Bring The Indoors Out

Cooking on the grill is a great way to entertain company or just feed the family without heating up the kitchen. But scurrying back and forth from the kitchen to the patio can get old. Make grilling easier and more pleasant by putting together an outdoor kitchen. Even the simplest of setups can make outdoor cooking more efficient, and the fanciest ones mean you won’t have to go back inside until it’s bedtime.

In the beginning, there was charcoal, and it was good. But as gas grills gained popularity, convenience and flexibility became key points in outdoor grilling. Today’s most advanced grills have side burners, storage space, and work areas built right in. It’s only a short leap from there to bringing the entire kitchen outdoors.

DESIGNING THE KITCHEN
The kitchen can be as simple or as elaborate as you want (and can afford). Start with the centerpiece of it all – the grill.
If you want an outdoor kitchen that can be rearranged, moved around, and taken with you to a future home, choose a grill with wheels. These are most common and come in a wide variety of sizes, features, and prices.

If you plan to make the kitchen a permanent part of your patio or deck, select a built-in grill that will drop into a space on a cabinet with countertops or another base unit that is built on site. The base unit can also provide storage and work space, just like your indoor kitchen cabinets. If there is a chance that you might move to a different house, think carefully about spending money on features you cannot take with you.

After you have chosen a grill, think about the other basic components of your kitchen.

Grill accessories include a griddle, baskets for grilling fish and vegetables, different levels of cooking space for varying heat requirements, a reliable meat thermometer, and tongs that will not pierce the meat when you turn it over.

Side burners are included with most better grills sold today. Your work space should be adjacent to the grill and burners. (Make sure you can sanitize it for food preparation.)

Lighting comes in all varieties. Direct light is best for the work area, and clip-on lights are available that shine directly onto the grill so you can check the progress of the meat. Softer light sets a nicer mood for the eating area, and candles are almost always appropriate for an evening meal. And patio heaters are a must if you plan to use the space during the chilly months.

After you have the basics, add some (or all) of the extras.
• An exhaust hood to keep smoke out of the eyes of diners.
• Electrical outlets for using small appliances, stereos, and more. (Outdoor outlets should be of the GFCI type. Make sure your electrical wiring meets local code.) 
• A refrigerator for keeping food cold until it is time to cook (and for keeping those beverages nice and cool!).
• A sink, either fed with a hose or connected to your house’s water supply. (Unless you plan on washing dishes outside, you only need a cold water supply.)
• Warming drawers so nothing arrives at the table cold.
• An ice machine so no one has to drag around a heavy cooler.
• Wine storage so you won’t have to go back inside, unless you forget the corkscrew.
• A wood-burning oven for roasting meats and vegetables, and for making authentic pizzas.

USING SPACE WISELY
As with an indoor kitchen, proper design of the space will make cooking more comfortable and convenient. You do not have to adopt the traditional “work triangle” design, but think carefully about the way you and your guests use the outdoor space. Be sure to consider the location of other outdoor features, such as pools, playgrounds, gardens, and trees.

There should be plenty of space for people to watch as you cook, and there should be room for foot traffic to flow around the food preparation area. Leave an area for people to sit and socialize without being involved with the cooking, and make sure children won’t be playing near the grill.

Having or enhancing an outdoor kitchen will help make your summer evenings with family and friends that much more enjoyable!

This “How-To” is provided as a service from Lowe’s, the Original Home Improvement Warehouse. The information is intended to simplify jobs around the house. Lowe’s assumes no liability for omissions, errors, or the outcome of any project. The reader must always exercise reasonable caution, follow current codes and regulations that may apply, and is urged to consult with a licensed professional if in doubt about any procedures. Reprinted with permission from Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse.

Visit Wake Forest’s Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse at 11800 Galaxy Dr.