Turning Ideas into Reality: Outdoor Kitchen Considerations
They say that anything you can do in your indoor kitchen, can also be done in an outdoor one…and it might even taste better. And we Aussies have the privilege of great weather almost all year round, which some may even define as an obligation to create an outdoor kitchen since we can truly make the most of it. However, before getting to that point, one must consider a few vital factors.
First things first, you need to determine whether you’ll be building an entirely self-sufficient outdoor kitchen or not. If it’s going to be self-sufficient, you won’t need to restrict yourself location-wise as much. If, however, the latter is your case, you need to locate it as close to your indoor kitchen as possible. This is for the purpose of you being able to quickly run to the sink or fridge for whatever reason.
Once you are done with that dilemma, consider picking a spot where you will be able to have enough privacy and one that doesn’t pose a fire risk to your house. The direction of the prevailing winds, the way the sun will hit the spot at different times of the day, overhead power-lines and trees are all important things to carefully factor in. You also need to think about the level of stability the soil of the chosen spot offers and whether you will have to level it.
Materials and equipment-wise, it is advisable to make choices designed to withstand the challenges outdoor cooking poses. The ease with which you will be able to clean your kitchen is going to influence how much you will be able to enjoy your investment. These facts go hand in hand with the thought of high-quality stainless steel – a material that provides a sanitary surface that’s corrosion-resistant and easy to clean. The counters and your patio should also be made of materials that are highly resistant to grease stains and able to withstand high temperatures. This is why you ought to avoid highly porous materials such as limestone. Granite is the best choice regarding counter-tops whereas for the floors, both sealed pavers or concrete could work.
The high-quality material aspect and impatient homeowners brings me to my next point – the type of barbeque. Let’s admit it, most of us are impatient chefs who want to quickly fire up the grill and cook a meal without the need to worry about the preparation and cleanup of charcoal. That and the fact that you can still get a hint of smoke flavour, comparable to a genuine charcoal grill or smoker is why built in bbq that runs on gas is the most popular type.
In order to be able to make the most of your investment, make sure you look for a built in bbq that features LED control knobs, electronic ignition for simple lighting, stainless steel flame tamers for even heat distribution and ceramic rear burner for healthy rotisserie cooking.
Finally, don’t forget to provide adequate task lighting and ambient lighting so that you can also enjoy nighttime cooking and entertaining.
