Royal Palace of Caserta in Naples deserves a little limelight.

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Stay warm and cosy with the best fire pits for your garden. As the days get dark early and the weather turns cold, the best fire pits will provide both light and a great source of heat in your home. There are a range of fire pits, fire bowls, fire baskets, and even gas-powered models in this guide to suit any space. While they’re more high-maintenance than the best patio heaters, fire pits bring a charming feal and the crackling of a traditional campfire.

Evening entertaining can still continue with the best fire pit, even though it’s getting colder once the sun goes down. In fact, a fire pit is one of the best ways to enjoy your garden as the leaves change colour and the best BBQ retreats back into the garden shed. Some fire pits even come with grill inserts to turn them into an impromptu cooking station, and even without this, you can happily toast marshmallows over even a little fire basket.

Other than fire pits we also included Kadai-style fire bowls to cradle your firewood at a decent height, to make use of your patio furniture. There are also fire baskets, which are a compact way of enjoying a fire pit and storing it when not in use.

The best fire pits

1. Garden Trading Industrial Style Fire Pit

Best fire pit overall

Type: Compact brazier
What we like: The tall and narrow design
What we don’t like: Limited visibility

Available in both small and regular sizes, this fire pit from Garden Trading is a compact crowd-pleaser. The design is striking and it will age well as it rusts. Because the bowl can be carried and tipped out it’s easy to remove ash and wood after use, and the frame won’t gather and hold water thanks to its clever design.

This isn’t one for a roaring fire, but if you’re dealing with a smaller space it’s got everything you could ask for. It’s made of raw steel and has that rustic brazier-style design without losing the visibility of your fire as it burns.

2. Fallen Fruits Square Steel Basket Firepit

Best fire pit basket

Type: Fire basket
What we like: The simple and striking design, and the price
What we don’t like: It’s a little small

Fire baskets are ideal for smaller spaces, and the Fallen Fruits Square Steel Basket Firepit is also best suited to those with a modest budget. At under £100, it’s a top choice for a roaring fire without the wide design of a mighty Kadai bowl.

The basket has a 360-degree view of the fire and thanks to its steel cutouts, it will give off lots of warmth and a nice glow. Even the container it comes in can be used as firewood, which is a great touch.

3. IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl

Best decorative fire pit

Type: Industrial bowl
What we like: The frost-resistant finish
What we don’t like: Its lack of base

Decorative design pairs with smart venting with the IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl. It’s UV and frost resistant, making it a true all-rounder for summer and winter use. The rust finish also means it will age well.

This striking option enables airflow thanks to the industrial-style plate dimensions. Prepare for a well-stoked fire! Do be aware that the IvyLine Outdoor Metal Industrial Fire Bowl comes without a stand, so you’ll need to account for this in your garden planning.

4. Esschert Design Fallen Fruits Oxidised Woodland Globe

Best fire globe

Type: Fire globe
What we like: That beautiful design
What we don’t like: Hard to tend to the fire

The Esschert Design Fallen Fruits Oxidised Woodland Globe is a gorgeous oxidized-style fire globe with all the charm of a woodland forest. It’s in two pieces: a laser-cut top and a sturdy fire pit bottom (that can be used alone if you’re not in the mood for a feature point).

We can just imagine the gorgeous glow this design will cast in your garden, but it’s definitely not one for those who are short on storage space or who want easy access to the fire for toasting marshmallows.

5. Elementi Concrete Propane Fire Pit Table

Best gas fire pit 

Type: Gas fire pit
What we like: The design is perfect for entertaining on patios
What we don’t like: That steep price

If you want all the joy of a fire pit without the fiddly ignition, opt for a gas fire pit. This Concrete Propane Fire Pit Table from Elementi is a great option for entertaining and it can go on your patio. The gas is discreetly tucked away and it will burn clean because there’s no smoke involved.

At 68cm wide this is a decent size gas fire pit, so gather round with your patio furniture and enjoy the glow.

How to choose the best fire pit

Some fire pits are style statements in and of themselves. There are some beautiful fire globes with cutouts that will cast shadows across your lawn, or simple matte black bowls for a more dramatic look.

If budget is a consideration, it’s perfectly possible to buy a fire pit for around £30. Some are a lot more expensive though, with larger and more sturdy designs that will see you through summers to come.

Different types of fire pit include chimineas, which have a (you guessed it) chimney shape, and fire pits, which have a more traditional bowl-style design. Some can even be fitted with a grill for multipurpose use – just stick on some sausages and you’ve got an easy alfresco meal.

Will a fire pit damage my patio?

Most fire pits aren’t safe to place on a patio. Not only can their heat discolour your patio, but they can also potentially burn or crack any slabs or wood because they burn so hot and are often low-lying. That said, there are some fire pits that can be placed safely on a patio. A gas fire pit table is designed to elevate the heat source well away from the ground. 

If in doubt, it’s best to place your fire pit on the lawn. If you do want to place it on the slabs, some retailers advise placing a tile between the fire pit and the patio itself so the patio isn’t damaged. 

Will a fire pit burn my lawn?

Fire pits are definitely better for your lawn than a campfire. If you’ve spent time carefully cultivating your lawn though, you don’t want to risk any burning. Fire pits could well burn the grass, because while the heat is elevated away from the ground itself the grass does sit quite close.

To avoid this opt for something on a taller stand that removes your fire pit from the ground as much as possible. You could also place a slab of tile or stone under the fire pit, which will not only stabilise it but will create a barrier between the bowl and the grass.

The post Best fire pits 2021: our top 5 for winter evenings appeared first on Ideal Home.

While heatwaves in the UK used to be a rarity and short-lived when they did occur, recent years have seen more and more unpleasant, sticky days during the summer months. Add to that the fact that many of us have moved to hybrid or full-time home working and those ubiquitous air conditioning systems in hotels, office blocks and your average US household start to look pretty appealing.

But you don’t have to gut your property or pay over the odds to get a bit of relief. Portable air conditioners are a great middle ground, and this one from Russell Hobbs doubles as a dehumidifier to fight the summer elements even harder. We tested the machine to see whether it could live up to the promise but, if you want to shop around, take a look at our guide to the best portable air conditioners.

Ideal Home rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy

• More compact and better design than others
• Window sealing kit included
• Handles and castors make it easier to move around

Reasons to avoid

• Temperature only goes down to 18-degrees
• Won’t effectively cool down spaces above 16m2
• Small moisture tank will need to be changed regularly if not using pipe

Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier

Credit: Russell Hobbs

Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier: Specs & Features

Credit: Russell Hobbs

Power: 960W
Recommended room size: 10-16m2
Tank capacity: 1L
Extraction rate: 1.5L/hr
Dimensions: 31 x 42 x 84cm
Weight: 29kg

Knowing that, in the UK, it would be during the summer months that the Russell Hobbs RHPAC4002 would get used the most in the average household, we tested it in the thick of a heatwave with all of the humidity and scorching sunshine that brings. This was done in a small studio space with access to a balcony door on which we fitted a window shield.

Setting up the air conditioner is relatively easy, with only the extraction and water drain pipes needing to be fitted. Alternatively, when using the machine as a dehumidifier, you can opt to periodically empty the water tank manually. Once the air conditioner is placed in the desired location close to an open window for hot air to escape (without coming back in!), you’re ready to go.

The machine has three speed settings as well as an oscillation feature and night mode, which are all clearly labelled on the remote control supplied. You can also set the timer, which goes up to 24-hours. The front LED display is one of the very best features here, allowing you to see at a glance what is going on.

The only caveat for those who need their space to be super chilly is that the air conditioner is only able to get the temperature down to 18-degrees celsius. That’s absolutely fine for most people (we had ours set to 21-degrees), but it will depend on your intention for use whether it’s a black mark against it.

The good news is that once operating, we found that the machine made very quick work of a sticky, humid day during the summer. Some might say that the dehumidifier function is of even greater value in countries like the UK as the air conditioner but, working in tandem, they definitely make a huge difference to the quality of your at-home air. For more, head on over to our best dehumidifier ranking.

Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier: Design

Credit: Russell Hobbs

Outside of cost, the biggest reason that most people in the UK haven’t invested in a portable air conditioner is the size and heft of most units. Weighing in at 29kg, the Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 isn’t lightweight by any means, but it is more compact and attractive than many of its competitors. We particularly like the LED screen on the front and the fact that the top opening automatically shuts when the air conditioner is not in use.

Positioning the air conditioner correctly is the biggest task you’ll face, as you will need to be able to target the extraction pipe towards an open window (or as was the case here, an open balcony door). This is incredibly fiddly and near impossible in a smaller or more cluttered space. As the images in this guide show, the best thing to do is place the machine directly below the window, leaving enough space to secure the pipe with the window kit provided.

All of this said any trouble we had with finding an ideal placement for the Russell Hobbs RHPAC4002 was not the fault of this air conditioner in particular, but rather one we’ve found with all machines of its kind. The same goes for the noise level, which hits up to 65dB.

Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier: Our Verdict

Portable air conditioners, though in theory more convenient than the built-in variety, still pose a lot of challenges for the average household. The Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner doesn’t exactly bypass the issues of space, heaviness and logistics, but it’s one of the best we’ve tested from a trusted brand. It shouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb with a smooth, compact design, and it certainly works wonders during a heatwave.

The post Russell Hobbs 2-in-1 Portable Air Conditioner and Dehumidifier review appeared first on Ideal Home.

The Crockpot has been synonymous with slow cooking for the longest time (since the 1970s to be precise), so it’s no surprise that it’s since evolved to take part in the popular multicooker market. With big brands such as Instant Pot and Tefal leading the way, the Crockpot Turbo Express electric pressure cooker seems to be an impressive contender.

Not only does it boast its traditional repertoire of slow cook, sauté and steam presets, but also functions as a pressure cooker to handle your meat dishes, rice and much more. In fact, its 14-in-1 features resembles a more expensive multicooker, but at a reasonable price. In addition, it comes with a 5.6 litre capacity, so it’s decent enough to cook hearty meals for a family of six.

With that all said, I put the Crockpot Turbo Express cooker to the test to find out how well it performs, and if it’s one of the best slow cookers you can buy.

Ideal Home rated: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Reasons to buy:

• 14-in-1 functions
• Light and easy to manoeuvre
• Sleek design
• Nice compact size
• Turbo Function reduces cooking time by almost half
• Automatic 24-hr keep warm function
• Very affordable

Reasons to avoid:

• Doesn’t come with a handy recipe book
• No hinged lid
• No steaming basket or measuring cup included

Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker

Unboxing the Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker

The Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker was easy to lift out and carry to the worktop with its sturdy handles. Design-wise, it looks impressive, with a stainless-steel exterior, flat control panel, and LED screen. The interface is simply laid-out with clear, one-touch settings to avoid any confusion. My only reservation was the ‘papery’ feel of the interface which I felt let the sleek design down a little. However, the blue LED display and lit buttons are a nice touch.

With its compact, 5.6-litre capacity, it sits nicely on the worktop, without looking too cumbersome, making it ideal for smaller spaces. The separate lid has a sleek handle across  to offer a firm grip when twisting to lock/unlocks, and a simple knob for the pressure release.

The Crockpot Turbo Express comes with a stirring spoon, steaming rack and sous vide rack. Unlike other pressure cookers, this doesn’t come with a steaming basket or measuring cup, in which case, you would need to carefully use the rack for vegetables.

Cooking in the Crockpot Turbo Express

Once the Crockpot Turbo Express is switched on, the cooker will beep and the LED display lights up.  The front panel has a range of self-explanatory settings to choose from such as, brown/saute, simmer, slow cook, keep warm, yogurt and sous vide options. While the Pressure functions include manual, steam, meat/poultry, rice/grains, soup/stew, dessert and sterilise. It also has Delay Timer and Keep Warm functions for added convenience.

For beginners, this basic interface makes the cooker incredibly user-friendly – you know exactly what does what without the confusion. The manual tells you the recommended times and temperatures for each setting, which is also helpful. It’s a shame there was no recipe book included. However, I was able to find some suitable Crockpot recipes online to try out.

Cooking in the Crockpot Turbo Express is relatively fuss-free and simple. Once you select the program of your choice, the auto time and temperature will flash up on the display. After pressing Start it will then display Heat, whereby the status bar will begin flashing to indicate it is warming up. When the status light reaches the end, the timer countdown begins. Once the process is finished it will beep again, before automatically set to the Keep Warm function until you’re ready to eat.

Overall, I found this one of the easiest pressure cookers to use in terms of simplicity and functionality. In fact, this would make the ideal, entry-level cooker for beginners or students who merely want to use it for the basic functions.

Slow cooking beef stew

Considering slow cooking is what Crockpot is popular for, I decided to make a hearty beef stew. First, I used the sauté function to brown the beef and onions before adding in the vegetables, seasonings and beef broth. Next, I covered the pot and pressed the Slow Cooker button. It gives you the option of either cooking on a low temperature for 7-8 hours or high for 4-5 hours. I decided to set on a high temperature, and the results were just as impressive. Not only was the beef incredibly succulent and tender but tasted delicious and flavoursome. A stew well worth the wait!

Cooking basmati rice in the Crockpot Turbo Express

I decided to cook basmati rice to accompany the beef stew. Cooking rice to perfection can often be hit-and-miss, especially if there’s too much or too little water. So I was a little disappointed that the cooker didn’t come with a handy measuring cup to ensure precise measurements. In any case, I measured out 1 cup of rice to 1.5 cups of water into the Crockpot before pressing the Rice/Grains button. The timer displayed 12 minutes with the High pressure, and then I pressed Start.

Again, the display turned to Heat to start the countdown to pre-warm before cooking the rice. After a beep, I opened the valve to release the steam before unlocking the lid. To my dismay, the rice didn’t have that fluffy yet dry texture that I’d wanted. Instead, it was rather wet and easily got stuck onto the spatula.

Perhaps I’d added a little too much water, however, it still had a pleasant, fragrant taste.

Steaming vegetables in the Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker

I do enjoy steamed vegetables as a side dish and getting the right texture can be challenging in a pressure cooker. This is where the use of a steam basket can help, however, the Crockpot Turbo Express only comes with a steam rack. The idea is to sit the rack at the base of the inner pot, in a little water, and place your veggies on top of the rack. I found this impractical with smaller pieces of broccoli or veg which would only fall through the gaps, but it works better with thicker slices.

Once you press the Steam function, it will set for 5 minutes before you hit Start. The cooker preheats and will start the stream process before it beeps at the finish. I must say that the texture of my streamed vegetables were a little disappointing, as the broccoli had a slightly mushy texture. In addition I would probably recommend using an oven-proof dish to place your veggies in to avoid rogue bits falling through the cracks and into the water.

Cleaning the Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker

The pot is dishwasher safe, while the lid and all of its parts have to be hand washed. Having said that though, it’s recommended that you hand wash the pot to protect its non-stick coating. The pot is easy to handwash quickly, and its small size means it won’t fill up your sink and become awkward to wash properly. In addition, the pot has a non-stick coating, so you won’t have to worry about stuck-on food or greasy residue. The outer pot can easily be wiped down with a soapy cloth to remove any dirt or fingerprints.

Should you buy the Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Pressure Cooker?

If you’re after a basic, user-friendly pressure cooker or on a budget, the Crockpot Turbo Express Electric Cooker is a great option. It comes with all the main cooking settings you would need without all the fancy bells and whistles. Its 5.6-litre capacity makes it the ideal size for compact spaces, or to suit small-medium households.

Alongside its powerful cooking performance, the ease of use makes it the ideal entry-level pressure cooker for those with limited cooking needs. The Crockpot Turbo Express creates succulent and tasty meat dishes and the Keep Warm function is a plus. The only downsides are the lack of a steaming basket and measuring cup, which can be handy during steaming things like vegetables. The steaming rack provided seemed impractical for placing smaller veggies on. However, if you can overlook the lack of steaming basket and recipe book, the Crockpot Turbo Express pressure cooker is a worthwhile investment.

About this review, and our reviewer

Cynthia Lawrence is a freelance lifestyle and homes/interiors journalist and writes for various national publications. With an unhealthy obsession for all things homes and gardens, she also has an interior design blog. When she’s not spending time surfing online for decor inspiration to revamp her 1930s home, she is busy reviewing some pretty awesome home appliances.

A regular contributor to Real Homes, she has written for Livingetc., Gardeningetc., Ideal Home, T3.com, Top Ten Reviews and House Beautiful amongst others.

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