Cooking Appliance Options to Consider When Including an Outdoor Kitchen in Your Landscape Design in the Ann Arbor, MI Area
As you make plans for adding an outdoor kitchen to your Ann Arbor, MI area home, you might be thinking about which appliances are essential and which ones are extras you want to add. Cooking appliances can be included in the landscape design along with any other updates you are making to your outdoor spaces. Here are some options to consider when selecting what you want to cook outside and how you want to entertain.
Essential Outdoor Kitchen Appliances
Outdoor kitchens need some basic appliances to function the way you prefer. Although the foundational appliances might not be exciting, they are what allow you to create the meals you want in an outdoor environment.
A refrigerator: The refrigerator can be considered a crucial part of an outdoor kitchen design. You likely already know from cooking for your friends and family that having a second fridge can be a lifesaver for big meals where you need to prepare food ahead of time. The ability to put potato salad, veggies trays, and other foods that must be chilled into a refrigerator that is not the one in the kitchen can remove a lot of preparation stress. The fridge in the outdoor kitchen can function similarly in that you can keep all the condiments and other needs cold and at hand when you cook outdoors.
A dishwasher: The last thing you want to do when entertaining your guests is to spend too much time cleaning up and that is where the dishwasher comes in handy. Be sure the dishwasher size is in keeping with the number of people you expect to entertain so it holds whatever you have used during cooking and dining outside.
A cooktop: You might be on the fence about adding a cooktop and this appliance can be included according to your preference. If your grills have warming areas for sauces and such, you might not want to include a cooktop.
A deep sink: For washing up the cooking mess and cleaning the dining space, a deep sink is an essential appliance. Be sure to have a spray nozzle to get all around the inside of a large, deep sink with ease.
Grills and smokers: The whole reason you love to cook outside is likely the ease and taste of grilled foods so one or two grills and a smoker if you love meats cooked low and slow are a must. Built-in gas grills and a smoker in the grill station can be all you need to cook an entire meal.
A Blackstone griddle: While cooking on a griddle can take some practice, these cooking appliances are exploding in popularity. You can make breakfast for a crowd, stir-fry for the family, and so many other delicious foods, including desserts on the griddle.
An ice machine: You might think an ice machine is a luxury but once you have one, you could realize it is a necessity for outdoor entertaining. From the kids’ snow cones to blended frozen drinks on a hot summer day, an ice machine will likely see heavy use and keep you from running to the corner store.
A warming drawer: Adding a warming drawer to the area beneath the grills can keep what you have already cooked warm and ready to serve.