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There is something magical about cooking and dining outdoors. Maybe it reminds you of grilling for the Fourth of July or cooking hot dogs and s’mores over the campfire. Or perhaps it’s just a break from the routine of cooking indoors.
Whatever the reason, many people enjoy cooking outdoors as often as they can. However, as great as they are, standard grills have some limitations when it comes to preparing full meals.
Designing and building a complete outdoor kitchen is the solution to those limitations. It will give you everything you need to prepare meals outdoors as often as you like. From various cooking options to refrigeration to prep area and storage, it’s all available outside now.
Elite Patio Direct, an online retailer of outdoor kitchen products and outdoor living products, has everything necessary for a fully functional outdoor kitchen. They understand the importance of having the right equipment and accessories in your outdoor kitchen, so cooking is a joy.
Why It’s Important to Have the Right Outdoor Kitchen Equipment
You have likely experienced a situation where you are cooking and realize you don’t have the tool or ingredient you need. Maybe you realized you were out of butter, or you remembered that you loaned that serving platter to your neighbor and hadn’t gotten it back yet.
It’s frustrating to not have what you need when you need it, and cooking outdoors often presents more of these situations if you have to constantly go back inside to your indoor kitchen to grab a utensil you need or prepare a dish that you can’t prepare in your outdoor setup.
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What are Popular Outdoor Kitchen Items?
There are several common options included in outdoor kitchens. However, remember that this is your kitchen, and you should design it to meet your needs, even if that means straying from what others feel is popular.
Grill
The grill is the center point of your outdoor kitchen. Whether you prefer gas, electric, charcoal, or a smoker, be careful to choose the right grill for your needs.
Make sure it has enough cooking area to handle your guests’ appetites and anything you may choose to serve. Whether you are making steaks for the extended family or cooking a beer can chicken, you won’t regret having a grill with enough space to handle the job.
Griddle
A flat-top griddle can expand the culinary possibilities of your outdoor kitchen. It allows you to cook items like pancakes, eggs, and bacon for breakfast as well as delicate items like fish, seafood, and even desserts. A griddle is a solution for almost anything you’d like to cook but would fall or flow through the grill.
Pizza Oven
Everyone loves a good pizza, and if you envision eating pizza around the fire while watching the sun go down with your family and friends, having a pizza oven in your outdoor kitchen may be just what you need.
Don’t limit yourself to just pizza either. You can use a pizza oven to cook many of the items you would cook in your indoor ovens, such as bread, roasted vegetables, baked potatoes, and more.
Fridge
A refrigerator is a necessity in any kitchen, and your outdoor kitchen is no different. Besides keeping cold drinks close at hand, you will need a place to keep any cold dishes, like salads or fruit, until it is time to eat.
Having a refrigerator in your outdoor kitchen means you don’t have to go back into the house to grab these items, ingredients, or condiments.
You likely don’t need a full-size fridge in your outdoor kitchen but choose a compact one that will meet your needs.
Sink
You may think having a sink in your outdoor kitchen is a bit extravagant. After all, it involves running water and drains pipes, whereas other components of your kitchen require less involved installation.
However, it is an item you should strongly consider. From prep work to clean-up, a sink makes every step more convenient. You will wish you had one the first time you drop your tongs on the ground while you are flipping steaks and have to go inside the house to clean them off.
Prep Area
Just like you have a countertop in your indoor kitchen, you need some space in your outdoor kitchen to do prep work. Whether it’s a surface to set a platter of steaks while they rest or space for a cutting board to chop vegetables, some amount of prep area is necessary for any kitchen.
Storage
Depending on your climate, you may not keep a lot of food in your outdoor kitchen but think about items like grilling utensils, serving platters, bottle openers and corkscrews, and any other items you use consistently while cooking and dining outdoors.
Having some drawers and storage cupboards in your outdoor kitchen can save you from running in and out of the house for every need.
Accessories
Don’t forget the various accessories needed for the elements of your kitchen. You will need a cover, cleaning brushes, and utensils for the grill. Ventilation is another aspect to consider, especially if your outdoor kitchen is somewhat enclosed. Don’t forget to include a convenient place to collect any trash and recyclables as well.
Create the Outdoor Kitchen of Your Dreams
Cooking and dining outdoors is an experience just about everyone enjoys, but your meal doesn’t have to be limited by a lack of equipment and accessories.
Gone are the days of being limited to hot dogs on sticks or burgers on the grill and preparing everything else indoors. Now, you can have everything you need just as conveniently as you do in your indoor kitchen.
Don’t be afraid to dream big when planning your outdoor kitchen. Think of every amenity you would like to have to prepare your favorite meals. Very little is out of reach these days when it comes to kitchens, even outdoor ones. If you can dream it, you can most likely find it.
