How to Maintain Your Outdoor Kitchen

So, outdoor kitchens are a thing, a cool thing, potentially a cool thing for you to own. Backyard grilling
would instantly become the best thing. You’ll be the envy of all your neighbors. What could be the
downside? Well I’ll tell you.

I’m not trying to tell you not to install an outside kitchen or that cool feature on your new house you got
was a mistake. I’m saying that there’s a great deal of maintenance that comes with an outdoor kitchen that
doesn’t necessarily translate over from indoor kitchens.

First, it’s outside. Yeah, duh, that’s the point. I get that but that means weather, as in temperature. Do
you live somewhere where it gets super cold, or super hot, or both! You can prep properly for the winter
and you should. Disconnect your appliances from their services, empty and clean the fridge, cover the
furniture, drain the pipes of standing water. When you go to use your outside kitchen again you need to
check the various systems and appliances to be sure they’re all working properly. Make sure everything
is in proper working condition when you go to use it, every time, you never know. Preventative measures
can only go so far… it’s outside, the temperature is what it is.  

Second, it’s outside. Yes, I know I already said that. I said what I meant and I meant what I said. Outside
means nature, and nature means dirty. You can’t control the cleanliness level in your outdoor kitchen the
same way you can in your indoor kitchen. Shoot, keeping an indoor kitchen clean is nearly impossible.
You can only do so much outside, but you should always keep the grill as clean as possible. It’s what’s
going to kill all the germs on your food, grease also attracts animals that you would rather keep away
generally, especially while you’re cooking. Also, it’s just generally safer to cook on clean things when
using open flame.

Finally, once again, you’re outside. You’ll have to deal with a different kind of wear and tear outside
than you’d have to deal with inside. The materials installed for the floor and counter should be pretty
durable… you’re outside, I’d certainly hope so. However, there are a few things you should do for the
sake of upkeep. Get your counters, I’m hoping they’re stone, probably granite, resealed every three to
five years to protect them from the with sun and the rain. Sweep regularly the floors and wipe down the
counters regularly, it’s easier to miss dirt when you’re already outside but there’s nothing appealing about
eating in a visibly dirty environment. Power wash as a part of your spring cleaning to get rid of any year
long build up.