Summer sizzlers: Eight of the best barbecues and outdoor cookers on the market

Best in Class: Embrace your inner chef and have a sizzling summer in the garden


Landmann’s Kentucky Smoker

If you fancy exploring the deep south flavours of Americana then Landmann's Kentucky smoker offers a good charcoal barbecue and entry-level smoke box for anyone interested in testing their grill skills. The enamelled grill can fit more than a baker's dozen chicken breasts and to smoke you add charcoal and the flavour wooded chip of your choice to the smoke box and close the lid, which has a thermometer to help you keep an eye on temperatures. Available in black only you can buy it at The Orchard, Celbridge, price €249, where you can also pick up a bag of aromatic wood chips, €6.99, whose flavours include whiskey and juniper. Theorchard.ie

Delivata pizza oven

If the carnivorous aspect of outdoor cooking proves too much you could invest in a beautiful-looking Delivata pizza oven that will serve up light as air paper-thin-based pizza with the toppings of your choice with the cheese melted just the way it tastes on holidays to Italy. Made of fibreglass this glamorous-looking, this compact size hottie will give you authentic wood-fire cooked pizza in 90 seconds and comes in four colours: vintage blue, hale grey, olive green and very black. It costs €1,400 from Co Kildare-based Caragh Nurseries. Caraghnurseries.ie; Delivita.co.uk

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Chesney Heat Collection

If you have limited outdoor space then Chesney's new Heat collection is both an outdoor wood-burning stove and cooker rolled into one compact device. Up top is a rotable grill with insulated lid with digital thermometer, clever ideas that helped the 500, the second smallest of the range's four models, make the shortlist for garden product of the year, the winner of which will be announced later this month at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show. It costs about €3,444 and can be ordered from Greystones-based Fenton Fires or through UK-based Chesneys. Fentonfires.ie; Chesneys.co.uk

Uuni 3

Then Uuni 3’s sleek Nordic features include a wood pellet burning hopper, a grate and an insulated body that channels the smoke away from diners via its chimney. Portable and with a stone board on which you can cook super tender steaks, vegetables or pizza it is the definitive tool for your deck or terrace, a device you can also take on a picnic. It costs €250 from A Room Outside, ex delivery.

Rock Air

The Rock Air, is a monolithic-looking set of cooking cubes designed for outdoor use. The set of three blocks, which featured in Collette ward's showhouse at last October's idea Homes Show, comprises a gas barbecue and lava grill, €16,000; a sink and dishwasher, €13,000 and a prep cum fridge freezer element, €17,000, all of which come with covers that push off to open the designs to the world. When closed they form possibly the most minimalistic outdoor kitchen on the market, the trio looking more like a piece of sculpture than a cooking set-up. The design by Alberto Minotto and Alberto Steininger features powder-coated steel designed to withstand temperatures below freezing – should you wish to also install another in your ski chalet. The cubes are exclusive to Noel Dempsey Design.

Noeldempsey.com; Steininger-masterpieces.com

Morsø Grill

Made of enamelled powder-coated cast iron the Morsø Grill is an outdoor oven that lets you grill, roast and bake al fresco, using wood or briquettes as fuel. The portable design sits on a tripod of teak legs and has a stainless steel ring surrounding them that you can hang utensils off. It is available to order from the Home Project Centre group and costs about €800 from McCarthys Hardware, Prosperous, Co Kildare. Pack it on your next camping trip.

McCarthys.ie; Morsoe.com/en/

Smokey Joe

The Smokey Joe is a portable charcoal barbecue by Weber that is porcelain enamel-coated and comes with a triple-plated grate for extra durability. It has glass-reinforced nylon handles that have a protective heat shield. The design comes in five cool colours: ivory, crimson, slate, smoke and spring green, pictured and will work as well on a balcony and deck as it will at the beach. It has a lid lock and costs €89.95, ex delivery, from Co Carlow-based Arboretum. Arboretum.ie

BergHoff ceramic charcoal bar

This very cool BergHoff ceramic oven charcoal barbecue and oven will quickly become the focal point of your outdoor dining space. It is available from several shops including Joyces Expert, Wexford and Arnotts, with prices respectively €1,049 and €1142.96 and looks especially smart when teamed with this Alta dining table and chairs set, about €850, ex delivery, from John Lewis. A mini version, perfect for table-top grilling, costs €350 to €359.95, depending on whether you shop at Anthony Ryans or Arnotts where you also pick up a really smart-looking portable version, €159.95, that will make a welcome wedding present. Arnotts.ie; Joyces.ie; anthonyryans.com; Johnlewis.co.uk