There's nothing more frustrating than a lukewarm beer on a warm summer evening. You're standing at your outdoor kitchen, the BBQ is doing its job, the atmosphere is perfect, but then you grab a drink that's just a bit too warm. Fortunately, there are plenty of clever ways to make sure your drinks are always perfectly chilled.
The ideal solution: a fridge in your outdoor kitchen
A fridge designed specifically for outdoor use not only keeps your drinks cool, but also means you never have to walk back and forth indoors again. An outdoor kitchen with fridge keeps drinks at the perfect temperature at all times, usually between 4 and 7 degrees.
You don't have to keep going back and forth to the kitchen indoors, so you spend more time outside with your guests and the good atmosphere is maintained. On top of that, a fridge like this offers enough space for around 20 to 30 bottles, and it's not only handy for drinks but also ideal for keeping salads, meat and desserts cool.
For wine lovers: a wine cooler
Would you rather drink wine than beer? Then a wine cooler in your outdoor kitchen is a luxurious addition. A wine cooler keeps white wine at the perfect temperature (8–12 degrees) and prevents your bottles from getting too cold or too warm.
Why a wine cooler is handy:
- Optimal temperature for white, rosé and even light red wines
- Protects the wine against temperature fluctuations
- Looks stylish in your outdoor kitchen
- Perfect for wine evenings or stylish dinners outdoors
Alternatives to a fridge
Not every outdoor kitchen comes with a fridge as standard, and perhaps you don't want to make the investment either. No problem! There are plenty of clever alternatives to keep your drinks cool.
1. Cool box with ice cubes or ice packs
The classic that always works. A well-insulated cool box filled with ice cubes or ice packs keeps drinks cool for hours. Put the cool box in the shade next to your outdoor kitchen and top it up with ice as soon as it starts to melt. Use large blocks of ice instead of small cubes. They melt much more slowly. You can make them yourself by freezing water in a large plastic food container.
2. Ice bucket on your worktop
For a stylish presentation and quick access: place a large ice bucket on the worktop of your outdoor kitchen. Fill it with ice and put your most popular drinks in it. Perfect for beer, soft drinks and small bottles of wine. Add salt to the ice. This lowers the freezing point and makes your drinks cool down even faster.
3. The wet towel trick
An old but effective trick: wrap your bottles in a wet towel and put them in a draught or the wind. Thanks to evaporation, the bottle cools down surprisingly quickly. This works particularly well with cans and glass bottles.
4. Freezer hack for ultra-cold drinks
Want your drinks cold in no time? Put a few drinks in the freezer for 20–30 minutes before the party starts. Be careful: set a timer, because you don't want exploding bottles! Place these ice-cold drinks strategically in the cool box between the other drinks to keep everything cold for longer.
5. Shade is your best friend
This sounds obvious, but it's often forgotten: always keep your drinks in the shade. Direct sunlight can take a drink from cool to lukewarm within 15 minutes. Use a parasol, put your drinks underneath your outdoor kitchen, or create a shady spot with a cloth.
How many kilos of ice do you need?
Whatever your cooling system, it's important not to forget the ice. Nothing is as annoying as running out of ice halfway through the evening. The amount of ice you need depends on the number of guests: for around ten people, five to seven kilos is usually enough; for twenty people you can count on ten to fifteen kilos; and for groups of thirty or more, twenty kilos or extra is no unnecessary luxury.
Ideally, store the ice in bags in the freezer or in a separate cool box that you use only for ice. You can also make things easier for yourself by asking neighbours to make some ice in advance and bring it along.
Practical tips for long-lasting cooling
Cold start: Put your drinks in the fridge a day in advance. Drinks that start off cold stay cold for longer.
Rotate your stock: Put new, warm drinks at the bottom of the cool box. The cold drinks stay at the top, ready to use.
Close the cool box: It sounds obvious, but every time you open the cool box, cold air escapes. So don't open it too often. An ice bucket on your worktop stops people constantly rummaging in the cool box.
Use your sink: Do you have a sink in your outdoor kitchen? Fill it with ice and water and use it as extra cooling space for bottles. This works surprisingly well!
Worth the investment? A fridge in your outdoor kitchen
If you regularly cook and barbecue outdoors, an outdoor kitchen with integrated cooling is an investment that quickly pays for itself in convenience and comfort. You'll never have to lug cool boxes around again, your drinks are always at the right temperature, and you get a true outdoor kitchen experience.