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One of today's hottest kitchen trends is the outdoor kitchen. People are spending more of their time out of doors with their families and entertaining their friends, so they need a space where they can all get together. The outdoor kitchen makes it easier when preparing and serving food, because everything that's needed for the meal is on hand, which saves trips back into the house. Plus, an outdoor kitchen allows the cook more time with the guests because the meal is prepared right there, among them. An outdoor kitchen need not be only for the rich and famous. Even if you have a small space, you can create a kitchen that functions perfectly for you. Start by figuring out what your needs are. How frequently do you barbeque? How often do you entertain, and how many people generally show up? The answers to these questions will help you to decide what components of an outdoor kitchen will work best for you. When you are planning your workspace, make sure it is adjacent to the grill and burners for optimal workflow. Also, make sure the counter surface you have can be sanitized. Heavy-duty commercial grade stainless steel countertops are resistant to rust and can be cleaned properly. If putting in a counter is too-cost-prohibitive for you, consider a kitchen cart or island. Most of the kitchen carts suitable for the outdoors are made of rust-resistant, food-service grade stainless steel. They can be used for storage or food prep or both. An outdoor ceiling fan provides a much needed breeze on a hot summer day as well as direct light for your workspace area. Will you need a sink in your outdoor kitchen? There are a variety of prep sinks that can drop into a counter and hook up to your house's water supply or be fed with the hose. Stainless steel sinks are ideal for the outdoor kitchen because they won't rust or corrode. If you are going to be doing a lot of cooking, a professional-style range hood will remove heat and smoke from the immediate area where you are cooking and entertaining. The range hood you use should be 1200 CFM (cubic feet per minute) or higher in order to support the BTUs (British thermal unit) of the grill. You can choose between a ceiling or wall mount, depending on the configuration of your outdoor kitchen. Grills come in all shapes and sizes. There are large, elaborate grills with warming drawers and side warmers, as well as small, simple grills and everything in between. Should I buy a charcoal or gas grill, you ask? A charcoal grill burns hotter than a gas grill and can be lit with an electric starter, but charcoal needs to be replaced frequently, and the flame needs to be tended. They provide more flavor than a gas grill, and are the better choice if you like a smoked or hardwood taste. A gas grill is the most convenient, needing only a turn of the valve to ignite. An alternative to the conventional grill is the flameless grill found on the Cook-N-Dine stainless steel table. This table works with electricity and cooks your food right there at the table. The cooking center sinks down, forming a shallow pit while the food is being cooked. When the table is off, the surface reverts to its original flat shape. If you think you will be using your outdoor kitchen during the winter months, a patio heater will keep you and your guests warm while you cook. Choose a standard floor model or a table top patio heater, depending on the area you want to cover. Both sizes are fueled with propane or natural gas. An outdoor fire place or chimenea creates a warm circle when you are entertaining guests on a chilly night.
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