The Best Portable Cooking Gear

From beach to backyard, you can cook anywhere this summer

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When it comes to meal making during sticky midsummer months, we look for any excuse possible to step outside our toasty kitchens. Luckily, there's more to warm-weather cooking than reaching for a pint of ice cream (a balanced meal, in our opinion) or dropping yet another burger on the grill: A new crop of outdoor cooking gadgets is here, and in addition to slinging crispy-crusted pizzas and charred filets even the best steakhouse would be proud of, they're also portable enough to go wherever your summer travels take you.

Let's just say as long as you have one of these eight outdoor gadgets by your side, your actual kitchen might start to have a little FOMO. 

BioLite CampStove

 

This backpacker-friendly micro stove does it all: It boils water, grills a complete meal and, yes, even converts its burning wood fire into energy to charge your phone.

biolite.com, $200

Antares Portable Charcoal Grill

Even experienced grill masters can attest that charcoal can be a pain to light. Portable and perfectly sized for small gatherings, the Antares essentially slaps a grill grate on top of a chimney starter, meaning you're never more than a few minutes away from a lighter fluid-free barbecue.

kickstarter.com, backing starts at $35

BioLite PizzaDome

Equally at home stored in the back of your car as it is set up in your tiny Brooklyn backyard, this wood-fired grill also does double duty as a bona fide pizza oven, charring crispy pies for all.

biolite.com, $270

Coleman Portable Stove Oven Combo

Your dream of having a Viking range might not be a reality, so settle for this charming camping equivalent instead. Two burners and a fully functioning oven mean you can make a full-course meal, no matter where you are.

coleman.com, $325

Velocity Grill

Ever wanted to know what it's like to cook over a rocket? All you need is two pieces of wood and a little bit of patience; this deceptively light grill (it weighs in at just 17 pounds) will reach a hellish 1,000 degrees. Let's just say you won't have any problem getting a proper sear.

amazon.com, $160

GoSun Solar Oven

While ordinary solar ovens are akin to eighth-grade science projects (re: almost useless), this sleek, chrome-plated tube won't have a problem baking foods even in overcast conditions, since the inside of this oven can reach an impressive 550 degrees.

amazon.com, $279

Pizzeria Pronto Outdoor Oven

With this conveniently propane-powered oven, 10 minutes is all it takes to go from tossing pizza dough in the air to donning your best Italian accent and calling out "It's a ready."

surlatable.com, $240

Looftlighter Fire Lighting Tool

No, this isn't an oversize curling iron. The next time you realize you don't actually know how to light a fire, just point this at your wood or charcoal, and in 60 seconds, you'll have a roaring fire. Just be sure to hide it before anyone finds out you couldn't light the fire the old-fashioned way.

walmart.com, $56

Whether your idea of the perfect picnic is cooking in the wilderness or sipping a summery cocktail at a sidewalk café, we've got everything you need to spend your Summer in the Wild. Let the outdoor entertaining begin.