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How to plan your outdoor kitchen space

Outdoor Kitchen

At Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, we more than understand how big of a project it can be planning your very own outdoor kitchen space. Although, we’re here to tell you how fun it actually is, and steps you can take to make this an easier process to get started. Having an outdoor kitchen takes your living space into a whole new direction as it is practically an extension of it. You want to ensure you’re planning for this extension to be full of shade, warmth, and shelter no matter what season you may be using it in. The first step is always getting a clear idea of how you’re going to use this space. Do you like to cook outside often, or plan to? Will you be having a lot of events in this space where you want to focus on entertaining as well? Try to write down some thoughts about what you expect this to be for you, and that will help you have a great outline on how you can get started.

The second step to consider is your surroundings. Now that you have some ideas for your outdoor kitchen; it’s also important advising to the space you have in order to get the most out of what you want to see. Not only do you want to get out your measuring tape to make sure it fits, but you also want the aesthetics to be fitting regarding your home’s exterior. Don’t worry, remember this is supposed to be fun! You’re going to be excited about choosing the colors, style, and textures that complement each other once you get going. Please also note, your surrounding landscape is also pretty important. For example, in a tropical location, you might want to consider materials that are bold and stand out to compliment the lush it will contrast. 

The next thing you would want to focus on is planning your layout. Just as you planned your living room for each family member to feel comfortable in no matter what occasion, you want to ensure you’re doing the same for your extension of it outdoors. This also makes it incredibly easier to know where and what to place once you get appliances for it. Something to keep in mind is your indoor living space utilizes the assistance of walls, windows, and doors whereas your outdoor space uses the space of its own. Please know to also plan accordingly to your hot and cold zones. You want to refrain putting your grill next to your refrigerator unit since your fridge is working pretty hard in the summer to keep things cold for you and your friends. This is just one of many thoughts to plan out so you can be prepared accordingly for your outdoor kitchens use. 

Another step to get very excited about is choosing your appliances. Here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, we have a vast selection of appliances to help get you started. You can check out our page to see what options are available to you. We want to ensure you get the best when it comes to your grills/smokers since the focal point is this in your outdoor kitchen space. Once you have your appliances selected, you want to start choosing your materials especially in preparation for heavy rain, extreme heat, high winds, and even the possibility of snowstorms. It’s important to keep durability in mind, and toughness for these weather changes. Stainless steel is a very popular choice as it compliments those scenarios, and it’s also to easy to clean while looking sleek.

Finally, all you have left is your lighting and style by adding any fixtures you want to consider for it. It’ll make your outdoor kitchen come to life, and set an ambiance for the party you’re now ready to plan. Here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, we want you to know we have your best interest in getting exactly what you planned and need for this new venture you’re about to take on. Please don’t hesitate to contact (239) 229-9033 to get started on this journey!

Home Ground Grilled Hamburger

Ingredients used:

  • 1.5 lb of Beef Chuck
  • Hamburger Buns
  • Sliced Cheese of your preference
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Toppings as prefferred: tomato, onion, dill pickles

Grinding the Beef

Prepare your meat grinders feed tube, grinding shaft, plate, die and meat screw by placing them into freezer. Prepare the cuts of beef chuck placing them onto a large plate on a single layer, place into freezer and freeze until firm but malleable. Place a large bowl into the freezer for 20 minutes, we will use it to grind the meat into. When grinding your meat work quickly and transition to a ¼ inch plate. If the meat or equipment gets too warm, return to the freezer for at least 10 minutes before finishing.

Getting our Patties ready for the Grill

Lets get your home-ground beef ready for the grill! Form the beef into 4 patties each around .5 inch wider than your burger buns. Press a finger into the center of the patty to prevent the patty from bulging on the grill.

Lets get Grillin!

Heat your gas grill to high or heat your coals until they are glowing bright orange. The last step of prepping our patties is brushing them with a bit of oil, dont soak them just a thin layer. Grill the burgers until they are nice and brown with a bit of char, flip the patties and do the same thing for another 4 minutes or until golden brown.

Plate and Serve,

I usually just prepare the meat and buns and let people build their hamburgers themselves. However, feel free to ask your guests for their preferences and serve them your delicious home ground grilled hamburgers!

Tri-trip Wrapped Scallops

Ingredients

  • 12 large scallops (I used previously frozen scallops from Sams Club)
  • 1-1/2 SYD Chicken Rub
  • ¼ cup your fav barbecue sauce
  • 2 tablespoon lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon melted butter
  • 12 slices of cooked beef to wrap the scallops
  • Toothpicks 

Instructions

  1. Preheat your kettle grill with ½ chimney of hot coals.
  2. Dry your thawed scallops (if frozen) on a paper towel. If your scallop is wet, you will not get a nice char as water is the enemy of crust. Coat the dried off scallops with a thin coat of cooking oil and sprinkle with a little salt before grilling. And two-thirds of the way into grilling, sprinkle on a good amount of SYD chicken rub. This allows the rub to cook in a bit but without burning.
  3. Cook the scallops on very hot grill or a carbon steel pan on the grill. You can also do this on a saucepan on your kitchen stove.

4. Wrap your grilled scallops with cooked beef of your choice and fasten with toothpicks. I like brisket or tri tip best to go with my scallops. Sirloin, ribeye, or flank steak is also good.

5. Warm the barbecue sauce and butter in a small pot.

Remove from heat and add lemon juice to taste. Dab some of the lemony barbecue sauce on the scallops  

5 Tips for Designing an Elegant Outdoor Kitchen

An outdoor kitchen expands your living space and allows you to cook, eat and entertain without having to leave the house. Make time for backyard BBQ’s and grilling with a well designed outdoor kitchen you will be equipped to enjoy cooking outside beyond the summer months. Introducing traditional kitchen ideas to your outdoor setting is a great way to add versatility, value and outdoor fun to your home.

1 Start with the foundation

Defining the floor layout and flooring material of your outdoor kitchen is integral to building the foundation of your outdoor kitchen. Keep different weather climates in mind as well as the overall weight of the appliances you are installing. Flooring such as stone or marble will be slick and slippery when wet and may corrode or stain to oil or food spills. If your outdoor space is on a deck consider re-staining or painting it to match the new renovations and ensure that the deck is in top condition.

2 Pick the Perfect Location

Deciding where to place your outdoor kitchen depends on several factors. First, you will want to make sure that smoke from the grill doesn’t make its way back into the home. So keep the typical wind pattern of your yard in mind and orient the grill appropriately. Second, if you frequently entertain, and don’t want running a marathon serving from outside to inside, consider placing your grill and outdoor kitchen relatively near the entrance to the inside kitchen.

3 Outdoor Appliances will affect your kitchen size.

The first question a professional outdoor kitchen designer will ask is what size appliances will you need and how many. A homeowner may want to utilize several cooking and refrigeration appliances and may have specific entertaining needs in mind. Consider how all of these appliances will fit within the design plan, how much room to allow for each, and how they will work with each other. Leave enough space on either side of the grill to accommodate platters and tools, and don’t place appliances too close together.

4 Designate a Surface area for Storage

Just like your indoor kitchen, you will need places to put items on and plenty of storage. The difference is they must all be waterproof and durable to temperature changes. Countertops and cabinets are designed to provide space and keep away clutter. Just like your indoor kitchen, you will need places to put items on and plenty of storage. The difference is they must all be waterproof and durable to temperature changes. Countertops and cabinets are designed to provide space and keep away clutter.

5 Choose Appliances that will last

Many outdoor kitchens include a grill, a sink, and a compact refrigerator. Some kitchens even include specialty appliances like smokers and warming drawers. Purchase appliances that last through both rain and sun. Stainless steel or ceramic appliances work great for all weather conditions, are very durable, and require less maintenance.

Free Outdoor Kitchen Design Guide by Elegant Outdoor Kitchens

Giallo Ornamental & Golden White

The Process Of Building A Custom Outdoor Kitchen

We have compiled the perfect outdoor kitchen design guide that’s designed to give you an introduction to the process. The Elegant Outdoor Kitchens team has compiled a useful outdoor kitchen design guide that will help you understand what to expect from a custom outdoor kitchen build. You’ll learn about design configurations, materials, grills, components, and so much more. Download your design guide below.
Elegant Outdoor Kitchens – Starting Your Outdoor Kitchen Construction Project Guide.

Custom Outdoor Kitchen plans can be as simple or complex as you desire. The one physical factor that keeps many of us from designing the ultimate outdoor living area is space. Chances are that you have a limited amount space or physical area to work with. Unless your last name is Rockefeller, then you just got it like that. The other factor tends to be budget.

 
Materita in Pelican Preserve Outdoor Kitchen BBQ Island

Materita in Pelican Preserve Outdoor Kitchen BBQ Island

There are many practical design layouts that you can implement. Most of these layouts stem from a few basic design configurations. The base layout configurations consist of:

  • Straight or Linear
  • U-Shape
  • L-Shape
  • Split Level
  • ¾ Square

While this list is anything but extensive, almost every custom outdoor kitchen layout is based off one of these basic models. Depending on the area you have, we’re certain that you can convey to your EOK Designer which type of design configuration you want through the base styles mentioned.

The best part of designing an outdoor kitchen is the customization. BBQ Island designs are customized with everything from backsplashes, raised bar areas (split level), dining areas, even fire features built right into the counter-top. The list is quite endless when it comes to structural customization. This section of the brochure will prepare you to talk the talk with your designer.

 

Aesthetic Finish Materials

Close-Up of Special Order Counter-Top Granite with Striped Pattern

Close-Up of Special Order Counter-Top Granite with Striped Pattern

When working with Elegant Outdoor Kitchens, you’re able to choose the unique finishing materials for your brand-new custom outdoor kitchen. When it comes to your finishing material options, the material choices are quite extensive. It’s important to understand that inferior materials and craftsmanship will deteriorate quickly in an outdoor environment.

Countertops

During the layout and design phase you will have already decided on how much counter space you have to work with. Countertops are important, as you will need them to prepare food, serve food, and ultimately use as a space to set stuff down. The material you choose for your countertop is an important one. You should consider that it will be exposed to outdoor elements, it can’t stain or chip easily, and it should match your siding. Luckily there are many options when it comes to countertops. The best choices are going to be materials like natural stone, concrete, or an outdoor tile. It’s best to speak with an Elegant Outdoor Kitchens representative before purchasing any materials for your countertop.

 

Facing Finish

The siding finish is what you and your guests will immediately notice about your outdoor kitchen. That’s why this finish should be considered carefully. It’s always a good idea to choose a finish that matches your overall outdoor environment and your countertops. Stone veneer, also known as stacked stone is an upscale and popular outdoor kitchen finish. When choosing a veneer, you must consider your climate and the weather it will be exposed to. What you will have to choose from will depend on your environment. Speak with your Elegant Outdoor Kitchens representative about the material options that are available and suitable for your climate. They’ll be happy to showcase some of the beautiful materials you can use for your outdoor kitchen.

 

Built-In Grills & Accessories

The best part of designing your outdoor kitchen is choosing from the amazing cooking & grilling components that are available today. The choices are vast and it helps to have an experienced outdoor kitchen consultant to help you realize your outdoor cooking needs. You must consider many factors when choosing your grill, stainless steel accessories, and secondary cooking components. Things to keep in mind are your budget and the space you have in your outdoor kitchen design.

 

The Built-In Grill

Blaze 40 Inch 5-Burner Gas Grill With Rear Burner - Open Grill Head

Blaze 40 Inch 5-Burner Gas Grill With Rear Burner – Open Grill Head

Let’s face it, an outdoor kitchen isn’t a kitchen without a professional grill. This will be your go-to cooking component for your outdoor living area. It’s important to make sure you choose a grill that’s durable, high performance, and will withstand the test of time. The last thing you want to do is build an outdoor kitchen with cut-out dimensions for a grill that will only last two years. What If the manufacturer goes out of business? Our recommendation is that you buy a professional style grill that will last you between ten to fifteen years. Plus, the performance you’ll get from a professional grill is unmatched when compared to some of the lower end manufacturers you find at places like Home Depot.

Outdoor Kitchen Accessories

From Pizza Ovens to Access Doors, Drawers, and more. Your outdoor kitchen can be outfitted with even more custom cooking components than your interior kitchen. There are very few limits to cooking outdoors. Speak with one of our Elegant Outdoor Kitchens designers to choose your custom accessories and additional cooking components.

Designing and outdoor kitchen for your home is an exciting time. It’s important that you choose a company that will work closely with you to plan, design, and manufacture the outdoor kitchen that you’ve always wanted. Here at Elegant Outdoor Kitchens we pride ourselves on communication and customer service & support. Building your perfect outdoor kitchen means that we must first understand what you want in an outdoor living area. We hope that our outdoor kitchen design guide helps. Give us a call or send us an inquiry through the form we’ve included below. We’re here to help you with all your custom outdoor kitchen needs. So, let’s get building!

Call Elegant Outdoor Kitchens at (239) 229-9033 to schedule YOUR outdoor kitchen consultation!