An outdoor kitchen can be a complement not only to your house but also to your lifestyle. Never mind a simple grill tucked away in a corner – imagine a full kitchen for outdoor food preparation.
As you start designing your outdoor kitchen, make a list of the items you must include as well as those that would be a dream. From there, look around at prefabricated kits and decide if you want to go modular, full custom, or somewhere in between.
Grilling Station
The main distinguishing factor between an outdoor and indoor kitchen, besides location, is the barbecue grill. The grilling station will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen.
The Landscaping Network advises against scrimping on the grill. You want a grill that's top quality because you'll be using it frequently. Gas grills are convenient and come as both built-in and drop-in models. Charcoal grills require more work, but they're for barbecue purists. It's also possible to choose a hybrid grill that can use either gas or charcoal for fuel.
Besides the barbecue, your grilling station should include at least a little adjacent counter space. Consider also including a shelf for storing grilling essentials.
Outdoor Appliances
Your outdoor kitchen should also include other appliances. At bare minimum, you'll need a refrigerator. However, some other popular items include smokers, side burners, warming drawers, and pizza ovens.
Side burners are a good addition if you're planning on cooking entire meals outside. These are essentially outdoor range inserts that allow you to cook alongside your grill. A warming drawer is similarly useful, especially if you envision cooking for large groups.
Many homeowners add a smoker to their outdoor kitchen to create smoky, slow-cooked meats. They can run on gas, wood, charcoal, or even electricity.
A pizza oven is a bigger construction. It consists of the oven, cooking floor, vent, and surround. Fed by wood, it can be used not only for pizza but also for other meats, breads, and vegetables. A pizza oven can be built-in or freestanding.
Countertops
Just like the indoor model, your outdoor kitchen will consist of different zones – food preparation, cooking, and cleaning. The centerpiece of all of this is the countertop. You need to have enough space to prepare and serve your food.
Concerning materials, your surfaces must be resilient so they withstand the vagaries of the weather. Natural stone, such as slate or granite, is ideal. Tile works well, too, as long as the grout is weatherproofed. Concrete is a popular choice because it is highly durable and can be poured into any shape.
As part of your kitchen zones, make sure to include a sink. Not only does this facilitate food preparation, but it also makes cleanup much easier.
Storage
Kitchens, whether inside or outside, need adequate storage to make them useful. Your outside kitchen doesn't need quite as much storage as your inside model, but you also don't want to keep running inside for basic necessities.
The key is to put your main ingredients within reach of your food preparation zone. You could design shelves and choose weatherproof containers for stashing some items. However, your kitchen should include at least a couple of drawers and cabinets for permanently storing grilling utensils and ingredients.
Design
Any kitchen is a utilitarian space. However, you don't want it to come across that way. Your patio or deck should feature a décor style, so adhere to that while planning the decorative aspects of your kitchen.
Likewise, plan for comfort. This will likely include shelter so you can cook outdoors in different weather conditions. Shelter can consist of a simple pergola, a full ceiling, or something in between.
Finally, as with your inside kitchen, make sure your outdoor model has adequate light. Your main task stations should be well lit. Likewise, if you have a full ceiling, you may want an overhead light. When choosing visible light fixtures, choose ones that adhere to your décor to make your outdoor kitchen as stylish as it is useful.
Your outdoor kitchen can become the centerpiece of your outdoor entertaining and even complement your full cooking routine. Let River City Fireplace & Barbeque help you plan the ideal outdoor kitchen for your house and lifestyle.
