Outdoor Living and Appliance Buying Guide

Imagine basking out in the sun while barbecuing some burger patties on the grill.

The gentle sizzle of food cooking sings while the smoky aroma fills your nose. You’re thirsty; instead of having to stop what you’re doing and go inside to grab a beverage, there’s a fridge nearby to provide you with something cool to quench your thirst. There’s even an ice machine to make sure your drink stays cold for longer.

Sounds like a dream, doesn’t it?

Outdoor appliances have the ability to add this sort of surreal convenience to your backyard cooking and emanate luxury. If you are interested in adding a few pieces to your backyard space, we’ve gathered all the deets you need to know on the subject and condensed it into this simple yet informative guide.

From enlightening you on the best ways to shop to educating you on the different kinds of appliances , let this buying guide on outdoor appliances help you make your outdoor kitchen of your dreams a reality.

Modes of Shopping

In this day and age, there are many ways to peruse and purchase products so you don’t even have to step foot into the store anymore. From our shopper-friendly website to our easy-to-reach sales associates (by phone and chat), we’re here to make sure you find the appliances you want and get all your questions answered while doing it.

If online shopping is your favorite way to look around at products, our website will not disappoint. The search bar at the top is ready to assist you in finding whatever item you need, but you can also click any of the categories or subcategories in the navigation bar just below it if you aren’t sure exactly what you are looking for.

And, if you’d prefer assistance without having to make a phone call, feel free to click that chat icon in the bottom right corner to talk with an expert right away.

It’s important that you get what you need the way you need it, so we’re here to make your life easier with multiple modes of shopping. We are an essential business open for all your appliance needs, and you can contact us at one of our 10 locations .

What Should You Know About Outdoor Appliances?

There are a couple things to consider when shopping for outdoor appliances:

1. Weather

You want to make sure to get an appliance that can withstand your current climate.

If you happen to be somewhere in Arizona, you can usually expect warm to hot, sunny days—it’s not uncommon to reach even 106°F! But contrary to popular belief, Arizona has its share of rainy days too. With such intense weather patterns, it’s a good idea to find tough outdoor appliances that can handle both the blistering heat and sporadic drizzle.

2. Maintenance

Just like regular household appliances, your outdoor cooking and refrigeration appliances need to be cleaned regularly in order to not only stay shiny but also continue to work properly.

Dirty appliances can malfunction and burn out from grimy build-up, so give yours a little TLC. from time to time.

In order to keep having carefree times in your backyard, be sure to pay attention to what your outdoor appliances are trying to tell you so that they continue to last for years to come.

Cooking Outdoors with Grills

There’s no wrong way to grill —just different ways to do it! Everyone’s entitled to their preferences, and grilling is no exception. The main grill types we offer are free standing grills and built-in grills.

Read on to learn more about each type of grill .

Free Standing Grills

The free standing grill is the most common type of grill you’ll find in someone’s backyard.

This style is very versatile, as it tends to have wheels and can be moved around wherever the party is taking place. It also provides storage and has side tables that are great for prepping. If you are looking for an all-in-one grilling station, the free standing grill has it all.

Price range: $500-$5,000

Built-In Grills

If grilling is one of your favorite pastimes, consider getting a built-in grill. This style is basically a conventional grill that is built into your foundation, adding a touch of sophistication to your outdoor kitchen. You’ll find that the built-in design not only spruces up your patio, but it also makes cooking and serving feel a lot smoother. Plus, your property value is sure to go up with the addition of this luxurious arrangement!

Price range: $1,400-$3,700

Grill Fuel Types

The taste, smell, and style of your food has everything to do with the type of fuel in which you cook your food. The fuel types we offer include:

Charcoal Grills

If you’d like a little bit more of a smoky flavor to your barbecue, use a charcoal grill. The concept is that when the charcoal burns, it then turns into embers which heat your food. You’ll get a slower cook time, but the flavor will be worth the wait.

Price range: $500-$2,000

Gas Grills

These propane or butane-fueled grills are all about convenience. They simply hook up to a tank which ignites a flame through a burner element to cook your food quickly. These grills provide a lot more control, so you can choose the levels of heat while grilling.

Price range: $1,000-$4,000

Electric Grills

Electric grills are great because they don’t require you to procure a tank of gas whenever you run out like with a gas grill; they just plug into the wall!

The heat source of an electric grill works similarly to a gas grill and even allows you more temperature control when grilling.

Price range: $300-$500

Styles of Cooking

The way you like to cook your food plays a large role in what type of grill you should get.

Below is a brief but useful guide explaining the different styles of cooking on the grill and the various types of grills you can use to cook in that fashion.

Grilling: This method of cooking directs extreme, dry heat at food—particularly meat and vegetables—so that it cooks more quickly. By this definition, any grill you purchase can be used for grilling.
Searing: If you like adding different textures to your food and really unlocking the flavors, the searing technique is where it’s at. How it works is rather simple: apply your meat to a high-temperature heat for a short period of time. The result? A very browned exterior with a juicy interior! Most charcoal, gas, and electric grills have the ability to sear, but you won’t have much luck trying this style on smokers and wood pellet grills.
Smoking: Here is where wood pellet grills and smokers excel! This method of grilling takes place in a closed container where the heat source comes from the side rather than from below your food. Smoking is a convenient way to cook because you don’t have to move the food around since the smoky heat blasts it evenly. There are ways to use charcoal grills to create a smoker-like effect, but utilizing actual smokers/wood pellet grills will most likely give you better results.
Baking: Controlled heat plus a closed lid/cover is all you need to bake in a grill. For this reason, baking on a grill is best done on either an electric or gas grill that is equipped with burners to give you more heat control. If you’re a fan of the smoky flavor your pellet grill imparts, try baking in a smoker.
Roasting: While you may imagine roasting to mean cooking something over an open fire, when we talk about grills, everything is over an open fire! So, to be more specific, roasting on a grill is cooking something at a high heat, in a contained chamber, ensuring that the interior stays moist and juicy. Charcoal, gas, and electric grills are all able to execute this technique flawlessly.

Types of Grill Burners

While we were building this guide, we thought it would be a disservice to not mention the burners that ignite the fire within the grill. There are many styles, but most often you’ll find these four types of grill burners:

Stainless steel burners: Won't rust easily and are very sturdy
Infrared burners: Made for industrial cooking and enduring high levels of heat; not for “low and slow” cooking
Cast iron burners: Have been around for a long time, are heavy-duty and prone to rust without regular maintenance
Ceramic burners: Great at high temperatures, and will never rust but are fragile

Grill Accessories

Rotisserie

This is a nifty attachment for certain grills which allows you to roast your meat on a rotating rotisserie. From prime rib meals to even turkey for Thanksgiving, you can now cook a fancy rotisserie dinner outside on the grill!

Refrigeration in the Yard

A backyard with only outdoor cooking appliances is like a peanut butter sandwich without the jelly—you can have it like that, but it’s really not as good as it could be. Adding refrigeration machines to your yard brings convenience to your outdoor experience and increases the value of your home. A few outdoor refrigeration appliances to spruce up your yard’s landscape include:

Outdoor refrigerators
Outdoor ice makers
Outdoor Beverage Dispensers

Outdoor Refrigerators

There’s nothing quite like having an outdoor refrigerator in your backyard.

These cooling units tend to be much smaller than your average indoor kitchen refrigerator , around 34” high, 24” tall, and 24” deep. They also have very powerful compressors and tend to work much harder than an indoor refrigerator in order to consistently keep everything cold—especially during warmer seasons.

Outdoor fridges are not only great for storing cold treats and refreshing beverages nearby, but they also prevent a lot of chaos from happening too: pool-soaked children trailing chlorine throughout the house just to grab a cold snack or a beloved in-law poking about your fridge looking for something to drink. A refrigerator outdoors keeps the party outside.

Outdoor Ice Makers

Nobody likes a warm beverage, which is exactly why having an outdoor ice maker is so nice.

These machines are literal ice chests, ready to be scooped and poured into your drink of choice. On average, you’ll get about 35 pounds of ice per day, making your ice budget feel limitless.

Outdoor Beverage Dispensers

Whether it’s beer, wine, or your favorite soft drink, sometimes, it just tastes better on tap.

An outdoor beverage dispenser stores kegs, half kegs, growlers, bottles, and more and has a dynamic cooling technology to ensure everyone receives a chilled drink from the get-go.

Keys to Success

Figuring Out What Works for Your Space

It’s important to ask yourself, “What sort of space do I have?” so that you can decide what kind of outdoor cooking setup you can have.

Do you have a large backyard? An apartment balcony? Whatever it is, there are outdoor appliances to fit.

For those with a large backyard, this is your chance to go big and get the whole shebang! Give your outdoor space the outdoor kitchen it deserves.

For those with a balcony for a backyard, start by getting a portable grill or tabletop grill to enjoy the simple pleasures of grilling. Note: If you intend to grill on a balcony, check your city’s bylaws to find out if there are any regulations, restrictions or criteria you must adhere to before making your purchase.

Every space is going to be different, so if you aren’t sure which outdoor appliances will fit your yard, contact our store to get advice from one of our experts!
How to Set Filters on a Catalog

Looking for specific appliances with strict requirements? No problem! Our website makes setting filters while searching our extensive digital catalog for appliances a piece of cake.

After clicking on a category from the navigation bar or looking up an appliance in the search bar, on the left-hand side there will be a filter column awaiting your direction.
Using Chat or Phone to ask questions

Just like we mentioned earlier, we have many ways to help you during your shopping experience, depending on what you prefer.

If you would like to talk with a representative over the phone, give us a call at the nearest store to you. But if you feel more comfortable typing your questions, click the chat icon in the lower right-hand corner to start receiving the proper assistance.
Measuring Your Doorways

Unlike an indoor household appliance delivery, you won’t need to measure each doorway on the way to your kitchen or laundry room. Since most of your appliances will go out back in the yard, there are just a few simple things you’ll want to do:

Measure the gate or other opening where your new outdoor appliance will go to make sure the width is large enough for your new product(s).
Clear the route from the delivery truck to the place you plan to place your new appliance so that your delivery person’s path is free of any obstructions.

Choosing the right outdoor cooking and refrigeration appliances takes a lot of thoughtful consideration, so it’s important to us that you have a trusty buying guide to help you along the way. If you have any questions while shopping for your outdoor dream kitchen, contact us and we’ll be happy to get them answered!