Designing and Building Outdoor Kitchens
By KC Kudra | August 9, 2008
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An outdoor kitchen is a great addition to any home. You will not be stuck in the kitchen missing all the fun outside. Instead, you can cook tasty meals over the grill while enjoying the company of your family and friends.
Almost $150 billion was spent in the United States in 2005 and $50 billion of this was spent on outdoor living areas. No wonder outdoor kitchens are such a hot trend. Outdoor kitchens cost upwards of a couple of thousand dollars but you can consider them as investments. Here are a few tips on outdoor kitchen design and outdoor kitchen plans.
Which Outdoor Kitchen Design to Choose
There are three basic outdoor kitchen designs, which are a L-shaped island, a basic island, and a U-shaped center. A L-shaped island has space for both cooking and preparation. A basic island features a sink, a grill, and a space for preparation. Basic islands tend to be small so if you are going to be cooking for more than a couple of people, you might want to consider another type. A U-shaped center has a grill in the middle and spaces on either side for preparation and serving. This is a handy design if you want to be able to serve food straight from the grill without leaving it.
Which Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets are Recommended?
Outdoor kitchens are exposed to water, sunlight, and extreme temperatures, so durable cabinet and worktop materials are best. Brick, marble, and granite are good materials to choose. Wood is highly flammable and rots easily, especially the untreated variety. Outdoor kitchens are meant to last for years so it is a good idea to invest in the best quality kitchen design you can afford.
Which Outdoor Kitchen Appliances Will You Need?
The grill will be the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen and you can choose from a charcoal grill or gas grill. Charcoal grills give a delicious smoky flavor to your food but gas grills offer a better temperature control. If your grill will be exposed to the elements, you will need a waterproof cover for it.
A kitchen island is another necessary feature in your outdoor kitchen plans. You can design your own or buy an island in one piece. Good materials to use in your outdoor kitchen design include stainless steel, stucco, and stone. An outdoor sink is useful and can draw from the house’s water supply or a portable water hose. You might want to add an outdoor refrigerator to your list of outdoor kitchen appliances although an outdoor refrigerator will have a maximum life span of five years because of the fluctuating temperatures it is exposed to quite often.
Building Your Own Outdoor Kitchen
When building outdoor kitchens, it is important to take your time and plan exactly what you want the finished outdoor kitchen to look like. What kind of cookery will you do? How often will you cook there? How much can you spend? How many people will you feed at once? Do you want your outdoor kitchen stationary or movable? These are some of the important questions to ask yourself before designing your outdoor kitchen plans or thinking about outdoor kitchen appliances.
When you have decided on your outdoor kitchen design, you can build it yourself or hire a contractor to help. Your outdoor kitchen should be far enough away from guests so that smoke does not blow in their faces. It should also be near the house so you can carry food in and out. The grill should be thirty-six inches high for your comfort. Remember also not to use flammable materials in your outdoor kitchen plans.
When you are ready to start building, enjoy the process. It is great fun watching outdoor kitchens take shape and even more fun grilling fantastic meals outdoors for your friends and family!
Topics: Nutrition |
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