Outdoor Cooking Equipment Buying Guide

1. Outdoor Grills

Outdoor grills are a staple of every outdoor kitchen, capable of cooking meats and vegetables to perfection. From juicy burgers with distinctive sear lines to Argentinian barbeque, grilled food is the centerpiece of summer menus, catering events, and tailgating. When purchasing an outdoor grill, choose from a variety of sizes, fuel types, and transportation capabilities. Consider our guide to different types of charcoal and wood for the best grilling flavor.

Familiarize yourself with the different options for outdoor grills below, and check out our in-depth guide on outdoor grills for more information.

Outdoor Grill Accessories

No grill is complete without the addition of several outdoor grill accessories. These tools help you take grilling to the next level by giving you more space, more control over the food, and more ways to keep your grill functioning at peak capacity.

• Skewers: Grilling skewers hold food together during grilling and can be used on steak, chicken, and vegetables to make delicious shish kebobs.
• Grill covers: Use a grill cover to protect your outdoor grill from the elements, such as rain, snow, falling leaves, and dirt.
• Dome lids: Add a dome lid to your grill to protect the cooking surface and get the signature sear marks on steak or chicken.
• Grill thermometers: For easy temperature monitoring, mount a grill thermometer inside your grill.
• Marinade injectors: A marinade injector allows you to inject marinades directly into your meats to enhance their tenderness and flavor.
• Basting brushes: Use a basting brush to spread liquid marinades on top of meats before and while you grill to produce a delicious final product.
• Side shelves: Installing grill side shelves increases your workspace, allowing you to keep ingredients close and plate food right at the grill.
• Grill side burners: By adding grill side burners, you can saute different dishes while you grill or keep sauces and finished products hot.
• Grill splash guards: A grill splash guard helps protect you and your surroundings from hot splatters while maintaining product visibility.

Consider Outdoor Grill Production Levels

Outdoor grills have different levels of production based on their size, fuel type, and the number of burners. As you consider adding a grill to your outdoor space, know its production capabilities compared to the amount of food you plan to serve. Below are the levels of production for different types of grills.

2. Outdoor Pizza Ovens

Whether you choose an iconic wood-fired oven or a practical propane option, outdoor pizza ovens are a unique addition to your outdoor kitchen. They allow you to bake and serve authentic, Italian-style pizza with a classic wood-fired taste. However, pizza ovens are versatile and are great for cooking roasted vegetables, slow-cooked meats, potatoes, fresh loaves of bread, casseroles, and more.

There are many sizes, styles, and capacity options for outdoor pizza ovens. While some only hold one pizza at a time, others offer high-volume production. No matter the size, cooking times are relatively fast once the oven is at the correct temperature. You can finish baking an entire pizza in less than five minutes, allowing you to serve many people in a short timeframe.

Outdoor Pizza Oven Accessories: Consider getting a pizza peel or a pizza stone to help take your pizza to the next level.

Outdoor Pizza Oven Fuel: Propane, natural gas, or wood

Choose between built-in and mobile outdoor pizza ovens. Your choice is determined by the type of operation you're running. If you have a restaurant with a patio or a wine garden, a built-in pizza oven is worth the investment. Caterers require portable options.

3. Outdoor Griddles

Outdoor griddles are the most versatile outdoor cooking equipment on the market, able to grill, steam, saute, and fry food. You can cook various meals on them, including eggs for breakfast and an entire hibachi-style meal for dinner. Its large cooking surface allows you to make a lot of food at once.

Using an outdoor griddle comes with a lot of benefits beyond its versatility. Regardless of your cooking capabilities, this equipment accommodates nearly any food or level of experience.

• Easy to clean; some griddles even have a hole or trench for cooking debris.
• Less marinade, oil, and spices are needed because it remains on the cooking surface.
• Precise temperature control, including having different parts of the surface be at different temperatures.
• Accommodates small food items, such as shrimp, rice, diced vegetables, eggs, and more.
• Heats quickly without any open flames

Outdoor griddles come with many different production capabilities. Whether it offers 2 burners or 10, burners you can classify any outdoor grill by its fuel type. Discover the pros and cons of liquid propane outdoor griddles vs. natural gas outdoor griddles below.

4. Outdoor Smokers

Outdoor smokers are a popular choice for outdoor cooking equipment. However, many beginners fail to realize there are two kinds of equipment used to smoke meat. While smoker grills are versatile, smokehouses are designed specifically for smoking meats.

Fuel: Propane, electric, or charcoal

Other features: An express smoker is a good option if you need a fast turnaround; it can do a 5 lb. rack of ribs in one hour instead of seven.

You can broadly categorize outdoor smokers into two types: smoker and grill combo units and smokehouses. We break down the pros and cons of each style below.

5. Outdoor Deep Fryers

When buying an outdoor fryer, production is your biggest consideration. Many fryers list how many people they can feed each hour. Choose something that meets your current needs but gives you a little room to grow if you're planning on frying for larger events, like frying turkeys for a Thanksgiving feast.

• 4 gallons and under: Low production; tailgating events, picnics, small catered events.
• 6 gallon - 8 gallons: Medium-high production; small to mid-size catered events, concessions.
• 12 gallon and above: High production; fairs, large catered events, BBQ competitions.

When choosing an outdoor deep fryer, you can select a fryer unit or a steamer/fryer kit. Explore these options below.

6. Patio Stoves

Patio stoves are used for cooking with a stock pot or large, heavy, cast-iron cookware. You can fry chicken, fish, or even a whole turkey with a patio stove. They also allow you to steam vegetables and seafood, boil water, or make large batches of stew. Additionally, patio stoves are also very popular for brewing beer. Their versatility makes them an excellent addition to any outdoor kitchen.

Outdoor Stove Features

If you are loading very heavy stockpots or are concerned about nearby foot traffic, a short, square outdoor stove is the safest option. Discover the popular features of outdoor stoves below.

Burner: A model with a larger burner will let you utilize larger cookware. Higher BTU ratings mean that your stove will reach temperature faster.

Height and stability: These start at less than 10" high and can be over 20" high. A taller model will make it easier to lift heavy stockpots, but this added height also makes it easier to knock over accidentally. Square stoves are also generally more stable than round ones.

Production: Low volume, good for small gatherings such as company picnics or tailgating events.

Fuel: Propane

Other features: Hose and wind guards are excellent additions that improve stove safety. A hose guard prevents damage to the hose at the connection point, while a wind guard prevents the flame from wind manipulation.