Outdoor kitchens are a great addition to any home. In warm climates they can be used all year round, while in colder places they may need to be reserved for the summer months.
They can take many forms. For example, my aunt in Malaysia has an outdoor kitchen, which is used all year round. It is a basic setup consisting of a tin roof, gas powered hob and open sides which allow the wind to blow smoke away.
Western versions of typically consist of gas powered barbeques with covered canopies.
According to The Telegraph, outdoor kitchens are the next “in” thing. However, before reaching for your wallet, make sure that you read this list of pros and cons to ensure that an outdoor kitchen is right for you.
Pros
– They enable food to be cooked in the fresh air, which is much more enjoyable than slaving away in a hot and cramped indoor kitchen.
– Different foods can be cooked, with less concern given to smoke, which can cause problem indoors. For example good steaks require hot hobs, but the smoke from these can often set off indoor fire alarms.
– Cooking food with strong flavours can leave lingering odours in indoor kitchens. Outdoor kitchens do not have this problem, and therefore require less housework.
– Cooking outdoors adds another dimension to entertaining at home, and is great for impressing friends and family.
– If included as part of a swimming pool and tennis court entertainment area, they can add a glitzy feel to a property and increase its saleable value.
Cons
– In colder locations, outdoor kitchens might not be practical for much of the year. Also, in hot countries, cooking outside without air conditioning could become quite unbearable.
– If you already have an indoor kitchen, adding another kitchen could be an unnecessary expense.
– If you have lots of expensive kitchenware, storing it outside might tempt thieves, while carrying it in and out of the home between uses could become a lot of hassle. So if your outdoor kitchen will be situated far from your house, consider how often you would actually make the effort of using it.
– Usability can be subject to weather conditions. For example, on a windy day, it is unlikely that even a well covered outdoor kitchen would be useable.
– They could make you unpopular with your neighbours. If you live in a crowded area, smoke caused by outdoor cooking could upset neighbours as it could get into their hanging laundry or force them to keep their windows shut.
An outdoor kitchen is a great idea. But please make sure that you'll really appreciate it before making a commitment. They can help you to enjoy more fresh air while entertaining friends, but remember to be a considerate neighbour and only place them where they will not inconvenience others.
