How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen That Doubles as Entertaining Space

How to Design an Outdoor Kitchen That Doubles as Entertaining Space

by | Mar 31, 2020 | Appliances, Outdoor Cooking

When the weather is nice, you might want to head outdoors for some fabulous food and fun. Designing an outdoor kitchen with space for other entertainment may seem complicated, but you can get very creative and bring your wildest outdoor kitchen dreams to life. Here are a few tips for you to follow.

Create Cooking Space

When planning your outdoor kitchen, you should do a strategic layout. There are a variety of features to consider when customizing your own cooking space. Your meal prep area can be separate from the eating space and the entertainment space or it can be an open floor plan where guests can be entertained and you’re not locked away from them. Make sure you plan in enough room to freely move about the kitchen. Keep in mind that you need space for a stove or grill, a sink, and possibly other appliances like a refrigerator or an ice maker. Don’t forget to have plenty of counter space.

You’ll want to make sure you choose a great counter material that can stand up to rain and harsh weather. You’ll also want the material color and design to go well with your yard.

Make It Entertainment-Friendly

Make sure, as you’re designing your outdoor kitchen, that you have enough room for a nice sized table and chair set, plus room for people to roam around and mingle. More importantly, make sure this area is set away from the kitchen. You may want to consider using your counter as the area divider. This way people won’t be in your way as you’re cooking or get injured because they’re partying and not paying attention to appliances.

Go Big or Go Home

Don’t spare any luxuries. When people think of an outdoor kitchen, they expect to see something mind-blowing. Get the best dining set, the best appliances, the most fabulous stone counters, and more. Aim to be the envy of the neighborhood. Another unexpected plus to this is that it will raise the value of your home in case you ever want to sell it. This means that your fabulous outdoor kitchen isn’t only for entertainment – you’re making a long-term investment.

If you live in an area with a lot of beautiful weather, you may as well take advantage of luxurious outdoor cooking and partying. The sky’s the limit when it comes to designing your perfect outdoor kitchen and entertainment area. With proper planning and a decent budget, you can build an outdoor kitchen that will make you forget all about your boring indoor kitchen.

Looking for the perfect grill for some serious barbeque? Click here to check out our Pro-style grills!

Designing an Outdoor Kitchen That Centers Around Your Grill

Designing an Outdoor Kitchen That Centers Around Your Grill

by | Nov 29, 2019 | Outdoor Cooking

Creating an outdoor kitchen area can expand your overall living space and provide you with an amazing area for entertaining. The grill is the most vital part of any outdoor kitchen, so it makes sense to make the grill the focal point of the space. The good news is that there are simple things you can do to make sure that your outdoor kitchen design centers around your grill.

Organize Based on Use

An outdoor kitchen provides the ultimate open floor plan. That gives you the freedom to design an outdoor kitchen space that works best for you. Once you determine where to place your grill, think about where to store the various grilling tools and dishes you may need while cooking. The tools you use most frequently, such as a spatula, tongs and meat thermometer, should be placed as close to the grill as possible. This step will allow you to grab the tools you need while cooking easily. Items that are used less frequently, such as extra dishes and a grill brush, can be placed farther away from the grilling area.

Cabinet Space

Did you know knives are part of why restaurants charge so much for their steaks? This is because restaurants must continuously replace steak knives because they are constantly lost or thrown away. If you’re not careful, you could have this same problem with your outdoor kitchen tools, gadgets and dinnerware. To prevent this from happening, it’s vital that you include plenty of cabinets and storage space in your outdoor kitchen design. It’s also important to build your cabinets around your outdoor appliances, such as the outdoor refrigerator. This extra storage space will not only help you keep your outdoor space looking clean and tidy, but it will protect your appliances, tools and accessories from the elements.

Outdoor Lighting

There’s no reason to end your outdoor celebrations early just because the sun went down. Instead, you can spend even more time outside by installing the right outdoor lighting in your kitchen area. Make sure you have plenty of lighting in the dining area of your outdoor space. In addition, it’s important to install adequate lighting in the kitchen area, especially near the grill. The right lighting will allow the cook to grill well into the evening.

Remember to keep your focus on the grill when you’re creating an outdoor kitchen. Make sure everything else has its place and is stored properly to ensure that your grill truly becomes the center of attention. Creating the right outdoor space will not only extend your living area, but it can also increase the value of your home.

Looking for a new grill to complete your outdoor kitchen? Check out our great selection!

Summer Kitchen Recipes: Enjoy Your Outdoor Space

Summer Kitchen Recipes: Enjoy Your Outdoor Space

by | Aug 23, 2018 | Outdoor Cooking, Recipes

Labor Day is around the corner, camps and vacations are coming to an end and families are slowly getting prepared for a new school year. So, what does one do to savor these waning days of summer here in the sunshine state? Well, Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre’ has a tried and true suggestion…Grill out! Whether you have a full outdoor kitchen or a standard grill, cooking outdoors can produce mouthwatering results as well as bring an extra ambiance to your meal’s setting when enjoyed outside. It is a great way for family and friends to gather around to enjoy a delicious meal as well as each other’s company, Al Fresco style.

A Quick Word On Marinades:
Marinating your meats ensures a delicious flavor, just be extra careful not to use an aluminum pan to store your meat and marinade in because it reacts to acids and can leave a metallic taste. Also, do not use any leftover marinade on your meat unless it is boiled for at least 3 consecutive minutes, it can contain harmful bacteria and no one wants to get food poisoning!

 

Rosemary Chicken Recipe: From Capital Grills

Ingredients (Serves Four)
  • 3 1/2 lbs whole chicken, cut into parts (6-8 pieces)
  • 4 plump garlic cloves
  • 4 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
  • 2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh thyme
  • 1 teaspoon dried sage
  • 1 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)
Instructions
  1. In a food processor or blender, mix the garlic, oil, and lemon juice/peel until smooth. Pour into a bowl.
  2. Add seasonings and stir to make a paste. Brush over chicken pieces, cover, and chill 6 hours or overnight; discard any excess marinade.
  3. Preheat the barbecue to medium heat. Grill chicken 15 minutes; turn over and cook another 20-25 minutes or until fully cooked.

 

Spicy Grilled Shrimp: From Subzero/Wolf

Ingredients
  • 36 large uncooked shrimp, peeled and deveined (2 pounds)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, finely chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, crushed
  • 2 tablespoons white wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 2 teaspoons hot pepper sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Preparation Method

Create marinade by combining olive oil, basil, cloves, white wine vinegar, Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, salt and pepper in bowl.

Thread 6 shrimp, evenly spaced, onto 12-inch metal skewers. Place shrimp skewers in 15×10 glass baking dish. Pour all but 1/4 cup marinade over shrimp; turn skewers to coat shrimp fully. Cover and chill the skewers and the remaining marinade for one hour.

Bring grill to medium-high heat. Grill shrimp until approximately 2 1/2 minutes per side – or until just opaque in center. When done, place skewers on a platter and spoon the remaining marinade on the shrimp. Serve immediately.

 

Grilled Zucchini and Leeks (with Walnuts): By Capital Grills

Grilled vegetables are a summertime must have and make great side dishes to compliment any meal or can be enjoyed all on their own.

Ingredients
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
  • 1/2 cup Walnuts, chopped
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 5 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 2 large leeks, halved lengthwise with root attached, rinsed
  • 2 large zucchini, halved lengthwise
  • 1/4 cup parsley leaves (salt and ground pepper, to taste)
Instructions
  1. Preheat Lynx Grill to medium-high heat, or 550 F
  2. Toss walnuts with garlic, lemon juice, and 3 tbsp oil in a large bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Brush leeks and zucchini with the remaining 2 tbs olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Grill vegetables for around 6 minutes on each side
  4. Transfer vegetables to a cutting board and cut leeks and zucchini into bite-size pieces. Combine vegetables and parsley with walnuts in a bowl. Season with more salt and lemon juice as desired. Serve while warm.

Something A Little Different

 

OK, so this next recipe doesn’t involve a grill but was too delicious not to include with the others. Broccoli Salad is a summertime favorite and can be made ahead of time, its quick, easy and packed with flavor.

Alabama Broccoli Salad by American Range

Ingredients:
Salad
  • 5-6 cups broccoli florets 1 lb, this was about 2 1/2 heads of broccoli for me (450g)
  • 1 cup sharp cheddar cheese thicker, not finely shredded (115g)
  • 2/3 cup dried cranberries (85g)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled bacon (60g)
  • 1/2 cup salted sunflower seeds (60g)
  • 1/3 cup red onion diced into small pieces (50g)

Dressing

  • 3/4 cup mayo I use olive oil mayo (175g)
  • 1/4 cup sour cream (70g)
  • 1 1/2 Tablespoon white wine vinegar
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar (40g)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Instructions:

  1. Combine broccoli florets, cheddar cheese, dried cranberries, bacon, sunflower seeds, and onion in a large bowl.
  2. In a separate, small bowl, whisk together mayo, sour cream, vinegar, sugar, salt, and pepper until smooth and well-combined.
  3. Pour dressing over broccoli combination and toss or stir well.
  4. Keep refrigerated if not consuming right away.

Living and working here in beautiful Central Florida certainty offers many chances for us to enjoy our outdoor spaces. If you would like to see more recipes like these as well as others, please visit the recipes tab on Milcarsky’s Appliance Centre’s website or use (this) link.