Lidl’s £100 outdoor air fryer is a must-have for BBQ season – its 2 clever functions will make it a winner this summer

Lidl’s £100 outdoor air fryer is a must-have for BBQ season – its 2 clever functions will make it a winner this summer

If you’re looking for ways to elevate your BBQ game this year, then look no further, as Lidl has a new air fryer with grill and smoker that is perfect for cooking up a storm this summer.

No kitchen is indeed complete without one of the best air fryers on your countertops, and this now rings true for your BBQs, too. If you’re looking for the perfect char on your veggies or a delicious smoky flavour, sometimes even the best BBQs can’t quite compete with a special smoker and grill.

Available in Lidl’s middle aisle right now, the Silvercrest Kitchen Air Fryer With Grill & Smoker (£99.99) has everything you need to elevate your summer eating experience, and it’s more than £100 cheaper than Ninja’s Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker (was £299, now £229 at Ninja).

The Lidl air fryer with grill and smoker works as an air fryer when you have the lid closed and as a grill when you have the lid open. The smoker can be switched on separately when the lid is closed.

Like most modern air fryers, this one comes with a touchscreen display to make operation easy and simple. With the simple panel, you can choose to smoke, grill, air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate and reheat as you desire. The added smoker and grill make this air fryer hybrid perfect for BBQ season, especially if you’re hosting large parties and feel like showing off your superior cooking skills.

While a charcoal BBQ is great for chargrilling and smoking BBQ food, the Lidl air fryer with grill and smoker will do all the hard work for you, so you can achieve perfectly grilled and smoked food every time.

Lidl Silvercrest kitchen air fryer grill and smoker

(Image credit: Lidl)

The Lidl air fryer with grill and smoker is both non-stick and scratch-resistant and includes a grill plate, frying basket and plancha. You can set a timer from just one minute to 12 hours, and the frying basket has a capacity of 3.8L, making it large enough for families.

Ninja’s Woodfire Electric BBQ Grill & Smoker may carry a heftier price tag, but it was excellently reviewed by our expert reviewer, who said it was easy to use and produced wonderfully flavourful food. If you’ve been looking to invest, Ninja air fryers are renowned for being some of the best you can buy, so if you can afford it, I would recommend opting for the Ninja grill and smoker.

Both Ninja and Lidl’s grill and smoker require outdoor electrical access, so if this is not available to you, it’s best to hone your BBQ or opt for a kamado BBQ (such as this Habitat one for £206. 25 at Argos), which is an expert and locking in smoky flavour.

If you don’t manage to track the Silvercrest Kitchen Air Fryer With Grill & Smoker down at your local Lidl, I’ve found a few more purse-friendly alternatives.

Can you see this air fryer becoming a part of your BBQ set-up?

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Aldi is selling a gas pizza oven for less than £70 – it’s a dead ringer for the cult Ooni Koda oven

Aldi is selling a gas pizza oven for less than £70 – it’s a dead ringer for the cult Ooni Koda oven

Few outdoor kitchens and BBQ set-ups are complete without a pizza oven these days, and if you haven’t got your hands on one yet, listen up. Aldi is selling a new pizza oven that is a more than £300 cheaper alternative to the cult Ooni Koda 2 Pizza Oven.

It’s true that the best pizza oven will add a whole new dimension to your outdoor cooking space. Fresh, authentic Italian-style pizza whenever you like, it’s a no-brainer that these handy cooking vessels give your BBQ a gourmet edge.

However, these ovens have always been an investment piece and unfortunately, not suited to everyone’s budget. Until now. Aldi’s Gas Pizza Oven costs just £69.99 making it one of the cheapest models I’ve seen this year.

Landing in stores on Thursday (10 July), I’m really excited about the prospect of this Specialbuy. It’s even cheaper than Lidl’s pizza oven, which retails for £79.99. You can always count on Aldi for delivering some of the lowest market prices, whilst delivering on quality, which is the main reason I keep finding myself drawn to the middle aisle every time I visit.

Reaching up to 900 degrees, this oven boasts a rapid warm-up time, so you can cook authentic pizza in minutes. Alongisde reaching such high temperatures, the Aldi pizza oven is designed with a double wall, which retains heat in the cooking chamber, allowing you to cook pizza after pizza.

It has a cordierite pizza stone and a built-in thermometer to ensure crispy crusts. The oven also comes with non-slip rubber feet and a carrier bag so you can take this oven camping, picnicking and to your summer plans.

Aldi gas pizza oven on an outdoor kitchen worktop, with a cooked pizza and side dishes next to it.

(Image credit: Aldi)

By contrast, the Ooni Koda pizza oven was highly regarded by Ideal Home’s expert reviewer, who praised the oven for how easy it was to make authentic pizza without mess or hassle. Ooni is rated as one of the best pizza oven brands by Ideal Home, and there are plenty of Ooni models to choose from to suit your needs.

I’m not convinced the Aldi pizza oven will quite match the quality of the Ooni Koda, however, if you’re new to pizza ovens or have a smaller budget, I do think Aldi’s pizza oven is a great starting point. But if you’re having trouble tracking it down, here are a few more alternatives.

Will you be trying to get your hands on the Aldi pizza oven this week?

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I’ve found the 6 most expensive-looking pieces of garden furniture on Amazon

I’ve found the 6 most expensive-looking pieces of garden furniture on Amazon

I always find it really satisfying when someone assumes that something I’ve bought has cost a fortune, when in fact it was a bit of a bargain. And it’s not just interior accessories that this applies too, but garden furniture as well, and I’ve uncovered some hidden gems on Amazon, of all places.

If you’re house (or garden) proud and don’t want to let your outdoor space down with something that looks cheap or tacky, then you don’t have to worry, as it’s easier than you think to get the luxe look for your garden furniture ideas without the hefty price tag.

outdoor patio with dining table and chairs

(Image credit: Amazon Outsunny 9 Piece Garden Dining Set)

Whether you’re after a sofa to sit on, a dining table to socialise at or a day bed to lounge the day away in the sun, I’ve done my research and found some great buys on Amazon.

They not only look expensive, but none of them come at a designer cost. So, save yourself the hassle of scrolling and take a look at this selection, which may just whet your appetite for a new garden upgrade.

Seen anything that’s caught your eye?

Aldi is selling an instant canopy you can put up in minutes, and it’s only £45

Aldi is selling an instant canopy you can put up in minutes, and it’s only £45

Aldi is selling an ‘instant’ canopy that can be set up in under 3 minutes for just £45, and I think it might just be the budget buy of the summer.

The weather swinging between soaring temperatures and then pouring rain these past few weeks has made me desperate to find a garden shade idea that can double up as rain cover. This Aldi buy with it’s sub-£50 price tag is the answer to my prayer, and if you’ve been in the same predicament it could be the answer to yours too.

The Aldi Instant Canopy went on sale today (3rd July) and is designed to be easy to put up and down. It’s essentially the equivalent of a pop up tent on a grander scale.

Aldi canopy set up over a patio garden with terracotta pots, plants and a wooden fence

(Image credit: Aldi)

It is water-resistant to protect a BBQ party from a sudden rain shower, but will also provide plenty of shade cover in hot weather. A huge plus is that it can be put up by one person, great news for anyone not looking to fall out with their partner this summer.

This canopy measures 3 x 3 x 2.7 metres, and includes a carrying case with wheels for easy transport. It isn’t the cheapest canopy or gazebo on the market, you can pick up a very similar one for £45.99 on Amazon. However, the Aldi version has a more stylish finish and dare I say looks more expensive with it’s neutral top and simple metal sides.

Aldi canopy folded up next to the storage bag on a patio

(Image credit: Aldi)

The canopy can be secured by pegging it down, however if like me your garden is on the smaller side and only features patio ideas you can secure it with something like these weight bags, available on Amazon for £12.99, that you can attached to the legs.

Full disclosure, I’ve already sent a text to my family and partner to keep their eyes peeled for this clever canopy as I guarantee this Aldi specialbuy is going to sell fast. The canopy is only available to pick up in stores, so if you don’t have an Aldi nearby here are a couple of other budget friendly options to consider.

Alternatives

Will you be picking one of these up at Aldi?

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Susannah Constantine’s garden parasol shows that this retro pattern is making a revival – take a lesson from this style expert

Susannah Constantine’s garden parasol shows that this retro pattern is making a revival – take a lesson from this style expert

Since the 90s we’ve looked to Trinny and Susannah for what to wear (and what not to wear), and now we’re following the latter’s lead when it comes to the most stylish outdoor living accessories. Susannah Constantine has documented her new parasol which is a lesson in reverting back to retro garden furniture trends steeped in nostalgia – after all, classic never goes out of style.

Parasols are back in a big way this summer. What might have previously been seen as dated is now being seen as a simple route into adding character to your outdoor living set-up, and adding essential shade.

There’s a parasol for every style of garden, but we particularly love Susannah’s print of choice.

Susannah Constantine’s Instagram post shows her new blue and white parasol over a bleached wooden table in her countryside garden. Her parasol is the Horkesley Luxury Garden Parasol in Blue Skies from Parasol UK – which although stunning, comes at a high price. So we’ve set out sights on finding affordable alternatives.

The floral print of Susannah’s parasol is what really stood out to us. Large-scale floral prints are the perfect way to lean on nostalgic, retro trends without looking dated. A parasol is an easy way to be a little bit more daring when it comes to colour and pattern as it doesn’t have to cost the earth to upgrade your overall look.

Lucy Ferguson, founder of East London Parasol Company explains, ‘A parasol is more than just a practical accessory, it’s a statement piece that brings colour, character, and personality into your outdoor space.’

‘To style, think of your parasol as the centrepiece and build around it. Pair with low-slung seating, layered cushions, rugs, and lanterns for a relaxed, bohemian vibe. Incorporate textures, contrasting prints and embrace bold colours for a unique look, a little maximalism goes a long way! It’s all about creating a space that feels both comfortable and celebratory,’ she adds.

If you want to have your parasol be the stand-out feature in your garden then keep the rest of your furniture minimal and pared-back, like Susannah. If maximalism is more your bag, contrast a retro floral parasol with cushions in a smaller-scale floral print for dimension.

Will you be following Susannah’s lead?