Living in South Florida comes with many perks, including the incredible weather residents enjoy throughout the year. Offering sunny days and comfortable temperatures even through the winter months, South Florida’s agreeable weather allows for investments to be made in unique and highly customized outdoor dining spaces.
With pools and lounge spaces being common fixtures in many backyards, homeowners feel compelled to take their designs to the next level with outdoor dining areas. However, when it comes to outdoor cooking, choosing the right appliances can sometimes feel like an uphill battle. In order to avoid unnecessary frustrations, you’ll want to enlist the help of an experienced team. Our team will not only assist in establishing an aesthetic suited to your preferences, but will also make sure that every design can accommodate the right equipment for the ultimate experience!
At Fuse Specialty Appliances, we pride ourselves on our ability to make your dream a reality. Our team has decades of experience with both indoor and outdoor kitchens, and has hand-picked what we believe are the top ten must-haves for outdoor appliances.
THE GRILL
The centerpiece of any great outdoor dining space is the grill. Acting as a home base for gourmet outdoor cooking, there’s a lot that goes into choosing the right grill for your unique circumstances. While some are best for grilling meats, others have features such as rotisseries, griddles, side burners and so much more! Depending on how many you might be expecting for dinner, available cooking space is another consideration for backyard culinary artists.
Here are our top picks when it comes to backyard grills:
Kalamazoo K1000HB Hybrid Fire Grill
When it comes to high-performance gas grills, Kalamazoo grills consistently rank at the top of the list. These grills are built to last with cast-iron burners and heat circulation capabilities unseen in many other grills on the market today.
In addition to the durability of Kalamazoo grills, this model is completely hybrid in nature. By investing in this grill, you’ve got the makings of perhaps the best all-in-one outdoor cooking system! Giving at-home chefs the ability to cook with a combination of gas, wood, or charcoal, Kalamazoo has set the bar incredibly high in this category of the hybrid grill.
Evo Affinity 30G and Instant Grill Island
This model is for those of us who are looking for that one-and-done solution to outdoor grilling. Not only is this combo ready to grill your wildest dreams, it makes ordering and installation that much easier!
Featuring the Affinity 30G from Evo grills, this grill packs a serious punch for any at-home grill master. This model is built with versatility in mind, allowing for food preparation directly on the cooktop or with pots and pans. Add on the available instant grill island, and you’ve got the perfect solution to any outdoor cooking space!
DCS Series 7 Gas Grill
This grill is another beautiful option for any aspiring outdoor gourmet chef. The DCS Series 7 is built rock-solid and hand-finished to perfection. These grills can withstand the demands of an experienced chef along with anything Mother Nature can throw at it.
Featuring a robust 92,500 BTU per hour, it’s safe to say that wielding this kind of power is not for the faint of heart. Fortunately, DCS does an amazing job at allowing the user to scale the heat up and down from as low as 300 degrees, all the way up to as much as 1,100 degrees. This grill also features a handy built-in smoker and a specially designed hood that gives you even more power — this time in the way of a convection oven. Pop in your favorite pizza or roast, and the credit is yours to take!
Alfresco ALXE Series Grill
With a long line of experience in the hospitality realm, Alfresco Grills were brought to market by some of the brightest minds in food service — and it shows! Focusing specifically on the commercial and restaurant market at the inception of the company, the company shifted into residential solutions over the past 20 years or so. Combining their experience with commercial- grade equipment and a passion for at-home cooking, the result is some of the best grills on the market.
As part of their ALXE line of grills, our personal favorite is the 42” model. This grill allows for just the right amount of cooking space while simultaneously providing all the amenities needed for any backyard cookout. This grill also features 18 stainless-steel main burners, an integrated rotisserie and smoking system, handy work lights, and 770 square-inches of actual grilling space.
With an option between the built-in model or one of the company’s three cart designs,you’re guaranteed to find the right fit and feel for your backyard.
THE VENTILATION
As with any heavy-duty piece of cooking equipment, getting the proper ventilation is the next step after selecting a grill. After assessing a usable cooking area, you’ll want to match your choice of grill with the right ventilation solution.
Best Pro-Style Outdoor Range Hood
Best range hoods have long been a favorite for both in-home and commercial ventilation. Their pro-style model is designed with brushed, corrosion-resistant stainless steel to ensure it remains as beautiful as it looks in the showroom once placed in your outdoor space. This model comes in 36”, 42”, 48” and 60” configurations, and features best-in-class performance due to its 1300 Max Blower CFM and available upgrades such as wall extension and flue covers.
THE PIZZA
With the rise in artisanal pizza cooking, no backyard kitchen is complete without a built-in pizza oven. Allowing budding cooks the ability to experiment with new recipes and ingredients, these ovens can also add a touch of elegance to your outdoor space. Often built into bricks or above fireplaces, they offer a tasty alternative to traditional cooking and grilling.
Alfresco Outdoor Propane Pizza Oven Plus
While intended for at-home use, make no mistake that this oven was designed for commercial performance. Using a fireplace-like gas log, it absorbs and accelerates preheat times while distributing heat to the ceramic ceiling slab for intense top-down heat. Pair that with the ceramic slab hearth, and you’ve got the recipe for the perfect pie at your fingertips!
The best part of these pizza ovens is that they can be utilized for a variety of other cooking techniques as well. If pizza isn’t on the menu, this unit allows you to bake, roast or iron-skillet sear your favorite cut of meat.
THE CHILL
While the South Florida climate is one of the main reasons residents enjoy spending so much time outside, it can also be a source of frustration when trying to keep beverages cold. As such, outdoor refrigeration options are essential to every outdoor kitchen space.
Sub-Zero Designer Series Compact Outdoor Refrigerator
Just as the name suggests, this compact unit is a great undercounter option for your next outdoor kitchen design. This panel-ready unit has one stationary and two adjustable shelves, and ensures all of your grilling ingredients and favorite beverages are always cool.
Hestan Outdoor Refrigerator Drawers
If you are looking for a convenient solution to cold storage, Hestan’s refrigerated drawers are among the best options. Equipped with heavy-duty insulation, these drawers slide easily in and out, giving you instant access to anything you need.
These units are equipped with LED interior lighting, variable temperature controls, 5.2 cubic feet of storage, leveling legs, and a beautiful stainless-steel design. You really can’t go wrong with this appliance!
THE BARTENDER'S DREAM
Continuing along the lines of refrigeration, we would like to highlight some additional accessories that will make your yard feel like a full-service restaurant.
True Freestanding Outdoor Beer Dispenser
Nothing says “refreshment” like cold draft beer from the comfort of your backyard. Whether hosting a dinner party with friends or watching the big game, this 24” dispenser gives you the perfect serve. Using airflow technology, this unit delivers a frosty and refreshing drink with every pull of the handle. Its unique design allows it to be easily designed and installed into your new outdoor kitchen, and can be converted into a refrigerator or wine cabinet, should you grow tired of serving craft beer!
Perlick Outdoor Clear Ice Maker
If beer isn’t on the menu, cocktails and mocktails likely will be. Rather than making perpetual runs to your neighborhood supermarket for ice, ensure you always have plenty on hand with this powerful ice maker!
At only 15” in width, this unit can churn out up to 50 pounds of ice in a single day. What’s better is that every cube is designed in Perlick’s distinctive top hat shape. These ice cubes will not only serve as a conversation starter, but will never clump together!
A PERSONALIZED APPROACH
Whether you are a seasoned backyard cooking connoisseur or a new cook in the making, we’ve outlined what we believe are the best and most successful elements of any outdoor kitchen. That said, each and every indoor and outdoor space is as unique as the homeowner, which is why we always take a personalized approach to selecting luxury appliances.
Browse our selection of outdoor appliances on our website today, or better yet, stop in and see us at one of our four Florida locations!