10 Outdoor Kitchen Appliances To Avoid At All Costs (And Which Are Worth It)

Appliances make up a big chunk of the costs of adding a kitchen to an outdoor living space, but they can be worth the investment. Oftentimes, the quality of these appliances is reflected in the quality of the final food or beverages you eventually serve to your friends and family. However, not all appliance types are right for you or even necessary to add to your setup. Some, like the Char-Griller line of grills, have been specifically rated as bad products, while others, like kegerators and warming drawers, simply aren't worth it based on the costs that go into purchasing or maintaining them.

One pointer to keep in mind before building an outdoor kitchen is that you should know the items you need and draw up a checklist. Some appliances and features are marketed to be must-haves or the secret thing you need to tie your outdoor kitchen together, but creating a list first with careful planning and consideration might show you that some of those purchases won't be aligned with your own goals. Luxury appliances, for example, are really nice, but you can typically do without the extra stuff. Instead of these kinds of outdoor kitchen appliances, invest in those that meet a serious need while being high-quality and practical. Products that tick all three boxes will be worth it, because you'll have them for a long time and get a lot of use out of them.

The Vevor Outdoor Pizza Oven is rated poorly by a lot of customers who mainly had issues with it right after purchase. They mentioned parts not fitting, paint melting and peeling, and general difficulty when trying to operate this oven. At under $200, it is quite cheap, so you might need to invest more for better quality. Go for the Gozney Roccbox Outdoor Pizza Oven instead. It costs $500, but has great ratings and reviews.

The Char-Griller Grillin' Pro (and the line as a whole) should be avoided at all costs because it has been rated poorly by Consumer Reports. Reviews say the Char-Griller materials are of poor quality, so the grills break down easily and are prone to rusting. Such products are a hassle to maintain, so one tip is to look out for mentions of damaged parts, breakdowns, rust, or low-quality paint finishes in customer reviews. Instead, stick to trusted brands like Weber that consistently earn positive reviews.

A warming drawer is nice to keep food hot and fresh until it is ready to be eaten. However, buying this as a standalone appliance for your outdoor kitchen might not be the best use of your money. They only serve a single purpose, but can cost $1,000 or more, so consider something cheaper to store your meals outside like a food warmer, insulated food container, or an old-fashioned aluminum foil wrap.

A beer tap or kegerator might seem like a fun addition to your outdoor kitchen, but it will likely require more work than you are willing to put in. This appliance needs to be refilled and cleaned regularly (beer lines should be cleaned once every few weeks) so if you don't use it a lot, the wastage and the maintenance required can easily take the fun out of having it. Instead, simply stock up an outdoor refrigerator with all of you favorite brews.

The grill is often the powerhouse of an outdoor kitchen, so it makes sense to invest in a quality product. However, it might not be necessary to spend thousands of dollars on the absolute best, luxury model if a simple, quality product can also do the job well. Luxury grills cost a lot, and those fancy features and parts might be too complex and tough to get familiar with. It's better to go with something good and reliable, especially if you won't be using it a lot.

Fridges also shouldn't be splurged on when they are meant for use in outdoor kitchens. Constant exposure to the elements will put quite a bit of wear and tear on this appliance, regardless of how high the price tag is. It will cost you a lot not only to get the product, but to keep it maintained and functional. Opt for a more basic model, or, if you're really looking to cut down your budget, try this simple practice to help keep your indoor fridge clutter-free so you use it for whatever you need outside.

An outdoor dishwasher may seem like another must-have, but it often isn't as valuable as an indoor dishwasher. The additional water and power connections you'd have to make to set this up coupled with exposure to extreme weather conditions can cost you a pretty penny, from the installation to the maintenance. In most cases, it's better to wash some things in the outdoor kitchen sink and move the rest to the indoor dishwasher.

An ice maker in an outdoor kitchen can also be trouble due to the elements and unstable temperatures that can reduce its efficiency and cause damage. Just pour some bags of ice in a good old ice chest and you can have a more practical, low-maintenance alternative for keeping your drinks cold while spending time outside. We like this Coleman Ice Chest, which costs $47.79 to $124.99 based on the capacity you need, and can also be used for plenty of other outdoor events.

It would be nice to keep your wine cool and in reach when outside, but these appliances aren't advisable due to the weather and their energy consumption. The outdoors aren't a good environment to store wine, even in wine coolers or wine fridges, and they can also run up your electric bill. To avoid this, you have to keep the bottles organized in a certain way to maximize the cooling, avoid opening and closing the door too much, and store the appliance in a covered location. For most people, this simply isn't worth the hassle.

This is an attractive appliance because it gives you a flat, solid surface where you can cook a lot more on as opposed to a typical grill. While this works for things like rice, eggs, and pancakes, it might not heat fast and well enough for the usual BBQ items like patties. Flat top griddles are really only helpful if you'll be doing a lot more cooking than grilling. Instead of getting this appliance for your main grill top, get it as an accessory that you can simply put on top of your grill when needed.