A fully equipped outdoor kitchen offers a host of benefits and extends the longevity of your outdoor space. It creates a more relaxed hosting environment, allowing you to spend more time with your guests instead of being confined to the kitchen. It also expands your home’s livable space by serving as a second kitchen and dining space. Not to mention, there is a certain ambiance about dining al fresco that indoor dining can’t replicate. If you’re looking to transform your outdoor kitchen into a culinary paradise, read on for the key elements of a luxury outdoor kitchen.
Grill Stations
An outdoor kitchen isn’t complete without a built-in grill and cooking station. Allowing plenty of prep space is vital to comfortably preparing and grilling your food. A grill station will enable you to have several different grills, depending on your preferences for ease and taste. If you enjoy the smoky flavor of a charcoal grill but the ease of a gas grill, installing both types of grills gives you flexibility.
Side Burner and Griddle
Having a side burner and griddle allows you to cook your full meal outdoors instead of only grilling. For example, you can use the side burner and griddle to cook pasta or rice, saute vegetables or simmer sauces. Or, if you enjoy a steak and eggs breakfast, you can fry up your eggs while grilling the steak.
Outdoor Sink
An outdoor sink is necessary, especially when you’re dealing with grilling meat. It will make clean-up more manageable and the overall cooking process more sanitary. In addition, you can use the sink to wash your dishes, so you don’t have to carry the dirty dishes into your house.
Outdoor Dishwasher
An outdoor dishwasher will make cleaning up infinitely more manageable if you store your outdoor serving ware, plates and utensils outside. You can simply load the dirty dishes into the outdoor dishwasher and unload the items into their drawers and cabinets after your meal.
Kitchen Islands
In your indoor kitchen, it’s likely your friends and family gather around the kitchen island. You can replicate this same atmosphere outdoors by including a kitchen island in your design plan. Including plenty of storage space for counter stools will add to the functionality.
Sufficient Storage
Adequate storage is critical to using your outdoor kitchen as functionally as possible. In addition, having the necessary accessories available outside, such as utensils, dishes, serving ware and cutting boards, will make cooking and hosting that much easier.
Outdoor Refrigerator
An outdoor refrigerator, or two, is necessary when you’re preparing food. Keeping it fully stocked with your go-to condiments will save you unnecessary trips inside and will keep your side dishes and drinks cold as you grill.
Outdoor Ice Machine
Every outdoor kitchen or bar should be equipped with an ice machine. You can say goodbye to the melted ice in the ice bucket when you have an ice machine that will instantly deliver fresh, freezing ice.
Pizza Oven
Elevate your pizza parties by grilling your own pies in the backyard. Whether you’re serving breakfast pizzas, a leisurely lunch or an impromptu Friday night gathering, a freshly grilled pizza will elevate your experience and beats carry out every time.
Fully equipping your outdoor kitchen with the tools you need to create a functional space focused on ease of use will make the overall experience that much better.
