As more and more people learn about the joys of outdoor cooking, it becomes more popular than ever. Of course, there are several compelling reasons why cooking outdoors is a fun family activity. Cooking and dining in your backyard oasis is one of the main reasons people enjoy spending time outside. Now, you probably already have a store-bought grill and a table and a few chairs, but this hardly counts as an outdoor kitchen. If you are going to do something, you may as well do it the right way. A proper outdoor kitchen is more complete with counter space, appliances, and a proper dining area. And to achieve this goal, all you have to do is call your local creative landscaping contractor.
What is an Outdoor Kitchen?
In a nutshell, an outdoor kitchen is a place outside of your home where you can prep, cook, and clean up after eating. The ideal outdoor kitchen will have a heating element like an oven or grill, counter space to do prep work, and a sink for cleaning purposes. Your outdoor kitchen can be as simple as a built-in grill and a surface to work on, or it can be far more extravagant and include several heating elements, sinks, and cabinets. What your outdoor kitchen consists of depends on how much you enjoy cooking and dining outdoors.
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Outdoor Kitchen Must-Haves
If you desire an outdoor kitchen but are at a loss as far as what you need, here are a few must-haves for the master chef who needs all of the works to perform in their outdoor kitchen.
Heating Elements– While you might do just fine with a built-in grill, there are plenty of other heating options for your outdoor kitchen. Pizza ovens provide another heating option and can be used for numerous dishes other than just pizza. Don’t limit yourself to just a grill for cooking purposes; add a smoker for a bit of cooking variety.
Cabinets– Cabinets provide a great way to store items like plates, glasses, seasonings, and everything else you need for your cooking adventures. Outdoor cabinets allow you to prep and cook your meals without having to spend half the time running inside for the items you need. Also, consider a pull-out trash cabinet to keep your kitchen clean.
Sinks– A sink in your outdoor kitchen serves several purposes. Obviously, you can use it to wash your hands, but you can also use it to wash off produce and wash dishes. A sink is also great to have when it comes to keeping your kitchen clean.
Ice Maker– An ice maker will ensure that everybody enjoys a cold beverage without having to lug ice from inside the house.
Refrigerator– Again, you save a lot of time and energy with an outdoor refrigerator because you don’t have to keep running inside for items.
Seating– While a picnic table or a deck set is nice, having an established dining area that circles a fire pit is really lovely and will be enjoyed by family and guests.
Pergola– A pergola will offer you and your guests some much-needed shape on hot days. It will also help keep your outdoor kitchen a little more private while protecting you from the elements.
Counters– This is an essential element of an outdoor kitchen as it provides a place for food prep and a place where you can spread out the food for self-serving convenience.
This and That– Other neat kitchen additions include a wine cooler, kegerator, griddle, side burners, and glassware storage. If you are going to do this, you might as well do it right.
The Benefits of an Outdoor Kitchen
It should be of little surprise that installing an outdoor kitchen will increase the value of your home. What might come as a surprise is that according to Zillow, homes with outdoor kitchens sell for as much as 25 percent more than expected. Other sources, including CNN Money and Remodeling Magazine, found that outdoor kitchens will return 100 to 200 percent of the cost, which is quite a good return on your investment.
Whether you are a baby boomer or millennial, all age groups love spending time outdoors. This means that when you entertain across generations, all of your guests will enjoy your outdoor kitchen. If you love to entertain, then an outdoor kitchen is a must.
Have you ever cooked dinner in your kitchen in the summer and wondered why the air conditioning wouldn’t turn off? A hot kitchen night after night will undoubtedly take a toll on your cooling bills. Save cooling costs by cooking outside and keep your kitchen cool and comfortable in the summer. Also, instead of going out to eat when expecting guests, just fire up your outdoor grill and have a cookout to save money. We all know how expensive it is to go out to eat.
Fish dishes are a popular choice for people who enjoy a healthy diet, but that fish smell lingers in the air long after it is cooked and consumed, sometimes for a day or two. You will avoid a smelly kitchen and house when you cook your fish dishes outdoors.
They say that the kitchen is the heart of the home, as it is the place where everyone gathers. And while it is nice that your guests congregate in the kitchen to chat and watch you create your magic dishes, there is hardly enough room to move around. But when you cook in your kitchen that happens to be outdoors, there is more than enough space for guests to roam.
While you will have to spend some time cleaning up after you have prepared and enjoyed an outdoor meal, it is still easier than cleaning the kitchen inside your home. In fact, cleaning the concrete floor of your outdoor kitchen consists of spraying it down with the hose.
Are You Ready for an Outdoor Kitchen?
Once you have your outdoor kitchen installed, you will wonder how you ever lived without one. The first step to enjoying an outdoor kitchen is calling your landscaping service and having a discussion about all of the details. These types of outdoor spaces are becoming increasingly popular, and we have plenty of ideas that will help. So contact us today; it’s the first step towards a backyard that will become an oasis.