If you’ve always wanted to have an outdoor kitchen, or if you’ve thought about it and haven’t yet decided, there are plenty of reasons to pursue this addition to your backyard.
For instance, having an outdoor kitchen allows you to be closer to your guests when you have a gathering, and gives you extra space for preparing meals – space that you might not have inside.
Having an outdoor kitchen is a nice experience overall, but you do need to take some factors into consideration before investing in one.
Here are some of the pros and cons of having an outdoor kitchen.
1. Benefit: Outdoor kitchens can be modular
Having the ability to piece together a bunch of different components in a way that gives you a custom kitchen in your backyard is one of the best reasons to get an outdoor kitchen. The modular nature of some units makes it easy to get just what you need without the features you don’t want.
For example, you might want an ice maker and a simple griddle, or you may not want the ice maker at all. With modular designs, you get to choose how your kitchen is built and where each component goes in the setup.
Should you decide you want additional components later, you can add them anytime. Modular kitchen islands make this easy. You can even move your existing pieces around to accommodate any setup you want.
2. Drawback: You’ll have to invest some money
Getting an outdoor kitchen is an investment, so be prepared to spend a little bit of money. However, it’s a worthwhile investment because it will give you the opportunity to host parties in your backyard, cook meals with your family, and spend more time outdoors overall.
If it’s in your budget and you’ve been eyeing an outdoor kitchen, start thinking about what components you’d like most to get an idea of what it will cost. You might be pleasantly surprised at how affordable it is when you go with the modular approach.
3. Benefit: They’re easy to clean
When you buy a stainless steel modular kitchen, you’ll have an easy time wiping everything down because the surfaces will be smooth. You won’t have to worry about dropping crumbs on the floor, either, because you’ll already be outside.
Anytime you spill crumbs or other things on the kitchen floor inside your house, you have to sweep it up and throw it in the trash. It’s much easier to clean crumbs outside because you can just sweep them off your patio into the dirt. You probably don’t want to do that when you spill, say, a bowl of spaghetti. However, small crumbs are fair game.
4. Drawback: You’ll have to cover it during the winter
Depending on where you live, there’s a good chance you may need to cover your outdoor kitchen during the cold and rainy months. It’s always good to have your kitchen under some kind of cover, but even so, it’s best to use a professional cover when it starts to get cold. You don’t want excessive moisture to get into your kitchen appliances, and if it rains while it’s windy, it will just get soaked.
Good quality outdoor kitchens are built to withstand light weather, but there’s no reason to let it sit out in the rain all winter long, so make sure you get the proper cover(s) recommended by the manufacturer at the time of purchase.
5. Benefit: You can add an outdoor bar
A bar is a huge benefit to having an outdoor kitchen. Not only do they look cool, but you can serve alcohol like a pro at your parties. If you don’t drink or want to serve alcohol, an outdoor bar can also work for serving non-alcoholic beverages in style. It will give your guests a special place to get their drinks, whatever they may be, and it just has a cool vibe to it.
6. Drawback: They can be difficult to move
A big downside to having an outdoor kitchen is that they can be difficult to move if you move into a new house or apartment. It’s not impossible, but it won’t be a one-person task. If there’s a chance you might move, wait until you get into your new place before buying anything to make it easier on yourself.
Buying an outdoor kitchen is a smart move
Although there are some drawbacks to buying an outdoor kitchen, the benefits outweigh them by far. If you’ve been thinking about getting one, don’t wait any longer. Get one now so you’ll be prepared when summer rolls around.
