The Lost Art of Summer Kitchens: Cooking Without Heating the House
Long before air conditioners and microwave dinners, families gathered around shaded porches, outdoor stoves, and makeshift wash basins to cook and preserve the season’s bounty. It was called the summer kitchen—a separate space, often outside or in an open-air room, where cooking could be done without heating the house. And while it may sound old-fashioned, this beautiful tradition has never felt more relevant.
Summer kitchen image by Suzi Wollman
What Is a Summer Kitchen?
A summer kitchen was exactly what it sounds like: a place to prepare and cook food during hot weather, separate from the home’s main kitchen. Some were screened-in side rooms or covered porches; others were simple setups under a tree or out in the yard with a woodstove, basin, and table. The goal was simple—keep the heat (and sometimes the mess) outside during the hottest months of the year.
Why Summer Kitchens Still Matter
Even today, running an oven for an hour can turn a small home into a furnace. And while we now have air conditioners and fans, there’s something deeply satisfying—and efficient—about keeping summer cooking outside. A summer kitchen:
Reduces indoor heat buildup (less A/C use)
Saves energy and utility costs
Encourages seasonal cooking and preserving
Invites family togetherness and outdoor living
Reconnects us to the rhythms of traditional life
Most of all, it gives us an excuse to slow down and enjoy what’s in season.
Old Ways, New Tools
Fire pit image by Suzi Wollman
You don’t need a wood-fired oven or a stone slab to bring back the summer kitchen. You can adapt the concept to whatever space and tools you have. Some of our favorite heat-free or outdoor-friendly tools include:
Solar ovens for baking bread, potatoes, and even cookies
Electric roasters or crock pots used on the porch
Outdoor propane burners or camp stoves
Cast iron skillets and Dutch ovens on a backyard fire pit or grill
Cold fermentation and no-cook meals that nourish without heat
Even rinsing vegetables at a picnic table or shelling beans with the kids under a shade tree counts as summer kitchen time.
Shelling peas image by Suzi Wollman
How to Set Up a Simple Summer Kitchen
You don’t need a designated structure. Try one of these easy setups:
Covered porch: Add a folding table, a crock pot, and a plug-in burner
Backyard table: Keep a large bowl, cutting board, and compost bin nearby
Shady spot: Bring out your prep items and a camp stove for weekend meals
Balcony setup: Use a small electric burner and storage basket for supplies
Balcony kitchen image by Suzi Wollman
Store your outdoor kitchen tools together so you can grab them when it’s time to cook. And don’t forget a good cotton towel or two—they’ll dry hands, cover bowls, and double as napkins when needed.
Our Favorite Summer Kitchen Traditions
When our family lived in the mountains, our “summer kitchen” was wherever we could escape the heat and the mess—usually a picnic table near the goat pen. We’ve churned butter outside while the kids played in the hose. We’ve snapped beans and canned tomatoes under the eaves. And we’ve stirred big pots of jam while watching fireflies wake up.
Some of our favorite ideas to revive this tradition:
Shelling peas or beans with kids in the shade
Butter churning and cheese making on a side table
Sun tea and herbal infusions made daily
Canning fruit in small batches on a burner outdoors
Cooking on a campfire grill with cast iron
These moments are more than practical. They’re memory-making. They connect us to the land, the season, and each other.
Final Thoughts: Bring the Rhythm Back
You don’t need an old house or a canning kitchen to bring back the beauty of summer kitchens. Just step outside, simplify your tools, and let the season shape your meals. You’ll save money, lower your utility bills, and discover a deeper joy in seasonal living.
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