As summer sizzles closer, daydreams of outdoor entertaining and the smell of grilled foods start to waft through many homeowners’ minds. The cold grip of winter begins to loosen and everyone spends more time outdoors. While a gas or charcoal grill can be great for anyone’s outdoor cooking needs, sometimes the lack of space or bringing food in and out of the kitchen can be a hassle. So the question is…why not bring the kitchen to you instead?
Fortunately, people have been cooking outdoors for centuries—whether it’s over a camp fire, a grill, or in an oven, the timeless tradition of outdoor cooking doesn’t seem to be going anywhere anytime soon. That’s why we’re beginning a new post series that will walk you through every step and detail of planning for your outdoor kitchen. From placement to design, make sure you stop back to our blog frequently in the coming months to check for the next blog installment in this series.
Common Questions About Outdoor Kitchens
At LanChester Grill & Hearth, we’re here to guide you every step of the way when it comes to your custom-built outdoor kitchen. Our experts will design you an outdoor space that is dedicated to all of your needs while still staying within your budget. For as long as we have served the Lancaster County area, we know what common questions may arise and we’re here to answer them.
Do outdoor kitchens need to be covered?
Just like any other structure, we highly recommend providing your outdoor cooking space some protection from the elements. Depending on the complexity of your kitchen and its appliances, it will need protection from rain and wind. Adding a pergola or a simple roof with ventilation for smoke will not only help protect your cooking space, but also provide you and your guests with some comfortable shade on those hot summer days.
How much does it cost to build an outdoor kitchen?
Costs on outdoor kitchens are always going to vary—between the size, needs, materials, and more, there’s never a simple answer to this question. While it may seem daunting at first, putting money towards an outdoor kitchen will be a great investment for your home, family, and future. And most importantly, LanChester Grill & Hearth will always work with you to stay within your budget and try to give you everything you need.
How big should an outdoor kitchen be?
To answer this question, you should first be asking yourself, “What purpose(s) do I want my outdoor kitchen to achieve?” Will you be using it for an outdoor cooking space, a dining area, entertaining, extra living space, or maybe a place to do some messier projects? Depending on its purpose, your outdoor kitchen can be as small or large as you want to make it. At LanChester, we’ll help you design and optimize your space to fit any needs.
What You’ll Learn from This Series
Over the next several months, we’ll be adding to our library of blog posts meant to help you design your dream outdoor kitchen. From common questions to picking out appliances, make sure to check back regularly for more helpful information.
Chapter 1 – Your Outdoor Cooking Station: Determining the Place and Purpose
For some, an outdoor kitchen is going to be a place to eat dinner and entertain, while others may have more gadgets and cooking appliances outside than they do inside. There are unlimited ways to design your outdoor cooking space and figuring out where to place everything can be daunting. We’ll go over various placements and how figuring out the purpose of everything can make a huge difference in designing.
Chapter 2 – Outdoor Kitchen Plans: Figuring Out Your Zones
Creating a natural flow in a kitchen can be difficult. By designing your outdoor kitchen into “zones,” you’ll more easily be able to figure out where appliances should go. Organizing your cooking space by plating, serving, entertaining, cooking, and prep will help with the natural flow and make your outdoor kitchen plans come to life.
Chapter 3 – Selecting Your Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
At LanChester Grill & Hearth, we are serious about outdoor living and will help you every step of the way in choosing your appliances. If your outdoor kitchen needs a dining area, charcoal grill, outdoor refrigeration, and a fire pizza oven…that’s okay! We’ll guide you through every step of the decision process to figure out what’s best for your space.
Chapter 4 – Preparing Your Outdoor Kitchen Landing Areas & Storage
As you design your outdoor space, it’s important to keep your cooking landing areas and storage space in mind. Outdoor kitchen cabinets are just as important as the indoor ones for all of your outdoor supplies. It’s also important to make sure you don’t run out of counter space, so this chapter will walk through the optimal measurements to keep in mind.
Chapter 5 – Outdoor Kitchen Ideas to Get You Started
Sometimes the best way to get your planning started is to look at other outdoor kitchens for inspiration. Looking at various designs, finishes, and appliances will help you solidify exactly what you want in your design. We’ll go over a few different ideas to get you started down the right path.
Ready to start your outdoor kitchen?
Get in touch with the professionals at LanChester Grill & Hearth today and learn why our team is so special. We do the job right and will work with you every step of the way to help you build the outdoor kitchen that you have always dreamed about.