My Cart
One of our favorite parts about summer is cooking outdoors on the grill! Hot dogs, hamburgers, kebabs, and grilled veggies are all iconic to outdoor cooking.
At Watson’s, we want to make your outdoor cooking area and grill the hot spot this summer. Not only is it less expensive to cook at home, grilling and dining outdoors can create some lasting memories with friends and family.
Watson’s also has everything you need, from grills, smokers and brick ovens, to prep stations and even full outdoor dining sets!
To create your outdoor cooking and dining space, we’ve gone ahead and put together our a guide below to make sure you have everything you need to create the perfect experience for yourself and your friends and family!
Outdoor Cooking & Dining Guide
Whether you have a small or large space, prefer charcoal or gas, Watson’s carries the largest selection of grills and outdoor cookware to literally create an outdoor kitchen to your liking.
Fuel Type
Before choosing your grill, you’ll want to first decide what fuel type you prefer. Fuel type is all about preference.
Gas grills are simple and convenient and allow you to quickly get to the right temperature to get your food cooking. This may be a great option if you have lots of activities and don’t have as much prep time to get the grill hot. These are also the least messy as you don’t have to worry about adding or cleaning charcoal or pellets.
Charcoal grills will give you that classic grill taste but do take longer to heat up. If you have the time or prefer the smell and taste of charcoal, we’ve got just the selections for you!
Pellet grills are faster than charcoal to heat up and you can choose different flavor pellets to enhance your dishes through grilling and smoking. These offer more versatility in the types of cooking you can do as you can also smoke your food.
Our wood fire brick ovens are becoming more popular and we can understand why. There’s just something different and better about a wood fired pizza. For all your family favorites, these are a great option that can enhance your outdoor cooking.
Size of Grill
You don’t have to miss out on outdoor cooking and dining just because you have a smaller space. Watson’s carries a variety of sizes in each fuel type to fit your space.
Our gas grills come in a range from two up to six burners! Having both lower and top racks on all our models ensures maximum grill space for all your main and side dishes.
Our charcoal grills are versatile, especially for smaller spaces, as they can come as a standalone grill or with a tabletop prep area.
Our pellet grills also come in a variety of sizes. While typically larger than your charcoal grills and comparable to your mid-size to larger gas grills, Watson’s carries some unique sizes, including the Green Mountain Grills portable TREK Pellet Grill. Perfect for a balcony, tailgating at your favorite sporting event, or on a camping trip, you’ll be able to cook like a pro wherever you go!
To make including wood fired pizza an easy “yes” for your outdoor kitchen and cooking area, Watson’s carries both a standard and tabletop size of brick ovens!
Storage & Prep Space
Once you’ve selected your fuel type and size, you’ll want to consider a few other things to make sure your outdoor cooking area is convenient and easy. Storage and prep space are two of those things.
While some people opt to build a true outdoor kitchen with their grill built into cabinets and countertops, you can also easily create something similar at a fraction of the cost to fit in your space.
For storage, you can start by adding on some of our available grill island components that include drawers and cabinets. These are great for storing your grilling utensils, cleaning supplies, or even other useful items for outdoor dining, like favorite spices to add, eating utensils, and more.
And don’t forget storage for other essentials for outdoor dining, like drinks! Our YETI coolers with up to 3 inches of PermaFrost™ Insulation and our ColdLock™ Gasket will keep your refreshments cold and your desserts intact on even the warmest days!
For prep space, you can consider adding a bar or counter height outdoor table, like this one, to use to prepare, plate, and present your dishes! Just make sure it’s outdoor furniture that can withstand the elements.
Outdoor Dining
Don’t race indoors to enjoy your outdoor cooking (unless the weather turns bad)! For any space, make an outdoor dining area! We have outdoor dining sets to match any décor from farmhouse to contemporary to industrial. Add an outdoor area rug to complete the look and enjoy many, many memorable meals together with family and friends.
If you have a smaller space, don’t ditch dining outside! For larger balconies or even limited patios, consider our chat or pub sets that seat anywhere from two to even six people. This sleek and space saving design are perfect for small areas and can be used as both prep and dining space!
Serveware
To complete your outdoor dining experience, don’t forget about the serveware. It’s important to use serveware meant for the outdoors, which is usually made from acrylic or plastic. These don’t break as easily, and if they do, won’t cause as much damage as glass or other materials.
While paper plates are an option, they aren’t as eco-friendly, and Watson’s carries serveware that brings both fun and elegance to your table.
Outdoor Dining & Cooking Tips
Consider the following tips based on your space and outdoor cooking set up.
Umbrellas: If you don’t have much tree coverage, consider adding an umbrella for comfort and shade from the sun.
Lighting: If you enjoy eating later or closer to sunset, consider adding some string lights, lanterns, or flameless tabletop lights for both visibility and ambiance.
Safety: Make sure you place grills in an appropriate place that is safe and away from flammable objects and not too close to structures. Avoid cooking during high winds to avoid the spread of hot coals or ashes for charcoal grills.
Grill Cover: Cover your grill when not in use to avoid rust and wear and tear from weather. Make sure you also clean it properly after every use.
Grill Accessories: Watson’s carries many accessories for your grill to ensure you can cook everything you want, including rotisserie, ribs, and more! You’re not only limited to what comes with the grill!
For all your outdoor cooking and dining needs, head over to one of Watson’s nine superstore locations to check out our selection of grills, outdoor dining sets, and more! Our experts are ready to answer your questions and help you select the best products for your space to create memorable meals this summer!
