The Most Popular Outdoor Kitchen Appliances

It's a decision you've been waffling about for the past few summers, possibly while standing over your barbecue grill and staring into the middle distance. This year, you've finally decided: It's time to add an outdoor kitchen to your home!

We've mentioned that appliances should always come first when planning a kitchen remodel, and an outdoor kitchen is no different. As you start poring over home design websites and magazines for different designs of outdoor kitchens, you'll see plenty of variation in size, style and function. However, you'll also definitely notice some across-the-board standards when it comes to appliances. Here's a checklist of the most popular outdoor appliances to create the perfect al fresco cooking experience in your outdoor kitchen!

Outdoor Kitchen Grill

The number one item on your list, of course, is the built in grill. This will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen, so it's worth taking some time to really examine your options. You'll want to consider the grill's material build, its size and its number of burners, as well as extras like a rotisserie, infrared function, charcoal smoke box, or LED knobs. Many models can be found for a few thousand dollars, but some high end outdoor BBQ grills can go into the five-figure range, so it's a good move to be as budget-conscious as you need to be when comparing models! Since most outdoor kitchen grill models are gas grills or propane grills, determine whether an in-ground gas line will be necessary for your chosen grill in addition to the electric connection.

Outdoor Refrigerator

Using a cooler is fine when you're grilling at the beach or park, but there's no need to deal with the sogginess of melty ice when you're on your home turf. An outdoor refrigerator will make your life so much easier when cooking outside! Not only will you have space to store all your meats and fresh veggies at the proper safe temperature, but you'll also be able to keep a supply of cold drinks and appetizers readily at hand. Outdoor fridges come in a variety of styles; many have a standard left-hinged or right-hinged door, and are available in solid-door or glass-door models. There are also options for single-drawer, double-drawer, and even triple-drawer configurations. Outdoor refrigerators of course require an outdoor electric connection, so bear that in mind when determining your setup.

Outdoor Gas Burner

Sometimes you need a little extra heat, and an outdoor kitchen cooktop is an excellent option to have on hand. While you're grilling up your main course, an outdoor cooktop will give you the means to heat up a side dish, sauté some toppings, or even sear meat. You'll have the outside kitchen hardware you need to take any outdoor meal to the next level. An outdoor gas burner can be found in single-burner or double-burner models, in propane or natural gas fuel options.

These are three of the most popular outdoor kitchen appliances, but don't let your imagination be limited! There are so many other outdoor cooking appliance options like an outdoor pizza oven, outdoor ice maker, outdoor freezer, or even an outdoor kegerator. It's not every day you put an outdoor kitchen together, so have fun making it the way you want!