The concept of an outdoor kitchen is a fairly new trend. It’s not until recently that people decided to have a kitchen outside so it was easier to entertain guests or enjoy the nice weather.
If you’re considering adding an outdoor kitchen to your home, there’s some key information you should know before you start the process so you get beautiful results.
Plan your kitchen
Before you start any work on your outdoor space you should first come up with an idea of what you’d like your outdoor kitchen to look like and how often you intend to use it. This information will make it easier for you to choose the appliances for your outdoor kitchen.
Some other things to consider are the amount of space you have available for an outdoor kitchen and your budget. By planning this out ahead of time you’ll be less likely to run into any issues during the design process. When creating a budget, you should avoid spending more than you can actually afford. You can still achieve a gorgeous kitchen without overspending.
While designing your outdoor kitchen you should think about which natural stone will work best for your space based on your budget and sense of style. Aside from granite, you can consider limestone, brownstone, bluestone, and soapstone, and you can visit this website to see them. You can even use loose fill stone such as pea gravel, and goose egg gravel. Quartz is a great option as well. However, it will require treatment and replacing after some time since the gorgeous color will fade due to prolonged sunlight exposure.
Perhaps the best types of natural stone for an outdoor kitchen are granite and soapstone. Both of these materials don’t get damaged due to exposure to natural elements and are very durable. Since they are heat resistant, granite is a wonderful choice for your outdoor kitchen since it can withstand hot objects. In addition, when sealed properly, granite is stain resistant. Soapstone is heat resistant as well, and its main advantage is it doesn’t need to be sealed.
A grill
The grill is the backbone of an outdoor kitchen. You do not want to skimp on the grill since it’s going to be one of the most frequently used appliances in your kitchen.
A modern grill uses gas, although you can still find some that use charcoal. There are several brands and models of gas grills in the market. To choose the right one, consider the following:
Fuel – You can consider either natural gas or propane. Natural gas is convenient since you already have a gas line connected to your home. Also, compared to propane, it is cheaper. A grill that uses propane requires a propane tank. Fortunately, most grills offer you the option of natural gas or propane. But, most grills on the lower end of the price chart are propane-only.
Size – When looking at grill sizes think about what you will be cooking. If you plan to roast a large turkey, you want a big grill. If you plan on cooking a few pieces of chicken steak, a small grill will do.
Heat – To determine the heat of a grill look at the BTU rating. This rating measures the amount of heat created by a burner. It is a measure of the heat created relative to the size of the grill, how well the grill maintains and distributes the heat.
Material – The material of your grill is important since it affects the grill’s durability. The materials used in the main body of grills include stainless steel, cast iron, sheet metal, and cast aluminum. Stainless steel is the most preferred material. However, manufacturers tend to take shortcuts with it and include steel frames vulnerable to rust. You can rule out the quality of the stainless steel using a magnet. The most durable material used in grills is cast aluminum.
Workspace
Similar to the kitchen inside your home, the outdoor kitchen will need a hot, wet, cold, and dry work zone. The hot zone is where you’ll place the grill. You can also include a cooktop next to the grill for preparing other meals.
The cold zone is for the fridge and freezers. While the wet zone is for the sink. The dry zone is important since it’s where you’ll prepare the food. It’s where you store some snacks and food. Therefore, you should have an adequate amount of storage space with cabinets.
To design the workspace, you need to consider the space you have. The essential items that will keep your cooking area functional are a grill, a cooktop, a sink, a refrigerator and cabinets for storage. Larger spaces can accommodate more countertops, cabinets and even more cooking appliances such as a pizza oven.
Protection and Furniture
An outdoor kitchen isn’t complete without a place for people to relax and enjoy their meal. Furniture allows your family and friends to gather around as you cook, provides an opportunity to eat in the fresh air and offers an oasis for relaxing after enjoying delicious meals. Space and climate are the main issues when designing your outdoor kitchen. Bar stools are a great choice for seating since they don’t take up a lot of space and are very easy to maintain. Also, you’ll need a few small tables and some comfy and weather-resistant chairs.
When designing your outdoor kitchen consider the following:
- Weather-resistant furniture.
- A cover for the cooking place.
- Exhaust system to reduce exposure to smoke.
- Insect control measures such as bug zappers.
The perfect dining area should be on the ground level. Also, it shouldn’t be too close to the cooking area, but close enough for the convenience of socializing and serving. The perfect positioning of the seating area should be a place that offers a scenic view so your guests can enjoy the outdoors as they wait for the food.
Storage
You need space to store dishes, pots, pans, and cutlery during the open-air barbequing seasons. Grill accessories such as wood, charcoal, grill brushes, and hot mitts require permanent storage space within the outdoor kitchen. If you’re planning to frequently use your outdoor kitchen you need enough storage to avoid having to run inside every time you’re cooking. When looking for cabinets to store your outdoor kitchen items, don’t forget about the weather. It’s wise to go with weather-tight cabinetry so it doesn’t get destroyed. Another factor to consider is space. Ensure that you have enough room outside for the cabinetry and other storage spaces.
By following these suggestions you’ll have a gorgeous and functional outdoor kitchen ideal for entertaining or just enjoying the outside.
Shop From Rxharun..
About Us...
Editorial Board Members..
Developers Team...
Team Rxharun.