Essential Outdoor Kitchen Appliances To Create The Ultimate Entertainment Space

You've upgraded your outdoor lighting and bought the perfect outdoor furniture, so now your deck or patio is set for all of your outdoor entertaining needs, right? Not so fast. You're overlooking some essential additions that will really transform your patio into the ultimate entertaining space: outdoor appliances. Think about the last time you hosted an indoor dinner party. We bet you can list several appliances that helped you put together an enjoyable meal for your guests and that allowed you to spend more time socializing — and less time standing in the kitchen.

Outdoor entertaining shouldn't be any different. When you want to present your guests with an exceptional experience — while also ensuring that you're not constantly running back and forth between your deck or patio and your indoor kitchen — there are a few gadgets that you'll want to consider. These appliances can help with everything like preparing restaurant-worthy meals, keeping food warm for guests to enjoy, helping you craft delicious and refreshing cocktails, and so much more. Continue reading to find the inspiration you'll need to transform your space.

If you're looking to surpass the host or hostess with the mostest, then you'll want to consider adding an outdoor refrigerator to your entertaining space. When you're hosting friends or family, you want to provide an enjoyable experience. And, of course, part of that experience should be a perfectly chilled glass of wine, soda, or bottle of water. While you could use a cooler, they're bulky and won't help you create the inviting atmosphere that you desire. Plus, you have to remember to buy enough ice to keep them cool and deal with draining them after your event. Beyond keeping your guests hydrated, your outdoor fridge will also come in handy when preparing meals in your outdoor kitchen — no more running back inside to grab the marinade you need or the sides you want to serve with your meal.

Before buying one, it is important to note that you can't simply place any fridge model outside. You must look for one that is rated to operate in the potentially hot or cold temperatures that can take place throughout the year. These models will have a stronger compressor and better insulation that enable them to maintain their set temperature, despite the outdoor conditions. Moreover, their wiring and other electrical elements are also specifically designed for outdoor use, where they're much more likely to come into contact with water.

One other important note: some outdoor fridges are not designed to hold truly perishable items. They may not be able to maintain a temperature that will ensure food safety. These models, such as the Phiestina 24-Inch Indoor/Outdoor Beverage Refrigerator, would be sufficient if you only want to use the fridge for drinks. However, if you want to hold food, you'll need to look for a food-safety-certified outdoor fridge, like the Summit 24-Inch Built-In Outdoor Refrigerator.

Imagine the look on each of your guests' faces when you pull a pizza out of your backyard pizza oven. The perfectly crisp crust. The deliciously melty cheese. The customized toppings to match the preferences and dietary restrictions of each guest. What's not to love? A pizza oven can really help you up your entertaining game, wowing guests with restaurant-worthy (or even better) pizza that is served hot and ready to enjoy. Pizza ovens can also be used to cook a variety of other foods, including bread, roasted vegetables, homemade potato chips, and cinnamon rolls. Plus, because they operate at such high temperatures — much hotter than your oven could safely get — they cook food quickly. With some models, your pizzas will be ready to enjoy within minutes.

There are a few safety considerations to keep in mind before installing a new pizza oven. You'll need to choose a safe location for the appliance, which should be away from anything flammable and allow for adequate ventilation. The location you choose should also be level, so avoid setting the oven on a slanted patio or a wooden table with loose boards. Before making a purchase, you'll also want to think about your preferred fuel source. You can find gas, wood-fired, or dual-fuel pizza ovens. The right choice for you may depend on your preferences and comfort level. For example, gas pizza ovens are a bit easier to use, but are often smaller and can't match the heat retention of brick oven models. Wood-fired ovens, on the other hand, can reach higher temperatures and offer excellent heat retention, but they are not as intuitive to use and can be more difficult to clean up.

One model to consider is the Ooni Karu Multi-Fuel Pizza Oven. With it, you can cook with wood, charcoal, or gas (using an attachment which is available for purchase separately). It can reach high temperatures of over 900 degrees Fahrenheit in minutes, making it possible to cook a pizza in just 60 seconds.

When many people think about the entertaining essentials that are a must for an outdoor space, one of the first things that often comes to mind is a grill. Grills make it possible to cook a wide range of foods — from hot dogs and hamburgers for a more casual barbecue to steaks, fish, or scallops for a classy formal meal. Plus, when you're preparing food for your guests, you'll be outside with them. You won't have to hide in the kitchen standing over the stove and only join them once the meal is ready.

Whether you've owned a grill before or have simply walked past them when wandering through an outdoor or home improvement store, then you probably already know that there are several different types to choose from. Some of the most popular options include charcoal grills, gas grills, and pellet grills. Each comes with its own set of pros and cons, and your comfort level and preferred taste could impact which is best for you. For example, gas and propane grills are relatively easy to use and don't take long to preheat, but they won't add that classic smokey flavor that comes from cooking with a charcoal or pellet model. However, you'll need a power source for a pellet grill and charcoal grills don't always cook foods as evenly due to flare-ups. A built-in option like the Lion Built-in Propane Grill can integrate your grill right into your food prep station. Regardless of the fuel source you ultimately choose, make sure that you keep the grill safe and clean so that it is ready for all of your entertaining needs.

An outdoor smoker is another appliance that you might want to consider instead of — or in addition to — a grill when planning your entertaining space. Compared to grills that use high temperatures to cook foods, smokers utilize a much lower temperature. Foods are slow-cooked, which can turn tough cuts into something juicy, tender, and delicious. This will allow you to serve restaurant-quality meats to your guests. Plus, it allows for more hands-off cooking. Meats take a long time to cook, but once you get them going, you won't have to babysit the smoker and instead move on to everything else you need to do for your guests.

Of course, there are a few things to keep in mind before you purchase the appliance. One key thing is the cost. Smokers can be expensive — costing more than many grills on the market. And since they take longer to cook foods, the process will require more planning ahead on your part to ensure meals are ready when you want to serve them. You should also guarantee that you have a safe location to place the smoker. Look for a flat surface that is 10 or more feet away from the side of your home.

There are several high-quality options on the market. One that you might consider is the Weber Smokey Mountain Cooker Charcoal Smoker. It's large enough to smoke a whole turkey, offers dampers to make it easy to control the heat, and features a porcelain enamel body to retain heat for optimal results.

When you think about serving your guests an incredible meal, there are several pieces that all need to fit together. Not only do you need to choose the right recipes and prepare them properly, but you also need to get the timing down so that everything is ready at the same time. Otherwise, you'll end up feeding your guests in stages, or serving some entrées or sides that have already gotten cold. That is, unless you have a warming drawer to help back you up. As its name suggests, a warming drawer is designed to keep foods warm, helping you serve the perfect meal every time. It can also come in handy if one of your guests is unexpectedly running late for the meal, and you want to keep their plate warm until they arrive. Some outdoor warming drawers can also be used for towels and robes, which could be a nice touch if you're hosting an outdoor pool party or having friends over for a dip in the hot tub.

When shopping for one, there are a few things you might want to look for. Pay attention to size and installation needs. You'll want to think about the layout of your current outdoor kitchen and the space that is available for a warming drawer. Keep convenience in mind by choosing a spot that will be easy to access when removing food from your outdoor grill, smoker, and other cooking appliances. Additionally, you should look at the temperature settings offered by each model. Choose one that offers different settings to best accommodate a variety of food items, like the RCS R-Series Electric Outdoor Warming Drawer.

You can't go wrong with a standard grill. Cooking foods over metal grates makes it possible to sear meats and veggies to get those desirable grill marks. However, there are also benefits to opting for a flat-top grill for your outdoor entertaining space. These grills, which are commonly called outdoor griddles, don't have the open grates of a standard grill. Instead, they have a flat cooking surface, which can make it easier to cook smaller foods like chopped vegetables. An outdoor griddle could even open up the possibility of using your patio to host a brunch — you could cook everything from scrambled eggs to French toast on the flat surface. However, you can still cook meats and everything else that you'd cook on a regular grill. In fact, some of these griddles are capable of heating up to 1,000 degrees.

However, there are a few pros and cons to consider before making the decision to purchase one over a standard grill. One notable downside is that you won't be able to cook using indirect heat, as is possible with a grill. The food you're preparing will always be directly over the heat source, which won't allow you to slowly cook foods and could result in a charred outside while the inside is still not all the way cooked. There is also a learning curve for cooking on one. You'll have to put a bit more thought into preheating it, and taking care to add oil to ensure that the surface remains nonstick.

If you're interested in trying out an outdoor griddle, check stores like Home Depot for special deals. One highly-rated option is the Razor 4-burner Propane Outdoor Griddle.

When you're looking for the top ways to make your patio the ultimate outdoor entertaining destination, you shouldn't overlook adding an outdoor ice maker. You'll find several uses for it — from keeping that bottle of wine chilled, to ensuring each glass of water or soda you serve your guests is cold and refreshing, to crafting delicious cocktails for everyone to enjoy. The convenience of having the ice outside and ready to go will be a real asset. You won't have to step away from your guests when you want to make a new drink. You also won't have to worry about ice melting on a warm day if you bring it out in a bowl or even a small cooler. Some outdoor ice makers even offer different settings, allowing you to choose from crushed or cubed ice.

However, there are several things to consider before you buy one. The first is whether you want a freestanding or built-in model. If you already have an outdoor kitchen set-up, then adding a built-in model, such as the EdgeStar Outdoor Ice Maker, may be the right choice. If you don't have the full kitchen set-up, then a freestanding one will probably be best. Second, outdoor ice makers will require a drain and a dedicated circuit, so you may want to consult with a plumber and electrician to help you plan the best location for installation. 

Sure, you cart all of your dirty dishes inside after hosting an outdoor party, but do you really want to? Wouldn't it be so much more convenient to be able to toss them in your  outdoor dishwasher to save yourself the hassle of carrying dirty dishes inside? If you have a separate set of dishes that you store in your outdoor kitchen, having a dishwasher right there would be an even greater asset. You wouldn't have to bring everything back outside after cleaning it inside. With the added convenience, you may find that you're more excited to host friends and family since cleaning up after the party will be much easier.

This might go without saying, but you can't simply install any dishwasher model outside. The product you choose must be rated for use outdoors. The wiring of a standard dishwasher is not designed to be exposed to the fluctuating temperatures and moist conditions that are present outside. Additionally, as with other outdoor appliances that require electricity and water, you'll want to contact an electrician and a plumber to learn more about what will be necessary to properly install a dishwasher in your outdoor kitchen.