The Best Outdoor Appliances

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Transforming your patio or deck into a true outdoor kitchen and entertainment hub is easier than ever. Here at Appliance Educator, we know a well-equipped outdoor living space extends your home’s footprint and enhances your lifestyle.

By adding the right appliances, you can cook, chill, and entertain in comfort year-round.

Below, we break down the best appliance categories that elevate outdoor cooking and living, and offer some real-world use cases and tips.

Outdoor Cooking Appliances

Outdoor kitchens revolve around cooking, think grills, smokers, pizza ovens, and more. With the right appliances, cooking just about anything outdoors is possible.

Built-in gas grills remain the cornerstone of most setups; they fire up quickly and let you sear steaks or grill burgers with ease. But did you know that many homeowners choose to complement their gas grill with another specialist cooker?

For example, pellet grills and smokers add rich wood-fire flavor for searing ribeyes or slow-cooking pulled pork on different zones. Ceramic kamado-style grills or smokers (e.g., Big Green Egg) and dedicated wood-fire pizza ovens are also popular for grilling enthusiasts.

  • Gas Grills & Combo Grills: install a built-in gas grill for fast, versatile barbecuing. Some premium models offer side burners or rotisseries.

  • Smokers and Pellet Grills: For authentic low-and-slow barbecue, a dedicated smoker or pellet grill is a must. Modern pellet grills (which use wood pellets and a fan-controlled firebox) can reach high sear temperatures too.

  • Pizza Ovens and Griddles: Wood-fired pizza ovens continue to gain fans. A separate pizza oven (or an add-on insert) lets you bake bread, roast meats, or make stone-oven pizza right in the backyard. Flat-top griddles or integrated burners are another option and they’re great for pancakes, fajitas, or stir-fries when the grill isn’t ideal.

Organizing these appliances requires planning. A typical layout might center on a main grill flanked by prep counters, with a smoker or pizza oven nearby. No matter the exact setup, the goal is convenience and to be sure your favorite grill or smoker is near serving areas so food stays hot and you minimize trips indoors.

Cooling & Refrigeration

Keeping cold drinks, salads, and perishables on hand changes the game when it comes to outdoor entertaining. An outdoor-rated refrigerator or under-counter fridge/freezer gives you instant access to ice, beverages, and fresh ingredients without dashing back inside. It also frees up indoor fridge space and streamlines service.

In practice, homeowners use outdoor fridges much like a backyard bar by chilling beers and mixers close to the grill, storing condiments and cold sides, or even housing a stock of meats for marinating.

ZLINE’s Touchstone outdoor beverage refrigerators are built for this purpose and are the best outdoor refrigerators currently available. For example, their 24″ under-counter unit is carefully designed with a stainless steel interior and a fully wrapped stainless steel exterior that features an anti-sweat and waterproof design, perfect for outdoor installation. This means it resists rust and moisture even in harsh conditions. The same model offers plenty of capacity with 3 adjustable glass shelves and a wine rack. It can hold up to 151 cans or 79 bottles, plus up to 8 wine bottles.

You can stock this with beer and mixers before a cookout, plus a few bottles of white wine on ice so everything is at hand. The LED interior lighting and glass door also make it easy to find drinks at night.

Picture marinating chicken on the grill, then grabbing spare cut veggies or sauces from the fridge just a few feet away. Besides fridges, many outdoor kitchen plans include a freezer drawer or ice maker for cocktails and frozen treats. Even a small under-counter freezer compartment adds lots of convenience for parties.

Ventilation (Outdoor Grill Hoods)

Cooking under a covered patio or over an island grill calls for powerful ventilation. Without it, smoke and grease can quickly overwhelm guests. An outdoor-rated grill hood solves this by sucking away fumes and letting heat rise safely.

ZLINE’s outdoor grill hoods are specifically engineered for patio use. Their 60″ island-mount hood (for example) is described as “designed to integrate into any custom patio or outdoor setting” and can “stand up to weather conditions while efficiently reducing smoke and odors.”

In plain terms, these heavy-gauge stainless hoods won’t rust or warp outdoors, and their high-powered fans clear greasy air.

If you’re grilling burgers for a group, the hood’s blower exhausts the smoke up through a chimney, keeping the party area clear.

The hood also helps prevent the buildup of soot on nearby surfaces. In cooler months under a roof, the hood is equally vital as it vents steam and grease from sautés and stir-fries as easily as from steak and ribs.

Proper ventilation isn’t just about comfort; it also reduces fire risk and grease buildup in the outdoor kitchen structure.

Outdoor Comfort & Heating

True outdoor living happens year-round. To extend the season and ensure comfort in heat or cold, homeowners often add dedicated climate-control appliances. Two favorites are patio heaters and misting systems.

  • Patio Heaters (Warmth): Portable propane or natural-gas patio heaters (and even electric infrared heaters) let you stay out into fall and winter. These heaters come in freestanding tower form, tabletop models, or in-ceiling units. Electric heaters give instant warmth, while propane heaters are great for open decks.

  • Misting Systems (Cooling): In very hot climates, outdoor misting systems are a popular cooling solution. These systems spray a fine water mist into the air; as the droplets evaporate, they absorb heat and can drop the ambient temperature significantly. In fact, high-pressure misting systems can reduce temperatures by up to 20–30°F in the immediate area. Typical setups range from simple clip-on misting fans to full 50-ft line kits under a pergola.

During shoulder seasons, even a chilly spring eve can be warmed by a heater, while on the hottest days, a misting line makes the air noticeably cooler for dining outdoors.

Entertainment (TV & Audio)

A modern outdoor living space is also an entertainment zone. Weatherproof outdoor TVs and audio systems can turn your patio into an al fresco media room or concert hall. Many homeowners use outdoor TVs to watch sports, movies, or gaming by the pool, while others add ceiling or wall-mounted speakers to stream music during dinner parties.

For TVs, you generally need a model rated for outdoor use or a protective enclosure. These displays are much brighter and sealed against moisture. Installing an outdoor TV creates an instant social hub, think Sunday football under the stars, or a movie night around the fire pit.

For sound, there are now many all-weather speakers and outdoor soundbars (from brands like Sonos, Bose, Polk Audio, etc.). These are made to handle humidity and temperature changes.

In short, the TV and speakers complete the experience, keeping guests laughing along with shows or jamming to playlists as you grill up dinner.

Outdoor Utility (Sinks, Storage, Lighting)

No well-appointed outdoor kitchen is complete without practical utility elements. These are the behind-the-scenes appliances and fixtures that make life easier:

  • Sinks and Plumbing: A built-in outdoor sink brings indoor convenience out back. Use it for hand-washing, rinsing produce, or filling pots without lugging them inside. It also improves hygiene since you can rinse raw meat juices directly outside, reducing the chance of contaminating your indoor counters.

  • Storage and Counter Space: Weatherproof storage cabinets and drawers keep grill tools, dishes, spices, and cleaning supplies at hand. Many outdoor islands have lockable stainless steel cabinets below the countertop. These are used to stow lid covers, fire starters, serving platters, and even propane tanks. Well-placed storage means you aren’t running back to the garage for utensils or napkins mid-bbq. Some kitchens also include dedicated beverage/wine storage outside.

  • Lighting: Proper outdoor lighting is both practical and atmospheric. You’ll want a mix of task lighting (over the grill, bar, and sink) and ambient lighting (deck lights, string lights, or lanterns) for a welcoming glow. Soft string lights or sconces create a cozy vibe around seating areas. Well-placed path lights and step lights also improve safety in the dark. In short, lighting turns your outdoor kitchen into a night-friendly space, ensuring you can cook and entertain safely after sundown.

In summary, outfitting your backyard kitchen involves more than just the grill. A comprehensive outdoor setup includes cooking appliances (grills, smokers, pizza ovens), chilling units (outdoor fridges/freezers), ventilation (weatherproof hoods to clear smoke), comfort systems (heaters and misting for all seasons), entertainment gear (outdoor TV and sound), and smart utilities (sinks, storage, lighting).

Together, these elements let you cook restaurant-worthy meals and host friends comfortably in the open air. Many homeowners find that investing in quality (often stainless steel) gear, such as ZLINE’s outdoor-rated refrigerators and grill hoods, pays off with years of reliable use.