What to know about setting up an outdoor kitchen

Peter Marmorato Jr. loves grilling and has been going beyond the usual grilling lately thanks to an outdoor kitchen with a grill, pizza oven, high-powered burner, and other bells and whistles.

“It’s just about being outside,” says the Kings Park resident of his new setup. “And I love to entertain.”

The pandemic has pushed more people outdoors, resulting in more outdoor kitchens, which usually require electrical work, plumbing and building permits.

“The pandemic has driven people into their backyards,” says Michael Gotowala, owner of the Outdoor Kitchen Design Store in Southampton, which designed Marmorato’s space. “As a turntable, the outdoor kitchen is a multi-tool player.”

Michael Gotowala, founder of the Outdoor Kitchen Design Store, at an outdoor kitchen he designed in a home in Water Mill Credit: Gordon M. Grant

As people improve their homes, outdoor kitchens have been expanded or expanded with ovens, refrigerators, and other conveniences.

“A lot of people are at home more than ever,” says John Starck, owner of Showcase Kitchens in Manhasset. “You want to put something outside of a grill.”

Here’s a look at equipment and elements of outdoor kitchens, from simple to more elaborate.

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“A grill, a refrigerator, a cupboard with a garbage can and a small kitchen island have a big influence on the family lifestyle,” says Gotowala. “You don’t have to have a fully equipped outdoor kitchen.”

Everything and the grill

An outdoor kitchen designed by Outdoor Kitchen
An outdoor kitchen in a Water Mill home designed by the Outdoor Kitchen Design Store Credit: Gordon M. Grant

“It’s important to have a good grill,” says Starck. “That is the heart of the outdoor kitchen.” Grills range from a few hundred dollars to $ 3,000 and up for what Gotowala calls the “professional” model. Stainless steel helps survive the weather, solid handles improve durability, and good hood ventilation helps cook better, Gotowala said. Grills don’t have to be “built like tanks,” but can show style, he says. Marmorato likes “the look and function” of its caliber grill. “You don’t have to spend all the money in the world on a grill to get good food,” said Gotowala. “It’s not all pipes and components. It’s the ability to use them.”

Accessories increase versatility

An outdoor kitchen design from Showcase Kitchens in
An outdoor kitchen design from Showcase Kitchens at Water Mill Credit: Creepwalk Media / Tim Cree

A grill may be the heart of an outdoor kitchen, but grill accessories add flexibility. “Instead of preparing one component of a meal, you have accessories to prepare an entire meal,” says Gotowala. Side burners help cook vegetables, and a deep fryer ($ 200 and up, Gotowala notes) uses oil to cook fried foods. A $ 69 pizza stone can cook batter, pizza, bread, and flatbread on a grill, he says. A frying station, for a few hundred dollars and more, helps with frying, but also with boiling water for vegetables, lobster, and seafood. “I will probably add to it over time,” says Marmorato of the accessories. A resident of Sands Point had a powerful stainless steel wok burner for searing.

Going out with stoves

Pizza ovens, or outdoor ovens, which Gotowala says typically cost $ 600 and up depending on their size, can make pizza and a lot more. They can be fired with wood or run on propane or natural gas. “Most people like the taste and authenticity of a wood-fired oven,” Gotowala says of ovens that can be used for pizza, steak, lamb, seafood, and other meals. “There’s a learning curve to it,” added Gotowala. Some ovens feel hot while others offer a cooler surface.

“I wanted a self-sufficient kitchen, so we don’t cook food in the house and something outside,” says Marmorato. “The idea is to cook and prepare meals completely outside.” On Fridays he often makes pizza nights with family and friends.

A cool note

An outdoor kitchen design from Showcase Kitchens in
An outdoor kitchen design from Showcase Kitchens at Water Mill Credit: Creepwalk Media / Tim Cree

Compact undercounter refrigerators for outdoors and beverage coolers allow kitchens to act as more than just an addition to the interior. Gotowala says outdoor refrigerators ($ 400 and up) should be UL Listed. “The frequency with which you go to your refrigerator depends on how much you cook outside,” says Gotowala. Beverage coolers, also around $ 400 and up, provide convenience. Wine coolers, usually from $ 500, keep the wine at the correct temperature.

“The refrigerator, beverage cooler, and wine cooler are the devices that work the hardest,” says Gotowala.

The ice ax

Ice cube makers offer convenience. “You are excellent,” says Marmorato. “It’s better than having coolers.” These devices, which can easily cost several thousand dollars, can typically make cubes more dense than ordinary ice and melt less quickly on hot days.

“People use their garden around the clock,” says Gotowala. “The amount of ice that can be consumed is incredible.”

Weatherproof cabinets

Cabinets offer storage space and make outdoor kitchens self-sufficient. Starck says stainless steel or teak, which will not be damaged by moisture, are good choices. “Metals that are not rustproof corrode,” he says. Gotowala advises that trash hoods, recycling bins, cooking utensil holders, spice racks, pots and pans, detergents, glasses and plates can all be stored in cupboards.

“The latest trend is to mimic the indoor kitchen outdoors,” says Gotowala. Weatherproof cabinets can be made from molded resin outside on PVC; sturdy stainless steel handles withstand the elements. Marmorato has natural box cabinets made of plastic that looks like wood. Warming drawers keep food warm before serving.

Dish washing after washing

Sinks are important when using water for cooking or cleaning up. Small 15 “by 15” hand basins help with cleaning, while 30 “to 36” units can also be used for cooking, making salads, shrimp cocktails, and cleaning dishes, says Gotowala. Workstation sinks (starting at $ 500, he notes), with built-in shelves, can serve as staging areas for salads and desserts.

Investing in counterculture counter

Countertops are available in granite, marble, concrete, butcher’s log, porcelain and Lapitec, which is waterproof, scratch, splinter and heat resistant. “The maintenance effort is less than with many other surfaces,” says Gotowala about Lapitec. Furnished and installed counters with porcelain and Lapitec typically cost $ 130 per square meter, Gotowala says, while some granites and stones cost $ 75 per square meter and up. Marmorato has porcelain countertops which he calls “very durable for outdoor use”.

Give me shelter

An outdoor kitchen designed by Showcase Kitchens in
An outdoor kitchen designed by Showcase Kitchens at Water Mill Credit: Creepwalk Media / Tim Cree

While good weather is important, a good shelter helps. Parasols provide some shade, while Starck says retractable awnings can help. PVC, wood, and coated aluminum pergolas offer stylish protection for $ 1,300 for a do-it-yourself kit up to $ 10,000 and up, Gotowala notes. “These structures provide definition of space above the dining area and shade,” says Gotowala. Some have systems where switches close the louvers to be waterproof. “I’ll probably add a high-tech pergola where the roof opens and closes with screens,” says Marmorato. “But they get very expensive.”

Lights, speakers, action

The lighting keeps the party through the evening and defines the space, says Gotowala. “That creates emotions and offers the guests security and security,” he states. Lights can be installed under counters or pergola roofs and rooms can be enveloped with festive lights. Lights attached to homes work, but often cause glare. Starck says some grills have built-in lighting. Speakers, often broadcast by phones, provide soundtracks. Marmorato forwards music from iTunes and Pandora to Sonos Bluetooth speakers.

By Claude Solnik
Newsday special

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