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Cooking Outdoors

Building a grill island, outdoor kitchen

15 years ago

I've been searching for some pictures of outdoor kitchens on this website and I'm shocked I'm not seeing any at all.

Someone please send in your pictures!

I'd like to construct a built-in island on my deck. I have purchased two books, but I'd like to see some real-life applications and experiences. Thanks.

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Comments (6)

eking
15 years ago
So would I. I am also looking for a resonable drop in grill. Do you have any suggestions? I am very surprised that there is so little info on outdoor kitchens in the forums. Or we are looking in the wrong place.
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
15 years ago
I had one built, but it's pretty small. It's got a raised bar and is in an L shape. It's possible to put 6 bar stools there, but I have 4 only. The other two are at a bar high teak accent table on the other side of the pool. The counters and bar are covered with granite. It looks lovely, BUT no one can sit there too often because granite is HOT in the summer, and FREEZING in the winter. I'd use something else. I do put place mats on there for guests, but if you accidentally put your hand on the granite.. shudder!!

I have a sink with only cold water. The drop in grill is by Pacific Gas Specialties, Model K-40 Ultra. has a nice rotisserie with infra red heat and it works great! We have had no problems with it in 5 years!!

If I did it over, I'd have some side burners. The refrigerator is certified by UL for outdoor use. That's important, and the Fridge is great!

The entire thing was built in blocks and plastered and painted. On the bar side, I had 20" tile strips glued on for kick protection from those who sit there. This is a good feature. Looks great and is functional.

If I did it over, I'd have the storage under the BBQ with removable shelves. Now and then you have to get under there. Shelves are nice, but we left ours dirt because we didn't think of removable shelves. We keep wood chips in there and stuff like that.

Oh, and of course I have the mandatory umbrella. We live in the desert, and get some mighty winds now and then, so the poor umbrella is pretty thrashed. I still use the part that works. One side hangs there all broken, but I think it lends character!

There are electric outlets in it, so we bring lamps out there at night. If I did it over, I'd have built in overhead lighting.... Like 3 corner poles connected by a funky hanging light thing. Too late to do that now.

Sorry I don't have a picture to post, but you get the drift! Yours are probably already built, but I decided to bump this one up just in case.......

Happy Grilling!
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Out of those 2 the Fire Magic. If you want a real "BBQ" though I would go with some sort of a Kamado type charcoal grill. You can build those in also and they are way better than any gas grill, last a lifetime, can cook anything on them. Smoker, Oven, High Heat Grill. They are ceramic which is better than any metal. I would do something similar to this and maybe have a small Infrared gas grill built in next to it. Or this with the Infrared gas grill just for quick searing. If price were no object I would get the above pair. A Primo extra large oval Kamado with a Solaire Infrared gas grill, although I would opt to get the Solaire Anywhere grill which is Marine Grade 316 stainless steel and you can take it anywhere with you, take it to the beach, camping what ever and it would work perfect for anything I would ever need a gas grill for. Its also much cheaper at around $500. Comes with a nice carrying case. It is also lifetime guarantee. Here is a link that might be useful: Solaire Anywhere
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My husband has decided on only getting the Green Egg and using it as a grill. According to him it's suppose to be the greatest invention ever! Yeah, we still have another grill hanging around, but the Egg is the only one we ever use any more. I think we're going to gift the charcoal grill to our daughter and new son-in-law. They're pretty much starting from nothing, so they'll appreciate it. Annette, I like your set-up. We're planning on something fairly similar. We intend to add a second, smaller Big Green Egg later. This'll allow us to use the smaller one when we want to cook just for us two, and when we have guests we can use the smaller one for an appetizer and the larger one for an entree. We also want a smaller one so we can take it camping. "If you want to cook on a covered porch, you must use a strong vent hood." ... i agree. Been there, done that. Won't do it again. Wondering how we're having such different experiences ... here's what I suspect: My covered porch, which works FINE with a no-hood grill is set up like the one on the left -- covered porch is attached to the house /is open to the air on three sides and gets a pretty good breeze. My porch is about 6' above ground level /steps on both ends -- could that make a difference? I wonder if people who are having a different experience have a porch more like the one to the right -- an "indented" porch? Or at least a porch that in some way gets less breeze.
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My husband is a Big Green Egg fanatic, and this type of set-up is very common with these grills. Right now he has something similar to what you show here -- it's on wheels, but is smaller. If you check out Pinterest, you'll find LOTS of ideas for tables similar to this one. My husband's thoughts on tables: - Stay small so it's easier to move around. BGEs are monsterously heavy. He's also going to add strong bars on the sides for pushing /pulling. - No drawers ... but he has a pull-out container to hold lump charcoal. And a spot underneath to store his Kick Ash ... yes, when you're an Egger, you own odd stuff. And an under-neath shelf for setting down the hot grate /away from anyone who might touch it accidentally. - He has a massive cabinet in the house for storing his BBQ equipment, but outside he wants just a couple hooks for the tools he's using at the moment. - He does want a heat-proof landing spot but will probably not pop for stone as shown above ... not when a couple terracotta pavers would do the trick for so much less money. Our covered deck is much the same ... we have a wooden floor, and ours is raised of the ground /has wrought iron railing around the edge, but the set-up is just the same ... my husband cooks on the edge of the deck, and it works fine.
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FWIW- we had a fridge in an outdoor cooking area that wasn't close to our house (it was on our boathouse, a slightly inconvenient walk down the backyard) . We didn't use it like we thought we would. If we were entertaining we still ended up using coolers or ice buckets for drinks bc we never remembered to stock the fridge early enough to actually have everything cooled down. Yes, it was convenient if it was just us to have a few drinks hanging out in there. We also thought we would keep condiments in the fridge, but it just became a hassle of one more thing to manage. It wasn't really big enough to put plates of food in it to prep for grilling. Or to store more than one big bowl with a side dish. At some point, we added a sink and that was truly helpful. Edited to add, we found it easier to manage a "right now" type of trash can because it was awful on the occasions we forgot to bring up the trash after being out there. It only took a time or two of thinking we were going to be out there all weekend, (and we would deal with the trash on Sunday afternoon) then having plans change then discovering a couple of gross things that had been in there rotting for a week. Nope. Granted-- this says a lot about us! HAHA. But, it's "real life" for us... your family might be much more organized and generally more responsible in which sharing my experience is just an embarrassment! But, hopefully, it will help you think through some potential pitfalls.
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Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
15 years ago
OK here is a picture of our "outdoor kitchen". HE thinks it's a grill! I think it's a kitchen!!

You'll have to copy and paste this link because I have no clue how to post a pic. Here is the link:
http://i430.photobucket.com/albums/qq26/DesertDance/Built-inBBQFridgeSinkGraniteBar.jpg
homefyres
15 years ago
I would suggest you peruse the BBQ Source Forums - they have an extensive outdoor kitchen area.

Here is a link that might be useful: BBQ Source Forums
irisotten7085_gmail_com
14 years ago
Hi Kathy,

I recently built my outdoor kitchen and ordered and planned everything online. There is a great store online called as http://chooseoutdoorkitchens.com. Its a great place to plan you design exactly by the kind of space you have as their site offers islands by the size. Also they have customized models with the kind of storage and facilities you are looking for. You can really create the best outdoor kitchen in the neighborhood with all their products, equipments and accessories. Not only that they also have such good customer service and make online ordering so easy and convenient.

Here is a link that might be useful: chooseoutdoorkitchens.com
Suzi AKA DesertDance So CA Zone 9b
14 years ago
That chooseoutdoorkitchens is a rip off! Any contractor can build what they have for 1/3 of the price! I'm sorry Kathy, but you got ripped off big time!

My kitchen cost less than 5K including the Gas BBQ with rotisserie, sink, Umbrella, electricity, refrigerator, storage, granite counters, bar stools and cushions.... OH MY!!

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