Keep your kitchen cool in a heat wave with these small or outdoor appliances
When temperatures rise in , keeping your home cool is a serious challenge. The last thing you want to do if you’re trying to keep your cooling bills down is turn on your oven and heat up your kitchen.
Fortunately, you to get a tasty meal on the table this summer. With countertop or outdoor cooking appliances, you can prepare your favorite recipes without generating too much heat and driving up your energy costs.
If you want to keep your kitchen cool when it gets warm, here are the best oven-free cooking appliances that can make delicious meals all summer.
How to keep your kitchen cool in summer
Use countertop appliances
A full-size oven generates enough heat to make your kitchen uncomfortable in hot summer weather. On the other hand, small countertop appliances like a or produce much less heat and cost less to operate. These appliances are highly versatile, too, so you can prepare plenty of summer-friendly recipes with them.
Cook outside
Another way to keep your kitchen from getting too hot in summer is to take your cooking outdoors. If you have a or, you can prepare favorites like burgers, hot dogs, steaks, chicken, corn on the cob and . An electric grill works well for outdoor cooking on a patio or balcony if your apartment or condo doesn’t allow full-size gas or charcoal grills.
Cook at the right times
If you start cooking when it’s already hot outside, your kitchen will only get hotter and more uncomfortable. That’s why timing your cooking right is so important. Try to prepare your meals early in the day when it’s cooler, so you can reheat the food in the microwave when it’s time for dinner. You can also cook in the evening after the sun’s gone down if you don’t mind eating later in the day.
Make large batches of food
Whether you use your oven or a countertop appliance, it’s a good idea to prepare large batches of food, so you have leftovers for later. You can refrigerate or freeze the , and then use your toaster oven or microwave to heat it up when it’s time to eat.
Oven-free cooking appliances for summer
For under $50
This makes drive-thru quality sandwiches with eggs, cheese and meat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. The cooking surfaces have a durable, nonstick coating, so the sandwiches are easy to remove. All parts of the are removable and dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning, too.
Enjoy delicious in fewer than five minutes with this convenient countertop appliance. It has a large 8-inch cooking surface with a nonstick coating that wipes clean easily. You can also stand it up vertically for more convenient storage.
This extra-large capacity can make up to 20 cups of rice at a time. The also offers a slow cooker function and programmable settings, so you can turn it on and leave it to cook. It has a user-friendly digital control panel, too.
Make thick, fluffy Belgian waffles for breakfast, lunch or even dinner with this compact . It makes four waffles at a time and has nonstick plates that wipe clean easily. The indicator lights also make operation easy because they illuminate when it’s time to add the batter.
This countertop pizza maker lets you make delicious 12-inch pizzas without turning on your oven. It has an easy-to-clean nonstick cooking surface and works well for both . It’s also ideal for making quesadillas, pancakes, quiches and more.
For $50-$100
One of the most versatile countertop appliances you can find, this electric pressure cooker also works as a slow cooker, ricer cooker, saute pan, steamer, food warmer and more. The has 13 customizable cooking programs for standard recipes and is easy to clean.
With this well-sized slow cooker, you can prepare meals for up to seven people. It can be set to cook for as little as 20 minutes and as much as 20 hours before shifting to the warming setting automatically. The also has a locking lid that prevents spills when traveling.
If you can’t get outdoors to grill this summer, this countertop allows you to grill burgers, steaks, chicken, fish and more in your kitchen. It reaches 450 degrees and has a large enough cooking surface to make food for up to six people.
Make perfect bacon, eggs, pancakes and other breakfast favorites on this countertop . Its plates are reversible, so you can also use it as a grill or panini press. Because the plates are removable and dishwasher-safe, they’re easy to clean, too.
Make fried favorites like french fries and chicken nuggets with 75 percent less fat in this . It can hold up to two pounds of food at a time and heat up to 400 degrees. The preheats in just three minutes.
For $100+
If you want to prepare meals quickly and without generating much heat, this 1000-watt microwave makes it as easy as possible. It offers 10 power levels and six one-touch programs for foods like popcorn, pizza and baked potatoes. The child safety lock also allows for safe operation.
This well-sized toaster oven can fit up to six pieces of toast, a 12-inch pizza, four pounds of chicken or most casserole dishes. It has a temperature range of 150 to 400 degrees and a bright, easy-to-read digital display. It also has a cool-touch handle, so you never have to worry about burning your hand.
This highly versatile countertop can roast, bake, air fry, dehydrate and more. The super convection setting can reduce cooking time by 30 percent, and the user-friendly display makes operation a breeze. It can fit a 14-pound turkey, too.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
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