five needs to consider when planning your outdoor...
TRANSCRIPT
Five Needs to Consider When Planning Your
OUTDOOR KITCHENU-Line Design Series
An outdoor kitchen may sound like
a lot of work, and while it sounds
an unrealistic goal, a gorgeous new
space to prepare food & drinks
outdoors for friends and family is
very much within reach.
Whether you have a beautiful yard
that you primarily see through your
kitchen window, enjoy dining
alfresco with family and friends, or
are a passionate griller who cooks in
the rain - picture yourself enjoying
the breeze out in the sun or under
the stars as you whip up a delicious
four-star dish in your own fully
functional outdoor kitchen. As
you cook, your guests are enjoying
appetizers, beverages, and
conversation, and you’re right
there taking part. No more running
into the house to prep food; you
have everything at your fingertips
to make a delicious meal.
The first step to achieving a
backyard or patio oasis is to think
about what you want to do in the
space you have. Are hosting large
parties your specialty or do you
prefer more intimate gatherings?
Why not a little of both? Once size is
established, the details will be easier
to choose. That’s where furnishings,
décor, grills, lighting, entertainment
systems, and appliances come in.
With so many options - the starry
sky’s the limit!
While all the details and effort
involved in creating an outdoor
kitchen can be as overwhelming
as building a kitchen inside your
home – with the added concerns
of inclement weather; lighting
challenges; and outdoor pests –
the finished product is worth the
time and money spent. To make
Dreaming of the Perfect Outdoor Entertaining Space?
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the process toward achieving your
goals as smooth as possible,
consider the following needs:
1. Storage Requirements Think efficient, organized, and
compact. Equipping an outdoor
kitchen isn’t much different from
equipping the kitchen in your home,
but your outdoor kitchen is likely to
be on a much smaller scale. You’ll
want everything within reach and
handy. Your cookware, utensils, and
gadgets should be close by when
you’re working at the grill.
Consider temperature controlled
refrigeration for perishable foods,
as well as air-tight storage for
condiments and dry goods. You
may even want the storage
containers to be portable.
Here are a few more details about
storage in an outdoor kitchen:
• Grilling requires unique utensils,
accessories, and serving items
that you’ll want to protect from
moisture, dirt, and the elements.
Ensure that you’re providing
adequate, conveniently situated
dry storage for your long-handled
spatulas, cookware, serving
platters and bowls, grill brushes,
and cleaning supplies.
• Temperature control is
paramount when storing and
cooking food in an outdoor
kitchen. Ensure that you’re using
the appropriate cold storage
equipment for meat, poultry,
fish, fruits and vegetables, and
chilled beverages. Dedicated
undercounter refrigerators and
freezers provide maximum
flexibility and allow you to store
items at the optimal temperature,
even in an outdoor environment.
• Love to throw a big, splashy party
every once in a while? That takes
a lot of extra food, paper goods,
utensils, dishes, drinkware, bar
supplies, and so on. Temporary
storage is key. Rolling carts can
provide you with the backup you
need when you need it.
2. Ample Food Preparation SpaceNext, ensure that you’ll have
adequate counterspace in your
outdoor kitchen. Work toward
adding at least 3 feet by 24 inches
of counterspace for each cooking
surface. It’s also vital that you
select a weatherproof, easy
clean, heat-resistant material
for your countertop.
Outdoor refrigerators and freezers
can be placed undercounter near
prep areas to ensure you have
the items you need where you
need them most.
3. Cooking ChoicesYour grill will be the heart of your
outdoor kitchen; research different
options to ensure that your selection
is the best fit for your needs.
It may be a cliché, but keep in mind
that bigger isn’t always better.
There’s no need to invest in a grill
with surface area or fancy features
that you won’t take advantage of.
Also, size isn’t an indication of
quality in relation to stability,
safety, or wear under specific
weather conditions.
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Choosing charcoal or gas is really
a matter of personal preference.
Charcoal imparts a unique flavor
that many refuse to give up. On
the other hand, the convenience of
a permanent natural gas hook-up
is hard to resist. It’s entirely up to
you, but once you’ve decided, it’s
important to have adequate grates,
power, and accessories for the type
of cooking you plan to do.
Placement is also an important
consideration for any additional
cooking appliances. Situate your
side burner near the grill, allowing
for a little space in between. For the
health and safety of your family and
guests, eliminate smoke and fumes
in your gathering space by placing
any smokers, fire pits, and
wood-fired ovens at a distance
from the main kitchen area.
4. Dining PreferencesWhen setting up your outdoor
dining area, your first consideration
should be allowing for adequate
dining space for your guests. Be
sure to plan a space that ensures
you’ll have enough room for a
dining set, extra seating, and
other furnishings. Also, keep in
mind that your guests will need
room to move around and mingle.
When planning your space, include
direct, well-lit, and easy-to-navigate
walkways between the table, buffet,
counter, and house that are at least
three feet in width to avoid collisions
and bottlenecks. Always keep your
guests’ comfort in mind as you plan.
5. Easy CleanupA well-appointed food prep area
features easy access to hot water
and a standard-sized sink for quick
and efficient cleanup. Consider
linking your outdoor kitchen to your
home’s drainage system, in case
greasy substances end up down
the drain.
Even if you decide against installing
these features, covered, animal and
weatherproof trash cans and recycle
bins go a long way toward ensuring
cleanup is a breeze.
With these points in mind, you’ll be
well on your way to achieving your
dream of creating an exceptional
outdoor dining experience for
yourself and your loved ones.
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About U-LineU-Line is an award-winning market
leader in modular refrigeration,
offering premium built-in
undercounter ice making,
refrigeration, and wine preservation
products. Please visit the U-Line
website to learn more about
modular refrigeration.
About U-Line’s Outdoor Collection Today’s entertaining environments
extend far beyond the boundaries
of the traditional home. For over
50 years, our products have been
used in outdoor applications and
continue to be amongst our most
popular models. Our outdoor models
are fully wrapped in stainless steel
to protect from harsh outdoor
elements. These durable outdoor
products are deemed suitable for
outdoor use by UL (Underwriters
Laboratories). The Outdoor
Collection includes – Ice Machines,
Refrigerators, Drawer Models,
Convertible Freezers, and
Keg Refrigerators.
See our full line of Outdoor products
at u-line.com.
You can also find a U-Line dealer
near you by visiting our
online store locator.
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