Designing an outdoor kitchen is the rather complex sum of a variety of factors and components that combine to create an outdoor space that’s as functional as possible for your needs. Every situation is different: not only because of the type of home or available space, but above all because of the types of cooking appliances and tools you want to include within it.
Why would you want an outdoor kitchen?
In reality, there are no formal or functional requirements that determine whether or not to have an outdoor kitchen; it’s simply the dream of all culinary enthusiasts, who can fully express their culinary creativity by cooking with wood rather than gas.
Setting up an outdoor kitchen allows you to make the most of your garden space by creating well-defined areas with specific functions: kitchen, dining area, relaxation area, and green space.
Although the type of cooking and any tools included in an outdoor kitchen are crucial, it’s important to first distinguish and explore the most commonly used and popular outdoor kitchens today.
Type of outdoor kitchen
Outdoor kitchen solutions and compositions are numerous. Whether you’re looking for a budget-friendly outdoor kitchen or a high-design kitchen, they can be grouped into two broad categories: brick kitchens and steel kitchens.
The Brick Outdoor Kitchen
As we mentioned in a previous article, choosing a brick kitchen is a conscious and lasting decision, yet unique and customizable. This is because every single shelf, countertop, and compartment is designed specifically for the available space, tailored to the client’s needs. Unlike an indoor brick kitchen, an outdoor kitchen can be smaller and more affordable.
The first thing to do, if you don’t already have a paved area, is to create a concrete platform, of your preferred size, to support the kitchen structure.
The second step is to decide which elements and appliances to include. If you opt for a slim, economical kitchen, all you need is a stone or steel sink, space for a grill, and a few shelves. A built-in kitchen can accommodate not only a sink and grill, but also a wood-fired oven.
Steel for the Outdoor Kitchen
The second type of outdoor kitchen is the steel kitchen. Unlike the previous type, the steel kitchen doesn’t require a large outdoor space, as compact and basic solutions are available. We can distinguish between two types of steel kitchens: the monoblock kitchen and the modular kitchen.
The Outdoor Monoblock Kitchen
This solution is certainly simpler and more economical. It consists of a single block housing the sink, grill, and a small worktop. This type of kitchen is designed to be a mobile and compact cooking station, small enough to fit even on a terrace.
Modular Outdoor Kitchen
Modular and sectional steel kitchens offer a multi-accessory solution that includes not only basic kitchen components, but also barbecues, wood-fired ovens, and refrigerators. Stainless steel is preferred for this solution, as it is more resistant to water and weather. Furthermore, they are customizable not only in terms of the number of modules, but also in terms of size and risers. This results in a more elegant and modern aesthetic.
Having explored the topic of kitchen types and their modularity, it’s worth considering the essential elements of a modular outdoor kitchen and how to best organize the space.
Elements of the modular outdoor kitchen
The main advantage of a modular kitchen is the versatility it offers, compared to fixed kitchens.
As mentioned, you can start designing a modular kitchen starting with a few simple elements: a stove, sink, and countertop, to which other elements can be added in the future.
Before delving into cooking solutions and types, let’s focus on how to organize an outdoor kitchen.
Since each element is individual and functional in itself, the composition and arrangement of each function is balanced according to the available space. The only element that cannot be moved is the sink unit, as it will require connection to the home’s plumbing. Subsequently, all the elements can be placed side by side and swapped as desired. Multiple cooking elements, such as an oven and grill, can be installed, choosing between closed or open cabinets, the latter being preferred for greater practicality.
Cooking tools for the outdoor kitchen
The other major, essential component of any kitchen is cooking systems, which are defined by type of cooking and different fuels. Three main tools are used in outdoor kitchens: oven, grill, and barbecue.
The outdoor oven
This is the most common tool in outdoor cooking, especially wood-fired ovens, as it has no installation constraints, reduces smoke problems, and, often missing from indoor kitchens, is a worthy substitute for an electric oven.
The wood-fired oven is often considered the king of cooking, as the fire generated by wood reaches very high temperatures, imparting the aroma and flavor of wood to food.
Wood-fired ovens come in a variety of styles. The distinction is made not only by the type—traditional refractory or stainless steel—but also by the type of fuel used. For example, they can be wood-fired or gas-fired, or by the different cooking methods (static or wood-fired). Different types of ovens are also needed for the products they can be cooked in: there are those suitable for pizza, those suitable for leavened products, but also those suitable for meat and roasts.
The functionality of these ovens is that they can be integrated into kitchens thanks to their own structure on wheels, or they can even be placed on a built-in kitchen base. For further information and to learn more about the wood-fired oven best suited to your needs, we recommend consulting a website specializing in ovens.
The Grill for Outdoor Cooking
The grill is another classic element of an outdoor kitchen. It can be either fixed or portable. Compared to an oven, although it still uses wood, it is easier to use and requires less time.
The Barbecue for Outdoor Cooking
The last element in the cooking tool category is the barbecue. This tool is often purchased separately from the stove. In modular kitchens, it is also possible to have a built-in one. Its main feature is slow, long cooking, thanks in part to the lid that traps the heat and allows the embers to regenerate.
Tips for designing an outdoor kitchen
We’ve therefore understood that designing a garden kitchen also requires knowledge of different tools and involves different aspects and needs. Every context is different, and every solution chosen is tailor-made.
If we were to summarize the main tips for creating a comfortable, functional, and designer outdoor kitchen, four key points emerge.
Choosing the type of space for the kitchen
The first piece of advice concerns the type of space you want to create. As explained, you need to be clear about whether you’re looking for a compact kitchen, a freestanding kitchen, a modular kitchen, a fixed kitchen, or a mobile kitchen, and what materials you want to use, depending on your budget.
Choosing the kitchen layout should be the first step and should be done considering not only your space and budget requirements, but also your operational needs.
Making the most of the space
Once the kitchen has been designed, the second piece of advice is to have a clear and precise plan for the furniture arrangement and how to use the space. In addition to the space the kitchen will occupy, it’s a good idea to consider other related functions or alternatives to the kitchen space when it’s not in use.
Choosing the type of cooking
We’ve previously discussed cooking types and kitchen components. The third tip is to carefully choose which cooking elements to include; they don’t necessarily all need to be present.
Choosing furnishing accessories
The fourth key tip is to design and create the perfect outdoor kitchen, complementing the structure with the furnishings. This branch of design is constantly evolving.
There are professionals specializing in kitchen design who will allow you to transform the kitchen not just a place for cooking but also for relaxation and conviviality.
Finally, choosing all the various components that make up an outdoor kitchen cannot be considered without carefully considering the comfortable design of the surrounding space.