Cooking outdoors is a great way to enjoy the weather, take advantage of the space you have available, and make your home feel like an extension of your backyard. Cooking outdoors doesn’t mean that you need to use a barbeque grill though.
Most of the time, when cooking outdoors, the thought of grilling hotdogs or hamburgers comes to mind. There is nothing wrong with this, but there are so many other options.
Outdoor Kitchens
The outdoor kitchen has gained a lot of popularity in the last few years. While some may ask, “What is an outdoor kitchen?” the question can be more accurately phrased as, “Why not have one?”
The benefits of adding an outdoor kitchen to your home are numerous. Here are some examples:
- They are the perfect place for entertaining guests or relaxing after a long day of work
- They offer a way to enjoy meals with family and friends while enjoying the weather and sunset
- They provide a different atmosphere and feel than a typical dining room
- They add more storage space, room to cook, and allow for an indoor kitchen to be a social area during get-togethers.
An outdoor kitchen is what you would imagine. It is literally a kitchen outdoors that has just about the same amenities as a typical kitchen, including an oven, stove, sink, and storage.
Dutch Ovens
Dutch ovens are versatile, durable and easy to clean. They’re also lightweight and portable, making them the perfect choice for camping or tailgating. Dutch ovens can be used inside the oven or over a campfire. They can cook everything from meatloaf to bread pudding to biscuits, so you’ll never have to worry about finding something you want while camping again!
The best part is that Dutch ovens are incredibly durable; they can last for years if cared for properly. They are also simple to use. Put the food in the dutch oven, cover it up, and leave it over the fire for as long as the recipe calls for.
Outdoor Pizza Oven
For cooking in an outdoor setting, nothing beats an outdoor pizza oven. You can even use it for blackening fish or grilling vegetables. However, its greatest asset is the ability to cook pizzas outdoors year-round. Unless you’ve got a true brick oven pizza in the yard, this kind of oven is the best way to get restaurant-quality from home.
Another reason to get an outdoor pizza oven is that it can be a great family activity. Few food activities are more enjoyable as a family than everyone making their own pizza and sharing it.
Smoker
If you’re a meat lover, then you are in luck! Using a smoker is the best way to cook your favorite meats. The flavor is delicious and adds a rich taste to everything from pork ribs to salmon filets. Even vegetables like tomatoes, potatoes, and corn can be smoked to perfection. It’s easy, too – simply place the food on the grate at low temperature for hours until it reaches your desired internal temperature.
Smoking is not just about adding flavor; it also preserves foods so they last longer. One of the most common types of smokers is hot water smokers, that use heat and smoke from burning wood chips to cook the food slowly over many hours. Today there are many different types of smokers available including electric ones, which make things even easier than before because they don’t require a fire pit or charcoal briquettes.
Conclusion
There is no shortage of ways to cook outdoors, and the options are only getting better. Whether you’re looking for a quick meal or an entire feast, there’s something out there for everyone!
