The weather has been rubbish lately. Wind, rain, snow and minus temperatures. Yuk! We for one can’t wait until things warm up and we can fire up our BBQs, pizza ovens and smokers.
Not that you can’t BBQ in winter, of course, it’s just we prefer it when the sun is shining and we can kick back at our Lazy Susan Garden Tables and enjoy some great food and a few drinks.
The late great American chef and author, Anthony Bourdain put it best when he said:
“Barbecue may not be the road to world peace, but it's a start.”
Lazy Susan's top 10 outdoor cooking trends for summer 2023
The official start of summer is the 21st of June but we’re hopeful things will warm up a little sooner!
We’re bringing some positive thinking to manifest some sunshine with our top outdoor cooking trends for summer 2023:
1. Grillikota BBQ Huts
Garden offices and pods have grown in popularity after Covid ushered in a shift to greater home working.
However, if you love outdoor cooking, and can’t wait until the weather warms up then the Grillikota is the garden building for you.
It is basically a Scandinavian Hobbit-style BBQ Hut where you can relax and cook in comfort whatever the weather.
Forever Timber offers them in a range of sizes (pictured above with full spec shown in the video below) and just like us, they’ll deliver free to UK Mainland postcodes.
2. Outdoor Pizza Parties
Pizza ovens at the moment are incredibly popular, and demand for our Cozze Pizza Oven (pictured above) has been high.
Last year to celebrate the launch we hosted our lunchtime pizza party on the balcony at Lazy Susan HQ. It was great fun and something we will definitely be repeating this summer.
However, this isn’t just a cheap attempt to sell our products, Outdoor Pizza Parties are one of the top outdoor cooking trends at the moment.
Everybody loves pizza. It is a great party food that is quick and easy to cook. Guests can pick their favourite toppings and it is a great way to get kids to eat their veggies!
3. Plant-Based BBQ
More and more people, be it for health or environmental reasons, are embracing a plant-based diet, and with that comes a host of really exciting plant-based BBQ recipes.
The latest research by the Vegan Society identified that close to a quarter of Brits is cutting back on animal products and they say:
"From March 2022, 17% of Brits have actively reduced the amount of meat they're consuming, while 8% have cut back on dairy and/or eggs."
Even supermarkets such as Tesco have recently launched a full range of plant-based BBQ goodies - including their delicious Lazy Susan-approved Plant Chef Cumberland Style Bangers.
4. Korean-style BBQ
Korean BBQ, much like the pizza oven, is a fun way to enjoy some really great food with friends and family.
Defined on Wikipedia as:
“Korean barbecue is a popular method in Korean cuisine of grilling meat, typically beef, pork or chicken. Such dishes are often prepared on gas or charcoal grills built into the dining table itself.”
If you wanted to pair our garden tables with a Korean BBQ grill then the Tabl’O from OFYR (above) would get our vote.
It is the perfect tabletop grill for cooking Korean-style BBQ for up to 6 people.
Constructed from black-coated steel it rests on a heat-resistant board that would look great in the centre of one of our 4 or 6-seater garden tables. Just don't forget the Gochujang!
5. Mobile Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens have made these sorts of lists for the last few years (especially in the US and Australia where BBQ is a way of life) but in the UK we don’t really have the climate or size of garden to incorporate fully-functioning outdoor kitchens.
However, a modular unit, on wheels, now that’s something we can see in our gardens!
The Evedure range by Heston Blumenthal is really pushing the envelope when it comes to how we should be cooking outdoors.
As well as some incredible grills and smokers, the range also features the ingenious Mobile Preparation Kitchen (above). Such a simple idea but bringing the indoor preparation space outside is how we want to cook when the weather is good.
Equipped with various separated compartments, it is cleverly organised so you can cook on your without having to dash inside or surround yourself with plates, etc.
6. Smoker Boxes
If you love that classic smokey BBQ taste but don’t have patio space for a large smoker, then the smoker box is the perfect way to take your garden grill game to the next level.
They enable you to infuse your food with all that delicious smoke flavour on a standard Gas BBQ grill. Inexpensive, you just pop them on the grill plate, and shut the lid while your food cooks.
The Weber Smoker Box (above) can be filled with hickory, apple, whiskey or beech wood and it will infuse everything, from meats and veggies to nuts and cheese, with that deliciously mouthwatering smoky taste.
7. Touchscreen Grills & Digital BBQs
It was only a matter of time before digital technology was incorporated into the world of outdoor cooking. However, we are pro anything that makes our grilling easier or barbecue food taste better!
The area most of us struggle with is temperature, and knowing the best time to cook. If you want to smoke low and slow, unless you know your stuff, this can be even trickier to get right.
Traeger’s new Timberline 850 Grill with WiFIRE Controller (above) is leading the pack in terms of both power and precision. As with all new tech, it ain’t cheap, however, this is one serious bit of kit so we wouldn’t expect it to be.
Featuring a D2® Direct Drive drivetrain and a WiFIRE® enabled controller, it will yield optimal smoke production with true temperature precision and control. You can monitor your food and change the temperature of your grill anywhere at any time all from the Traeger App on your smartphone.
8. Smoked Cocktails
OK, not so much an outdoor cooking trend but we think it deserves a spot in our top 10 and cocktails go hand in hand with a garden party.
Smoking isn’t just for meat and fish anymore, it is a great way to add flavour to your cocktails too.
If you need a little inspiration, then mixologist Anders Erickson has 3 great smoky cocktail recipes to warm your cockles in the video below:
9. Cheaper Cuts of Meat
There’s no question we’re in the grip of a cost of living crisis here in the UK. The price of meat seems to climb all the time and that doesn’t look like it will slow down either.
As consumers, it makes sense that we are looking to get more bounce by the ounce, and there are some great cheaper cuts that pack just as much of a punch as your finest Wagyu.
As the good folk at the BBQ Champs Academy put it:
“You don't always have to splurge on the most expensive cuts of meat to turn out some delicious results on your grill or smoker.”
Their 11 Economical Cuts of Meat article is a great place to start thinking about what you can grill and how.
10. Flat-Top Plancha Grills
Flat-top grills are another big outdoor cooking trend we’re predicting for summer 2023.
From tasty tabletop griddles to healthy plancha-style grills, we’re seeing some great new products here in the UK.
Most of us have a gas or charcoal grill but we are definitely seeing more in the way of different styles and methods of cooking growing in popularity across the UK.
Much of this is clearly inspired by the host of TV chefs such as Jamie Oliver, James Martin and Tom Kerridge who have all produced shows in their own outdoor kitchens.
If you want to get in on the plancha trend, then the Gas Plancha Grill from Very Cook is a great option.
Featuring a scratch-resistant and non-stick enamelled steel grill plate, it requires little to no oil and is a quick and healthy way to grill everything from meat and fish to fruit and veg.
If you have any photos of our Garden Furniture at your next outdoor cookout, then we’d love to see a few snaps for our Do Some Good charity campaign. You can tag us @LazySusanFurniture on Instagram or Facebook or email them to us at [email protected].