Outdoor living spaces are a huge trend among homeowners which, on the other hand, have increased the popularity of outdoor kitchens. They both add value to your home and provide you with great space to entertain guests and enjoy an outdoor family feast. If you have plenty of room that allows you to build the perfect cooking and dining corner, maybe it’s time to start planning to create one. If you are interested in designing an outdoor cooking area, the first thing you need to do is to pay attention to space and location. Why location is crucial? Because there will be tons of plumbing and electricity considerations.
First, make a plan. Your kitchen should consist of three main zones. One is the preparations zone, which should include a large workspace for cutting and chopping, storage space and a sink. The ideal position for it is right beside the cooking zone. The cooking zone is the place where the magic will happen. Here you will need a burner, a grill, a vent hood and maybe a few other outdoor kitchen appliances. Next is the dish-up zone which ideally should take place between the cooking zone and the seating area. Last but not least, the entertainment zone is actually the social area which should be separated from the preparation zone. Here you need a dishwasher, a refrigerator, glasses and similar.
Choosing the style, design and material for your outdoor kitchen are all closely connected parts of the process. But, the choice of kitchen appliances is something different. Here’s a good piece of advice for you: select your appliances early in the design stage. The entire layout and material are going to be based on the requirements and size of each kitchen unit. Since these appliances are built to withstand the elements and operate in cold and wet conditions, they may be more expensive than those made for indoor kitchens. Moreover, outdoor kitchen appliances need to be durable and rust-resistant and that’s why most of them are made from stainless steel. Be careful if you want to mix different brands because not all of them use the same steel. So, which are the most important appliances you will need?
Grill
It’s almost impossible to imagine an outdoor cooking area without a grill that can cook meat and vegetables all year round. Depending on where you live or whether your outdoor kitchen is covered or not, you can choose either a portable or a built-in barbecue grill. However, there are some gas grill models that can be set into counter and removed periodically. If you decide to buy such a model, you can easily store it in your garage while waiting for the weather to change. There are electric grills available as well, but those that use gas can provide you with more enjoyable cooking experience and lower bills. However, the choice is all up to you. After all, you are the one who will cook, so choose a grill that you will love using. Along with the grill, you also need to ensure there is good ventilation so the smoke will not enter your home or disturb your neighbours. For this purpose, you need to consider an outdoor kitchen appliance such as the vent hood. This unit works by pulling the cooking odours and smoke up, keeping them away from your kitchen area.
Refrigerator
When it comes to refrigerators you have so many options to choose from – from affordable to very expensive ones. Which one would be the best for you depends on how often you are planning to use it and the number of people you are usually hosting. The most cost-effective ones are the college dorm-style fridges which are usually 1/5 the size of a regular refrigerator. Also, they are easily portable, so once the weather changes you can move them to your garage without a hassle. Most people prefer refrigerators that have more room for food and drinks. If you entertain often, then buying a bigger outdoor unit may be your best bet. When installing an outdoor kitchen, make sure it is connected to the proper irrigation system. Having water that flows freely to and from your space can ensure your outdoor fridge will be well-stocked with cold water and ice.
Dishwasher
You certainly don’t want to spend a lot of time washing the dishes by hand or moving them to your indoor kitchen. For that reason, equipping your outdoor cooking area with a dishwashing machine is a great idea. These units are specially designed to withstand extreme weather and have a special wash cycle for tough to clean items. Same as other appliances for outdoor kitchens, dishwashers also come with stainless steel interiors and exteriors. Although most of them have the capacity to accommodate 12 dining settings, you can find them in different sizes and choose the one that suits your needs best. Next, pick the right features. Make sure you choose a unit that comes with a good dishwasher technology and has both economy and intensive wash programs. Also, think about its water and energy efficiency. Many dishwashing machines have a feature that automatically turns off the machine 10 minutes after the cycle has finished.