Pro Chefs Swear By These 9 Outdoor Cooking Essentials for the Summer, Starting at $11

If you haven’t noticed, we’re barreling towards peak outdoor cooking season. Soon enough, you’ll be firing up the gas grill every weekend and enjoying meals by the fire pit. To prepare you for summer cooking, we asked pro chefs for the kitchen tools they rely on during this season. Their expert picks start at just $11 and include a Weber grill, durable tongs, meat thermometers, and more.  

Chef-Loved Summer Cooking Kitchen Essentials

• Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill, $142, originally $159
• Chef’n Freshforce Citrus Juicer, $30   
• Garcima 16-Inch Paella Pan, $38
• Lodge Cast Iron Square Grill Pan, $22 
• Vitamix 5200 Blender, $486
• Made In Cookware 12-Inch Seasoned Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan, $139
• Eddeas Grill Tongs, $11, originally $12
• Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 3-Pack, $16
• ThermoMaven Professional Meat Thermometer, $30, originally $40

Weber Original Kettle 22-Inch Charcoal Grill

James Philibert, chef de cuisine at Uptown Sports Club in Austin, Texas, shares that his summer go-to is the Weber kettle charcoal grill. “It’s beginner-friendly and gives everything you cook a deep, smoky flavor that gas grills aren’t always able to match,” Philibert says. “I find that the grill’s vents also provide solid heat control, and cleanup is easy.” He also appreciates that it’s compact enough for a small patio but can still feed a crowd.

Chef’n Freshforce Citrus Juicer

“You will use this all the time,” says Sue Zemanick, chef and owner at Zasu in New Orleand, Louisiana. Her go-to Chef’n Freshforce citrus juicer making squeezing lemons a breeze, and will help add a brightness to all of your summer dishes. Plus it’s dishwasher-safe on the top rack.

Garcima 16-Inch Paella Pan

“My favorite summer 2025 gadget will be a paella pan,” says Julian Medina, chef at El Verano in Southampton, New York. “It’s so versatile. You can use it to cook paella over a wood fire or sear meat, fish, or vegetables over a gas grill.”

Lodge Cast Iron Square Grill Pan

For dishes that “come alive with fire and flavor,” Wayne Sharpe, co-founder and executive chef at Jrk! in Miami, Florida, turns to his go-to Lodge cast iron grill pan. “It’s a modern take on the traditional coal stove we use back home in Jamaica,” Sharpe says. He uses it for jerk chicken, escovitch snapper, roast yams, corn, and more. He especially appreciates that it “holds heat well, locks in that smoky flavor, and brings out the best in jerk seasoning, just like the coal stove back home.”

Vitamix 5200 Blender

At Ristorante Per L’Ora in Los Angeles, executive chef Joey Roacho relies on the Vitamix blender. “It’s powerful, easy to use, and incredibly versatile,” Roacho says. “From smooth sauces to refreshing drinks, the Vitamix helps you achieve the perfect texture and flavor every time.” The powerful 5200 emulsifies contents to a silky, smooth finish, elevating any of your summer dishes.

Made In Cookware 12-Inch Seasoned Carbon Steel Grill Frying Pan

For loose shrimp and vegetables, you can still achieve smoky flavors without having to skewer them by using a grill pan with a perforated cooking surface. Tom Berry, chief culinary officer at COJE Hospitality Group, swears by his Made In carbon steel grill frying pan. Calling it “virtually indestructible,” he praises that it’s great for sautéing small Louisiana shrimp, marinated onion slices, bay scallops, or small vegetable cuts. “I’ve even done some smoky peaches with it,” he adds.

Eddeas Grill Tongs

If summer cooking isn’t complete without grilling, then grilling isn’t complete without grill tongs.

Carl Miller, executive chef at Rita’s Seaside Grille in Folly Beach, South Carolina, says “you can do just about everything” with these grill tongs. The 12- and 17-inch lengths provide plenty of versatility for cooking over fire.

Kuhn Rikon Original Swiss Peeler, 3-Pack

Kenneth Wan, chef at MAKfam in Denver, Colorado, has had a Kuhn Rikon peeler as part of his toolkit since his early days at restaurants. “To this day, I keep that tool handy, which is especially helpful in the summer time for peeling fruits and vegetables.” You can grab a 3-pack for just $16.

ThermoMaven Professional Meat Thermometer

When grilling meats, it’s especially important to make sure you reach the right temperatures, both for food safety and for optimal texture and flavor. Recipe developer Marissa Steves from Pinch and Swirl cooks outdoors all summer-long, and says this meat thermometer is her “most-used summer tool.” She shares that “it takes the guesswork out of grilling and keeps steaks, burgers, and chicken from drying out.”