entertainment spaces.

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Lockable chest storage is the easiest option for an outdoor space. You can use this to store cushions and other outdoor seating accessories that you prefer to lock away in the winter months.

You can buy storage that also doubles as a bench. That's helpful if you need the occasional extra seating for guests. You can decorate these with blankets to make them more aesthetically pleasing too.

A fresh pizza cooked in a ceramic oven is a stark contrast to those you buy from the supermarket and heat up in the microwave. Even if you aren't a big pizza fan, you won’t be able to deny the style and atmosphere a traditional outdoor pizza oven creates.

They look fantastic and can also be used to cook other dishes too like roast vegetables, baked fish, slow-cooked meats, bread and more. A fantastic complement to any outdoor kitchen design.

Those who consider themselves barbecue aficionados will know just how important high-quality grilling tools are. They aid your cooking and allow you to delicately handle your hot and cold food with precision and care.

Matching grilling tools also look great in your outdoor kitchen and help ensure you operate in a safe and efficient manner. There are many types of outdoor kitchen accessories to choose from with respect to this and they can make a huge difference in how you prepare and cook your food.

Let's face it. Cups can be dropped during the excitement of a party and social gathering so making sure you have strong, robust and reliable drinkware is vital.

Modern acrylic drinkware is a great choice for its strength and versatility and is much easier on the eye than old plastic picnic cups which might otherwise bring the mood and ambience down a notch.

An ice maker is a must-have for a hot sunny day and technology has progressed a lot in recent times when it comes to these products.

They look stylish, and the latest ice-making technology means you'll have a quiet, easy-to-use machine that produces ample ice cubes for you and your guests, quickly and easily.

Even a hot sunny day can turn chilly when the sun sets. But if you're enjoying a lazy evening in the great outdoors, you probably won't want to retreat inside.

Sure, blankets can help keep you warm. But a more reliable method is to use an outdoor patio heater. An efficient patio heater will warm around 20ft of space, which should be enough for even sizeable outdoor kitchen space.

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As you can see, these outdoor kitchen essentials are exactly that and will complete your outdoor living space allowing you to host all manner of gatherings and events. Whether that’s a small dinner with close friends or a big party for the family, you’ll have all the outdoor cooking tools, features, furnishings and cooking accessories you’ll need to take care of everything.