How to plan an outdoor kitchen
Location, material, connections & more - planning an outdoor kitchen
Is there a more beautiful place to cook than under the open sky? Whether you're grilling steaks, chopping vegetables or chilling the drinks, an outdoor kitchen allows you to move your backyard festivities completely out into the fresh air. First, however, you need to purchase a suitable garden kitchen. When planning, many questions arise: Where do I put the outdoor kitchen? Which modules do I need? What else do I have to pay attention to? We give you tips on planning an outdoor kitchen - from the location to the material to the equipment.
The first question in planning an outdoor kitchen: Which location is suitable?
In theory, you can place an outdoor kitchen anywhere on your property. However, here you should take into account some considerations. A freestanding garden kitchen in the middle of the garden has its appeal, however, many amateur chefs prefer to position it on the patio for several reasons. This gives you and the utilities short distances. In addition, the outdoor kitchen is protected from wind and weather by the building. Even better, of course, is a covered terrace - so no rainstorm or gust of wind will spoil your cooking experience. However, you should not only consider rain and wind when planning your outdoor kitchen, but also the sun. Would you rather enjoy the midday or evening sun? With an outdoor kitchen with wheels, you don't have to ask yourself these questions. Because it can be easily moved from one corner to another.
Planning equipment, appliances & materials for an outdoor kitchen
You have already found your ideal location - how much space does it offer you? It's best to measure it out first. Record the modules of the outdoor kitchen that are most important to you with their dimensions and now you know how much space you have left for additional modules. Whether gas, charcoal or electric grill: The heart of the outdoor kitchen is of course the grill. You can conveniently heat the right sauce for the grilled food or the soup as an appetizer in a side burner. You can store the raw ingredients and drinks in a refrigerator module, wash them in a sink and cut them on a cutting board. Then a gastronorm container serves for storage until meat, fish, vegetables and co. are finally prepared. In addition, shelves and storage space are indispensable. But what material are the modules of an outdoor kitchen made of? Most amateur chefs and restaurateurs opt for stainless steel, because it is not affected by weather conditions. The material is extremely resilient, durable, easy to clean and visually appealing.
Kitchen unit, kitchen island or U-shape? Planning the arrangement of the outdoor kitchen
After you have decided on the most important modules, they only need to be arranged. A straight kitchen unit directly against the wall of the house is particularly space-saving, while a kitchen island is so popular for a reason: here, the appliances are placed centrally and are thus accessible from every side. This shape of kitchen is especially suitable if you want to cook with the whole family. However, if you don't know where to put all the space, it's best to arrange your outdoor kitchen in a U-shape. This offers a lot of storage space and yet allows you to work efficiently thanks to short distances. The former is mainly dependent on the frequency of use of the outdoor kitchen. If it is used all year round and half the neighborhood is regularly invited for dinner, you will need more cabinets and countertops than if it is used seasonally. We show you different ways of arranging your garden kitchen from heibi-living in our lookbook.
Other points in the planning of an outdoor kitchen: connections, security, privacy & Co.
As already mentioned, you should also include the supply lines when planning the choice of location for your outdoor kitchen. After all, cooking turns out to be difficult without water, electricity and gas. Do you already have connections or can they be installed afterwards? Clarify the supply with a professional. While a water line can simply be replaced by connecting the garden hose, you will need a permit for a gas line, for example. Also find out about other city regulations and ensure safety yourself by not placing the outdoor kitchen near playing children, among other things.