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?

2

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.

3

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.

44

Learn More

See Outdoor Products

Find A Dealer

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.

5