The Best US Cities to Cook Outside This Summer
Summer is the perfect opportunity to head outside, soak up the sun with family and friends and dine al fresco. While some might opt for a traditional barbecue, others are jumping on the rising trend of outdoor pizza ovens, with 135,000 average monthly searches for ‘pizza ovens’ in the US, showing the growing popularity of cooking one of the nation’s favorite dishes outdoors.
But with so many looking to cook outdoors this summer, which spots in the US have the best weather for it?
To find out, we explored weather-related data from 50 of the most populated cities in the US, examining which places have the best outdoor cooking temperatures, the fewest rainy days, the most sunshine and longest daylight hours, and the average air quality during June, July and August.
Furthermore, to ensure you are the ultimate host, experts at Gozney have shared some tips on outdoor cooking and how to make the most of your equipment this summer.
The 20 best cities for outdoor cooking in the US
1. Seattle, Washington
Leading the way of the best cities to cook outdoors is Seattle, thanks to its balmy weather conditions.
Seattle in Washington is well-known for its outdoorsy culture, from scenic hikes, paddle boarding, and some incredible national parks. And with such a great outdoor culture, it’s no surprise that Seattle is the outdoor cooking capital of the US.
Our study shows that the “Emerald City” has the best conditions for outdoor cooking, with an impressive overall score of 8.05 out of 10. Boasting the longest daylight hours of any other US city, with 15 hours of light per day, Seattle is perfect for garden parties and summer gatherings that stretch well into the evening. Plus, the city has the fourth-best average air quality score of 21.33 (the lower the score, the better the air quality). And let's not forget about the weather – with an average temperature of 73.76°F, just 3.76°F away from the optimum temperature for cooking outdoors of 70°C, Seattle has the fourth-best temperature for outdoor cooking, making it a prime destination for backyard summer cookouts.
If you don’t have access to a garden for outdoor cooking, there are plenty of parks where you can set up your portable pizza oven or barbecue. Volunteer Park2, located in the heart of the city, has plenty of space for outdoor cooking. If you’re craving a coastal location, Golden Gardens is a scenic beach area with barbecue pits available.
2. San Francisco, California
Claiming second place in our ranking is San Francisco, with a score of 7.96 out of 10. San Francisco boasts the best climate for outdoor cooking, reaching a comfortable average temperature of 71.72°F during June, July and August, the closest average temperature to the optimum outdoor cooking temperature of 70°F. This is great for cooking outside, with fewer risks from extreme heat. Anything below 90°F is considered to be relatively safe, as long as you take necessary precautions like drinking lots of water and getting enough shade. But if temperatures reach 130°F, it can lead to heat stroke, so be aware of this when spending a lot of time outside.
San Francisco also has an average of just 2.30 rainy days throughout the summer months, so you can bet the weather won't dampen your outdoor plans.
For those eager to cook al fresco, San Francisco offers fantastic public spaces like the West Bluff Picnic Area and Beach. Here, you can fire up a portable pizza oven or barbecue while soaking in the breathtaking coastal scenery. It's the perfect blend of delicious eats and stunning views.
3. Oakland, California
In third place is Oakland, California. There’s no risk of getting caught in the rain here, as Oakland has the lowest amount of rainfall in June, July and August than any other city. Our study shows that there’s only half a day on average of rain during these three months, so you’d have to be pretty unlucky to get caught in the rain during your summer pizza party.
Not only is Oakland great for optimal weather, but has a great number of daylight hours. Overall it has 14.25 hours of daylight in the summer months, 11.77 of which are sunshine, allowing for plenty of time to relax and take your time cooking outdoors.
Crown Memorial State Beach is ideal for public outdoor cooking, with barbecue pits, grills and plenty of space for family and friends to enjoy whatever delicious meal you're whipping up.
4. Long Beach, California
Another city in the US’ “Golden State” makes the list once again. In fourth place is Long Beach, California. Long Beach has the third-highest number of sunshine hours, at an impressive 11.90, shared with Los Angeles, Albuquerque, Sacramento and San Diego.
Long Beach has an average temperature in June, July and August of 76,70°F - just 6.70°F away from the optimum outdoor cooking temperature - and the average number of rainy days in summer is 2.67, ranking eighth for this metric in our list.
5. Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon rounds off the top five. The city follows just behind Seattle, with the second-highest number of daylight hours, at 15 overall.
Portland also has the second-best air quality score of 20.33. There are slightly more rainy days than the other cities in our top five, with 7.13 during the three summer months. With just one week of rain during the entire season, it’s not bad at all if you pick the right day to cook outside.
If you don’t have a garden to cook in, Laurelhurst Park is a huge sprawling park in the city that offers not only ample space for outdoor cooking, but a dog park, pond and a basketball and tennis court for any sports lovers out there.
Top tips for cooking outdoors
1. Pick the right space
Whether it’s with family, friends or for a summer garden party, it can often be tricky to pick an outdoor cooking space that works for you. If you have a garden big enough for equipment and to host those you’re cooking for, then that’s a great place to do it.
However, for those who don’t have access to a garden, there are plenty of outdoor spaces, like barbecue parks, where you can head to cook outside. Just make sure to check that it’s allowed wherever you’re thinking of doing it. If you’re not sure, it’s always better to ask.
2. Preparation is key
From the dough to the toppings, preparation is key when hosting an outdoor pizza party.
Make the dough the day before and then take it out the fridge at least a couple of hours before to give it enough time to rest and loosen up. If you’re short on time or hosting a large party, you can also order ready-made dough balls online that get delivered straight to your door.
Also, don’t forget the toppings! It’s best to prep these before your guests arrive. Pepperoni, olives, mozzarella… Prep, chop and place them in little bowls to make it easier for your guests to choose from.
Last but not least, have a few different base sauce options available for everyone to make their own unique pizza. Check out our cookbook for some inspiration!
3. Have the right tools
You can’t cook outside without the right equipment, and it’s not as difficult as you might think. Whether you’re looking to whip up a feast with a barbecue or impress guests with a top-tier pizza oven, having the right equipment can make a big difference to your enjoyment when serving food outside.
When using a pizza oven, tools like a placement peel and a turning peel are key to help you safely launch your pizza into the oven and turn it to ensure an even bake. Plus, a pizza server and a pizza cutter will make serving up your creation convenient and safe when you’re out in the garden with limited resources.
4. Keep an eye on the weather
Despite all our research into the best spots to cook outdoors this summer, the weather can still be unpredictable and it's worth keeping an eye on it to avoid getting caught in the rain in the midst of an extreme heatwave.
It can be easy to forget about the effects of the sun and heat, so make sure you’re drinking plenty of water and ensure there is some shade for guests to rest under.
5. Make sure your equipment is clean and protected
Everything you cook with needs to be cleaned, whether inside or outside. But equipment that is left outside or in outside areas needs to be maintained because of weather effects. Rain, damp, cold and heat, plus critters from the outside world, can pose a threat to the longevity of your equipment.
Make sure you clean your equipment regularly, and consider buying a cover for your pizza oven or barbecue to protect it from the elements when not in use.
Sources and methodology
(1) To find out which city in the UK is the best for outdoor cooking, we put together a seedlist of 50 UK cities. We then ranked these cities based on the following metrics:
- Avg. temperature in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Avg. number of rainfall days in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Avg. number of sunshine hours in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Avg. number of daylight hours in June, July, August - Weather Atlas
- Air quality in in June, July, August - Nomadlist
We created a final score out of 10 and ranked these using the metric data, where the higher the score, the better the city is for cooking outdoors.
Other sources used:
(2) https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/ParksAndRecreation/Reserve/Picnic/PicnicFAQ.pdf
(3) https://www.nps.gov/places/000/west-bluff-beach-crissy-field-promenade.htm
(4) https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/california/oakland/attractions/crown-memorial-state-beach/a/poi-sig/1603477/361862
(5) https://psuvanguard.com/top-5-parks-to-host-your-next-summer-bbq/
