Your outdoor kitchen can be rustic or quite fancy. When you first start the process of laying out your dry kitchen, consider keeping everything mobile for a year so you can be sure of traffic patterns.

1. Grill

Your outdoor grill can be a starting point for your kitchen layout. If you cook on propane and have a portable tank, you may want to set your grill spot near a place where you can put in a bigger tank in the future.

2. Griddle

An outdoor griddle can also be of great benefit if you love to cook outdoors. If you have the counter space, use your electric griddle outside. You can also invest in a propane grill that features a slab griddle for easy outdoor food prep.

3. Countertop

Outdoor kitchen countertops need to be pretty durable. A concrete countertop with an epoxy seal may be ideal once you’re ready to make the structure permanent. Just like your indoor kitchen countertops, you’ll need to keep cleaning products available to disinfect after meat prep and generally clean up the space.

4. Tool Storage

Your outdoor kitchen tool storage needs to protect your grilling tools. If you store serving or eating dishes outside, you’ll need a space to keep them out of the weather and away from pests. Heavy duty plastic tubs that can be closed up tight may be the simplest option. If you live with snow and ice for part of the year, rust can be an issue. Those who live in the desert may want to break down their outdoor kitchen tools and dishes once a year to check for spiders, scorpions, and dust.

5. Food Storage

A small refrigerator can be of great benefit; a wine refrigerator can easily turn your outdoor kitchen into an outdoor lounge where grown-ups can linger. Take care to check ventilation when building the surround for your outdoor refrigerator. Dust, moisture, and extreme heat can all damage your outdoor refrigerator over time.

While you’re proofing the layout of your outdoor kitchen, you might want to invest in a 12-volt refrigerator. These units are lightweight, easy to load, and can run off a household plug. You can also use these to transport prepped foods, such as marinating meats or veggie kabobs.

6. Water Source

If an outdoor kitchen is part of your landscaping plan, talk with your landscaper about running a copper (or potable water) line to your outdoor kitchen area. Those who live in extreme cold may need to put in extra insulation for this line, but having drinkable water piped directly to your kitchen is more than convenient.

7. Sink

A sink for basic clean-up needs potable water. With a potable water line in place, you can strive to use biodegradable soaps and simply toss greywater until your outdoor kitchen is permanent.

8. Drain

Eventually, you’ll want an effective drain for your outdoor kitchen. Again, consider extreme temps. A p-trap may be easy to maintain in the desert as long as you keep the sink plugged, but extreme cold may rupture those pipes.

Keep the inside of your home cool and comfortable. Enjoy time with friends and family on your patio! Take the time to note who travels through the outdoor kitchen and when; if children run through the space on their way to the pool, you may need to add a gate or other barrier to your kitchen when in use.

Published by: Annie P.