23 essential summer buys our experts rated 5/5 – including one to buy NOW before it sells out

Summer is too short to waste on disappointing buys. With a summer of heatwaves encouraging us outdoors, there’s never been a better excuse to upgrade your warm-weather kit. We’ve rounded up 23 of our favourite summer buys, from pizza ovens, barbecues and ice cream makers to camping stoves, canned cocktails and burger kits – all rigorously tried and tested by our experts and awarded a full five stars. Consider it your shortcut to a summer of better barbecues, colder drinks and sweeter treats.

Whether you’re planning garden parties, camping trips or simply making the most of the sunshine, these tried-and-tested essentials are guaranteed to elevate your summer.

23 top-rated summer buys, tried and tested by the Good Food experts

Cuisinart Frost Fusion

Available from Lakeland (£299.99), Amazon (£299.99), Cuisinart (£299.99)

Best slushie machine

Slushie machines are taking over kitchens for summer 2026 and trust us, once you’ve tried one you’ll want a piece of the action. The Cuisinart Frost Fusion is the one to beat and does more than you think, with six programmes including slushy, sorbet, cocktail, frappé and frosé. It’s guaranteed to be a hit if you’re entertaining this summer, but impressively versatile for every day use too. The options are endless!

The Frost Fusion has five texture levels so you can dial in exactly how frozen you want things and a 1.6L capacity makes it well suited to batch-making for guests. You can prep ahead too, as Cuisinart claims it can keep drinks frozen for up to 16 hours. Once you’ve added your ingredients, the machine does all the hard work for you and automatically keeps your drink churning. We made a range of drinks when testing it out, including pink lemonade (ready in just 20 minutes), a batch of frozen margaritas and frozen coffee which took just 14 minutes and has quickly become a firm favourite when working from home in hot weather…

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Cornish Sea Salt Co smoked sea salt flakes

Available from Waitrose (£1.85), Cornish Sea Salt Co. (£2.40)

For giving BBQs a boost

Cornish Sea Salt Co’s sea salt flakes are gently smoked over oak, apple and cherry wood, resulting in a seasoning with a deeply savoury edge. It’s the secret ingredient you need for elevating BBQs: use on corn-on-the-cob or grilled meats.

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Dr Vegan Hydrate+

Available from Dr Vegan (£19.99), Amazon (£19.99)

Best electrolytes for fast hydration

With Brits facing a summer of repeated heatwaves, it’s important to stay hydrated. If you’re not sleeping well in the heat, feeling tired or getting headaches, it could be a sign you are dehydrated and lacking in key minerals, known as electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium. We ran a taste test to find the best electrolytes and Hydrate+ came out on top for fast hydration.

Free from sugar, stevia and artificial sweeteners, this vegan-friendly electrolyte powder is gentle on the stomach. We’re a fan of the citrussy orange and pineapple flavour and the single-serve sachets make them handy for travel over the summer. The powder combines sodium, potassium, magnesium and calcium with high-strength vitamin C and vitamin B12. The addition of L-taurine supports endurance and mental performance, making it a strong choice if you exercise a lot.

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Kamado Joe Konnected Joe

Available from BBQ World (£1,999)

Need to upgrade your barbecue set up this summer? This star pick is a true showstopper in both performance and appearance.

You’ll need a decent space for it and be prepared to take a little while installing it, but once it’s ready its worth the initial effort. This versatile model lets you pick your preferred style of barbecuing – you can get hands-on managing the coals, or keep an eye on precise temperature control from your phone. The Konnected Joe’s strength is delivering the best of both worlds with ease.

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MOTH Strawberry Daiquiri

Available from MOTH Drinks (£26/pack of 8), Tesco (£4), Waitrose (£4.15)

For summer sipping

We’re always on the hunt for a new canned cocktail to try, and this release from cocktail stalwarts MOTH was an instant hit when it arrived earlier this summer. Juicy strawberry is balanced by lime and a strong hit of Duppy Share rum.

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Ninja Creami Deluxe

Available from Very (£249), Ninja (£249.99), Currys (£249.99), JD Williams (£249.99)

Best freeze-first ice cream maker

This ice cream maker went viral on social media when it was first released and it’s not difficult to see why. Rather than slowly churning and freezing the ice cream mixture, you freeze the ice cream base solid first. Once frozen, you add this to the ice cream maker and powerful blades then churn the frozen mix into smooth, creamy ice cream in just a few minutes.

The Deluxe has a larger capacity than the original Ninja Creami (just over two litres in the Creami Deluxe versus 1.4 litres in the Creami) along with three new functions, which include frappe, frozen yogurt and “slushi”. If you’re torn between this model and the original Ninja Creami, read our comparison of the Ninja Creami vs Deluxe.

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Cuisinart Freeze Wand ice cream maker

Available from Cuisinart (£79.99), Lakeland (£79.99)

Best compact ice cream maker

When the next heatwave rolls around, you’ll be pleased to have this compact ice cream maker on standby. No giant gadgets needed: this is a great option for smaller kitchens. It operates in a similar way to the Ninja Creami, but is smaller to store. The FreezeWand comes with three colour-coded tubs for pre-freezing ingredients, plus the wand itself offers five different modes.

It is incredibly easy to use and takes just minutes to churn both ice cream and sorbet using this freeze-first ice cream maker – just remember to freeze your tubs ahead of time. Our lemon sorbet was ready in seconds, and a super silky vanilla ice cream was ready after 30 seconds of churning.

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Edenmoor Big BBQ Burger Box

Available from Edenmoor (£43.20)

For easy entertaining

All you need for a barbecue is in here – steak, chicken, lamb and mint burgers, buns, Hunter & Gather ketchup, pickled cucumbers and smoky kraut by Eaten Alive. The perfect shortcut next time you want to host a summer party.

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Aarke Carbonator Pro Steel

Available from Aarke (from £249)

Best statement sparkling water maker

It would be hard to find a more chic way to stay hydrated this summer. If you’re a sparkling water fan, it’s time to say goodbye to endless plastic bottles and invest in this sparkling water maker instead. The Aarke Carbonator Pro Steel looks smart (it is made from high-quality stainless steel and comes with a beautifully designed glass bottle) and is well-engineered.

The Carbonator Pro model is unique thanks to its impressively easy to use one-handed push-to-lock operation: fill the bottle to the line, put it on the base, push the cover down until it clicks, then press the carbonator button until you hear a buzzing sound.

The resulting sparkling water is delicious and once sealed, will stay fizzy for 24 hours. Keep a bottle in the fridge all summer long!

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Ninja FrostVault 28L

Available from Very (£199), Ninja (£199.99), Amazon (£199.99)

Best overall cool box

Hitting the road this summer? The Ninja FrostVault gives most other cool boxes a run for their money and is perfect for camping, picnics, beach days and barbecues. It comes in two sizes — 28L or 47L — and two colours – white or grey – so you can pick what suits you. Transporting it is easy even when full, due to its all-terrain wheels and telescopic handle. As well as the ability to cool foods on ice, the Ninja FrostVault DryZone drawer at the bottom means you can also carry and store picnic foods you don’t want to sit directly on ice, like sandwiches and snacks.

We tested the 28L Ninja FrostVault by filling it with 6kg of ice, drinks and some snacks in the drawer. 24 hours later, the ice was still frozen and the food in the drawer was still chilled. It ended up keeping ice for an incredible five days, after which the foods and drinks inside the box and drawer were still cold. According to Ninja, this cool box can hold and transport up to 48 cans without ice, or 20 cans with ice.

Check out our full review of the best cool boxes for more options, including cool bags and baskets.

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FreeSoul Hydrate

Available from FreeSoul (£32.49), Amazon (£29.99)

Best electrolytes for on the go

Another great electrolyte choice for on the go this summer – pack a few into a suitcase or festival backpack to stay hydrated after days in the sun. All you need to do is add the citrussy powder to water and mix until blended. The formula is a blend of electrolytes and essential minerals, such as vitamin C and zinc, plus it is vegan friendly and free from added sugar.

We tested several of Free Soul’s flavours – as well as this lemony winner, we enjoyed the tropical mango and lime and the mixed berry, if you prefer fruity flavours over citrus.

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Cuisinart Freeze Ease Pro ice cream maker

Available from Cuisinart (£299.99), Amazon (£299.99)

Best self-freezing ice cream maker

This classic ice cream machine is worth the investment for frozen treats you’ll want to make all year round. It has four presets (ice cream, gelato, sorbet and frozen yogurt), a hardness setting to fine-tune consistency and a mix-only mode that helps aerate the base before churning.

Assembly is easy so you can get started quickly, with paddles that are easy to slot in and a responsive touchscreen. We were very impressed by the results when testing: making a smooth vanilla ice cream and a standout sorbet with a perfectly even texture.

If you’re after a Cuisinart ice cream machine, but aren’t sure which of the many models to buy, read our review of the best Cuisinart ice cream makers.

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Big Green Egg large ceramic grill

Available from Big Green Egg (£1,495)

Best charcoal smoker BBQ

A Big Green Egg is always an attractive piece of kit, but its performance lives up to its appearance if you are looking to learn some new barbecue skills this summer. Not just a charcoal barbecue, it also multitasks as a smoker and oven for baking and roasting to help you get your money’s worth out of your investment. There are lots of extra accessories available too, including racks, baking stones and grills (although be warned if you want to get carried away, the prices can increase steeply once you start adding extras).

This hefty grill takes some getting used to, but once you’re familiar with the temperature control and various mechanisms, you’re good to go. The barbecue function comes up to temperature in just 20 minutes, allowing you to get grilling quickly. The Big Green Egg can hit searing temperatures or retain a gentle heat with finite precision for very long periods.

Read our full Big Green Egg ceramic grill review.

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Della Vite Spritz Range

Available from Amazon (£29.21/8 x 200ml)

Spritzes are the drink of the summer, and plenty of new canned versions have launched this year. Not sure where to begin? There’s a spritz for everyone in this crowd pleasing selection of four different drinks from Della Vite (founded by the Delevigne sisters). It’s a handy one-stop purchase for al fresco celebrations that includes everything from a floral hugo spritz (arguably the trending drink of the year) to an impressively fruity bellini spritz.

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Kitchen Craft Deluxe lolly maker

Available from B&Q (£18.49)

Best ice lolly maker for large quantities

It’s time to get experimenting with homemade ice lollies this summer – the only sweet treat we want when temperatures climb above 30C. It might not look the most glamorous, but this KitchenCraft deluxe lolly block maker is a sturdy piece of kit with 8 plastic moulds and individual covers, a tray to keep the mould upright in the freezer, and 16 wooden lolly sticks to get you started with. Each cover has a slot that perfectly fits the stick to position it correctly.

You will need quite a bit of space to store it in the freezer, but the finished lollies are a generous size. The benefits of this model made of individual moulds is that you can take out lollies separately to enjoy – run one, two or more under the tap to loosen and the rest can stay safely in the freezer for next time.

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Campingaz Kitchen 2 Maxi

Available from Go Outdoors (£130)

Best double gas burner

This is our top rated pick for a camping stove. As a double gas burner, it is incredibly easy to use with very clear instructions and safety information for setting up and lighting. The materials are sturdy, with a locking mechanism for the lid and a steady base.

The burner heats up quickly and is simple to control, and the ignition sparks up the burner every time. The stove holds two medium pans (7-28cm) and runs off large and small canisters using Campingaz’s Twin Connection CV/R Regulator.

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Jude’s Chocolate Guinness Cake Ice Cream

Available from Sainsbury’s (£3.50), Ocado (£3.50)

Best new ice cream discovery

We love discovering new ice creams in the summer months and this is a recent favourite of the Good Food team. Jude’s have transformed the iconic flavours of a chocolate Guinness cake into a moreish ice cream. It tastes impressively like Guinness and is surprisingly light, with chewy brownie pieces scattered throughout. All that’s missing is a swirl of cream cheese icing!

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Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2)

Available from Gozney (£2499.99)

The undeniably impressive Gozney Dome XL (Gen 2) is about as aspirational as it gets if you’re serious about pizza. It’s the brand’s largest and most capable (and most expensive!) model to date and certainly a statement piece to have in your garden.

Designed with entertaining in mind, it can accommodate either one 18‑inch pizza or three 10‑inch pizzas at once – so you won’t have guests queuing up for a slice! It takes a little trial and error to find the ideal temperature for different styles of pizza, but once mastered, pizzas cooked in as little as 90 seconds, and crisp bases and bubbling toppings were delivered consistently.

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Belvoir Hugo Spritz Mocktail

Available from Sainsbury’s (£2.50), Waitrose (£3.65)

A refreshing non-alcoholic drink for summer. Grape juice (instead of prosecco) is mixed with elderflower and mint, as you’d find in the classic Hugo Spritz cocktail. It’s a delicately floral, fizzy sip.

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Weber Traveler Compact Gas Barbecue

Available from Amazon (£326.76)

Best portable BBQ for design

The look of this portable barbecue immediately impresses, with its compact design, glossy lid and the ability to tow it along on wheels. This continues with the sleek action as it smoothly rises from the ground and locks in place at a comfortable cooking height, unlocking the lid in the same motion.

The cooking ability lives up to the first impressions. The barbecue fired up to 300C in just 15 minutes, with impressive oomph and during testing, proved to be the most enjoyable portable barbecue to cook on, thanks to features like a handy side table for resting tools and a generous cooking area for sizzling up to 12 burgers at once. It’s a great summer buy for a small garden and could be conveniently hung up in storage over winter. It’s even compact enough to pop in the car for a camping trip.

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Grind Cold Brew Bottle

Available from Grind (£30)

Best cold brew coffee maker

When it’s too warm for a hot coffee, we’re reaching for cold brew instead and we had a lot of fun using this nifty 1-litre bottle from Grind. With it you can make up to five cups of cold brew at a time. The recommended brew time is eight to 24 hours (the longer you leave it, the more intense the flavour will be). Simply add 50g of ground coffee (approximately 7 tbsps) into the filter basket, add up to a litre of water, and leave it to work its magic.

Along with the attractive glass bottle you get an integrated filter and silicone stopper, from which you can remove the lid to pour your coffee. No instructions were provided, and we had to dig out a guide on the Grind website to find out how much coffee was needed. Once we’d got the gist, however, we found it a joy to use and the results were worth the wait – our cold brew was light, fruity and refreshing.

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Tormaresca Calafuria

Best Italian rosé

Long summer evenings call for the perfect glass of chilled rosé. Our wine expert Henry Jeffreys tested the best rosé to buy and gave this bottle full marks. He noted: ‘We love the colour of this rosato, much redder than a Provence-style wine and that’s reflected in how it tastes. There’s bright red juicy strawberries, a refreshing tang here with notes of orange peel and even a whisper of tannin. Absolutely delicious and the bottle looks superb too.’

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Ooni Volt 2 pizza oven

Available from Ooni (£499), Lakeland (£499)

Best indoor pizza oven

Not every day in summer is guaranteed to be blazing sunshine. Or perhaps you don’t have plenty of outdoor space. In both instances, the Ooni Volt 2 indoor electric pizza oven is exactly what you need. With this oven you can make restaurant-quality pizza without even leaving your kitchen.

An upgrade of the Volt 12 (Ooni’s first electric pizza oven, launched in 2023), the Volt 2 is 30 per cent more compact than its predecessor and has a larger viewing window, plus a ‘Pizza Intelligence’ oven-control system that adjusts the temperature, helping you to achieve a more consistent cook on every pizza. We loved testing out the different settings included Neapolitan, the ‘Thin and Crispy’ preset and the adjustable ‘crisping intensity’ setting, which focuses more heat on the toppings if you want even crispier results.

It is smaller than the Volt 12 but is still going to take up a large amount of counter space, so it’s worth finding a dedicated spot to ensure a safe perimeter around the oven. It can also get a little smoky during cooking, so we’d advise keeping your kitchen well ventilated to avoid fire alarms being set off. On the plus side, there’s ample space in the cavity and a wide range of temperature controls (20C-450C), so it can be used like a standard oven for cooking joints of meat and vegetables on the rare occasions you don’t want pizza, and an oven rack is included.

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