Outdoor Refrigerators
A refrigerator makes outdoor cooking convenientAn outdoor refrigerator will make running back and forth between the house and grill a thing of the past. With an outdoor refrigerator, you'll be able to keep food and drinks close at hand. You can leave meat to marinate in your outdoor refrigerator and it will be right where you need it when you're ready to grill. Adding a refrigerator to your outdoor kitchen will provide you with ultimate convenience.
Outdoor refrigerators come in two under-counter varieties. The first has a typical hinged door with shelves inside. The second option is refrigerated drawers. Drawers are nice because you don't have to squat down and reach inside; you simply slide them out and can easily access all of your food and drinks. For affordable outdoor refrigerators check out Bull Outdoor Products and Cal Flame.
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Pro Tip:
An outdoor refrigerator is not the place to cut corners. I've seen people buy the compact dorm room fridges and try to use them outside. They end up having to replace them because they aren't made for use in extreme heat or extreme cold. If you are going to include a refrigerator in your outdoor kitchen, save yourself the headache and invest in a quality one rated for outdoor use.
- Jeff Potvin, Concrete-N-Counters
If you plan to entertain in your backyard frequently, an ice maker may be a nice addition to your outdoor kitchen. Having an ice maker will mean that you don't have to worry about buying ice before a party—it will be right there waiting for you when you want a cold drink or decide to blend up some margaritas. Make sure to get an ice maker rated for outdoor use.