Summer’s not over yet. That means their still time to perfect your culinary A-Game as we head into tailgate season. From steaming corn to slicing veggies to sautéing summer squash, we’ve got the tools you need to handle these skills like a pro. Plus, here are a few products that will make your outdoor table look and feel totally spruced up.
1. Le Creuset Sweet Corn Set, $168
I’m not sure if it was the stoneware corn dishes or the 12-quart enamel-on-steel stockpot that stole my heart, but this set screams summer — and offers great inspiration for picking up a few extra ears of corn from the local farm stand. It’s not only beautiful, it cooks evenly and will last a long time; stainless steel rimming prevents chips, the interior is easy to clean, and the side handles are triple-welded for a solid hold. We suggest cooking over your stove and using the corn dishes to spice up your outdoor table and checking out this recipe: Mexican Street Corn from SeriousEats.com.
2. Old Mountain 3-Piece Skillet Set, $44
Old Mountain reminds us that getting back to basics is a good thing. Their cast iron skillets carry none of the scariness of newer non-stick products and cooking with them can boost your iron intake at the same time. Win-win. The three skillets — 6.5”, 8” and 10.5” — come pre-seasoned so you can get right to cooking with them right on your BBQ. Skillets can be used for caramelizing Brussels sprouts, searing meat, and even baking things like cornbread. Bonus: Old Mountain’s have a beautiful logo embossed on the bottom, which means they look great hanging in your kitchen. Not sure how to care for and use a cast iron skillet? Head here: 35 Ways to Love Your Cast Iron Skillet from TheKitchn.com.
3. Bialetti Moka Express, from $24.99
No one knows how to do coffee better than Italians. That’s why we love the Bialetti Moka Express — the coffeemakers unique eight-sided shape allows it to diffuse heat in a way that brings out the flavor of the coffee unlike any other coffeemaker we’ve owned. Place the aluminum appliance right on your stovetop or grill, but make sure the heat isn’t too high to avoid a burnt flavor.
4. Opinel No. 10 Corkscrew Folding Knife, $30
Opinel’s knives — made in France — are easy to fold up and stow away, until you need them. And then they are just as easy to whip out and chop up an onion on the spot. That’s what we love about having a folding knife for outdoor cooking—those moments where you wish you had a knife come up more often than you’d expect. Opinel’s beechwood handles and stainless steel blades are solid quality but also affordable. And we love that the No. 10 comes with a corkscrew—another item that comes in handy right when you need it.
5. Stanley Adventure Stacking Steel Tumbler 4-Pack 12 oz, $30
Goodbye red Solo cup, hello reusable mug 2.0. We’re loving these stackable cups for tailgating for hours before the game starts. And there’s more to them than meets the eye: Stanley’s Adventure Stacking Steel Tumblers keep icy drinks chilled for three hours while the neoprene sleeve keeps your hand from getting cold (or sweating too much). Plus, the multi-colored sleeves make it easy to keep track of whose drink is whose. Stainless steel doesn’t rust, is BPA-free and, well, just looks campy.
6. Crow Canyon Vintage Starter Set, 16 Piece, $104
Non-breakable, clean-looking and high quality, you won’t be throwing these out like a paper plate any time soon. Crow Canyon’s enamelware is made from carbon steel coated in porcelain enamel that will last for years to come. Heat up food in the oven on it, store the bowls in the freezer for cold gazpacho, and then stick them in the dishwasher at the end of the night. Easy-peasy. The set comes with 4 mugs, salad plates, cereal bowls and dinner plates.
