Outdoor Kitchen Countertops: All You Need To Know

In today's world, outdoor kitchens are in high demand for a variety of reasons. Not only do they add a beautiful aesthetic to your property, but they also make excellent spaces for entertaining guests and extending the living space of your home. Additionally, investing in an outdoor kitchen is not only beneficial financially as it increases the value of your home while decreasing energy consumption; it also saves you money since there’s no need to eat out when you can enjoy quality time outdoors with family and friends.
The outdoor kitchen countertop is a crucial element of any outdoor cooking setup. Here, you can put cutting boards and make burgers prior to transferring them to the grill or stovetop for actual cooking. Furthermore, these surfaces provide ample space for plates, cutlery, condiments, and anything that would generally clutter your workspace.
This article will cover the three most important questions that need to be answered to help you plan and build your outdoor kitchen countertops. Let's take a look and discuss them one by one.
Why is it important to have adequate outdoor kitchen countertop space?
An organized kitchen is essential for a smooth workflow and to avoid any mishaps. To achieve this, you should create three different counters specifically assigned for prepping food, cooking meals, and cleaning up afterward.
To make it easier to understand, let's use a BBQ analogy. You cut and prepare your ingredients for the grill, placing them into individual bowls; then you have all your dirty dishes taking up space in the sink - meaning that they can't be used for anything else until you've finished washing those items. That's why having a countertop specifically dedicated to handling dirty stuff is so important.
A spacious countertop is not only a great place to prepare your meals, but also an essential tool for safe cooking. With enough room on the countertop, you can store cooked food away from raw ingredients and dirty utensils, preventing cross-contamination. This way all of the items necessary for creating culinary masterpieces are accessible when needed while avoiding any kitchen disasters due to overcrowding or lack of organization. If organizing your desk at work is important, why not prioritize it in the kitchen as well? After all, where knives and grills could cause harm if handled carelessly - adequate space should always be the top priority.
What factors should be considered when planning countertop space?
Planning and determining exactly how much counter space you should need for your outdoor kitchen can be as simple as counting one, two, three. Consider these three factors when planning the amount of counter space you need: 1. Determine the amount of prep work you will do outside.
When it comes to your outdoor kitchen, you'll need to think about the amount of prep work that needs to be done. Cutting, chopping and marinating may take up a lot of counter space - so make sure you have enough room for all these tasks! Your decisions will also depend on whether or not you plan on adding a refrigerator or sink outside.
Visualize the set-up of your kitchen area - do you need more or fewer countertops? The size of your countertop will ultimately depend on the design that best suits your needs. Consider how much room you have at hand when deciding, as this could make all the difference in creating an enjoyable experience for everyone.
2. The number of zones your kitchen will have.
Planning for countertop space size can be a breeze if you simply want to adorn your backyard with an easy-to-manage barbecue. But what happens if you're aiming for something grander? That's where things start to become rather complicated. To make the task easier, break down the layout of your outdoor kitchen into four distinct areas: preparation, cooking, cleaning, and dining/serving zones. Let us take a closer look at each one.

Prep Zone: This is the area where you do most freeze-thaw cycles of your food preparations. You would want this countertop space to be conveniently attached to or if not, directly across from the cooking zone.

Cooking Zone: The hot zone or the cooking zone is the heart of your outdoor kitchen. This is where you will settle your grill, of course, as well as, your stove, pizza oven, or smoker.

Cleaning Zone: This zone is important to maintain the cleanliness of your prep zone and to avoid clutter in your working space. An essential part of this zone would be hot water and garbage disposal that allows you to clean the plate before bringing it indoors to be washed.

Dining/Serving Zone: Though not as integral as the first three zones, the serving zone makes your outdoor kitchen even more enjoyable. People usually like to hang out at a bar while being entertained by whoever is cooking--adding this space will make the event much more pleasurable for guests and cooks alike. When planning where you want to put your dining zone, be sure that smoke from your cooking area won't blow in its direction; if it can't be avoided, build a wall or partition between both areas that blocks wind.

3.Buffer space for your outdoor appliances.
Another factor that may affect the planning of your countertop space is the buffer space of your outdoor appliances such as your mini-fridge, grill, pizza oven, stove, and/or sink. Consider the amount of space your appliances will be consuming in your countertop to secure its safe distance from walkways and other appliances.
What are the best surfaces to use for an outdoor kitchen counter space? Outdoor kitchen countertop ideas will be the very first thing that people notice, which is why selecting the right materials for this must be done with utmost care. There are many amazing options in today's market, yet some countertop materials remain superior when it comes to outdoor use. So let us lend you a hand and help you find ideal countertops for your alfresco dining area.

Granite Countertops: Obviously, the best choice if you are planning to build your outdoor kitchen, granite is a tough and durable material. It doesn't stain and discolor easily and holds up well to any weather. The granite countertops can also be sealed to avoid stains but many varieties are dense enough that it doesn't need a sealer.

Concrete Countertops: Another durable material, concrete countertop holds up well in general and is increasingly becoming a more popular choice for an outdoor countertop. Though this material can still look cool, concrete may crack and scratch, and its color may fade from direct heat from the sun.

Marble Countertops: Though this material is also durable and may feel hard when we touch it, marble is actually softer compared to other stone options such as granite, and may wear in weather over time. The material can be easily stained, and may not be a good choice as a food prep surface. With proper maintenance, marble with its durability can still last a long time.

Slate Countertops: For an eye-catching, durable countertop option for your outdoor kitchen, consider slates! These unique stone countertops come in all shapes and sizes so you can find the perfect fit to complete any space. Obtaining quality pieces of slate can be challenging but with a bit of research and patience, you'll have years of enjoyment from this luxurious material.

Quartzite Countertops: Quartzite is a premium option for countertops in your outdoor kitchen–though it shouldn't be confused with man-made quartz. It has the same qualities as granite but can still sustain scratches from sharp objects such as knives, so it's best to utilize chopping boards when cutting on top of this material. Quartzite is hard and resilient, making it an ideal choice for outdoor spaces that receive high traffic or exposure to elements like rain.

Soapstone Countertops: Protecting your outdoor kitchen from the elements is easy with durable and heat-resistant soapstone. As an added bonus, this material can withstand scratches or nicks due to its dense quality. Just keep in mind that liquids and oils that are not sealed may cause the darkening of the stone over time. Soapstone's high resistance to staining and heat makes it a great contender as a countertop material for your outdoor kitchen.

Conclusion
To conclude, when constructing your dream outdoor kitchen, making sure that you have enough space for the countertop is critical if you want it to look and perform as expected while also providing a safe environment.
Outdoor Kitchen Outlet
Transform your backyard into a culinary paradise with the exquisite selection of grills and accessories from the Outdoor Kitchen Outlet! From durable outdoor kitchen countertops to top-of-the-line BBQ tools, you'll be sure to find exactly what you need to make mouthwatering meals that are sure to surprise and delight your family. Cook without ever having left home - visit us online or give our friendly customer service team a call at (888) 667-4986 today. Let's get cooking up some deliciousness in the great outdoors!