Jakes Outdoor Kitchens

Archive for the ‘Supplies and Tools’ Category

Your daily meal preparation can get by with just the basic, run of the mill equipment, but you are ready to move beyond the run of the mill.  Cooking is no longer just a utilitarian endeavor that you do for survival.  You find a great joy in the creation of delicious meals, and you need more advanced, and specialized equipment to hone your skills.  With the best money can by, you open up whole new realms of culinary expression.

Once you have made the commitment to your cooking, you need to seek out and acquire the best cooking supplies you can find.  Only then will you be able to move past the mundane, into the realm of art.  While, not difficult to locate, gourmet kitchen gear can be pricey.  Try to search out the equipment you need.  You may be able to buy ultra high quality equipment online at a discount.  Short of having a friend in the business, this may be your best bet.

Take your time and locate just the right pieces of equipment to suit your needs.

Your family is always complimenting you on your fine skills in the kitchen.  And why not?  You work hard to prepare wholesome and delicious meals for you family and friends.  You know the importance of having the proper materials at hand as you construct a delicious meal.  Cooking tools is a class of product that can range in sophistication all the way from a simple spatula to the most advanced food processor on the market.  You require the highest levels of performance from your major appliances, and your pots, pans and knives should be no different.  A high quality pan will help to distribute the cooking heat evenly.  Why spend all the effort preparing a feast for the senses, only to have your creation stick to the bottom of your pan in a charred, messy goo?

You use your knife set daily.  Not a meal goes by that you don’t have to chop or dice ingredients.  A good set of quality knives is essential in the kitchen.  If you chop certain ingredients wrong, you run the risk of changing the complex flavors of your creation.  Also, keep in mind that a high quality blade will hold an edge much better than a low quality knife.  A sharp knife is always much safer and easier to use.

In this day and age of high-speed Internet communication, chances are, you will be able to find a wholesaler that will conduct business exclusively on-line.The convenience of purchasing goods on-line is that it will save you much time.You can locate and purchase the items you require without leaving your home or office.

You will be able to compare prices amongst multiple wholesalers and browse the company’s website and choose just the right items for you and your customer’s needs.

If you can locate a supplier that sells last year’s selection of items or items that are overstocked, so much the better for your bottom line.  Whenever you run low on a particular item, re-ordering is just a few mouse clicks away.

If you are in the market for discount kitchen appliances, you can locate them on-line, in warehouses and at wholesale outlets.  Wherever you end up buying, make sure the store has a return policy and that you understand the fine print.  Many items will also include a manufacturer’s warranty.

Do you research, and make sure that you know the projected life span of a particular item, such as a dishwasher or refrigerator.  If you plan on using an item regularly, it is important to choose items that have a long life span.  Nothing is more frustrating than to have an important piece of equipment fail, just when you need it most.

Certain products combine the functionality of two or more specific pieces of equipment.  One prime example of this is a food processor, blender combination.  Why buy two pieces of equipment, when one will do just as well, or in some instances, better.

STORAGE CABINETS

A weatherproof cabinet can be constructed from finished masonry block.  The block is coated with stucco or ceramic tile, and are extremely durable.  Cabinets constructed in this fashion will blend right in to your yard, but at a fairly high cost.  Some companies offer customized cabinet bases that are designed with areas for grills and other appliances pre-cut into the surface.

SINKS

For out of doors use, it is recommended that you purchase a stainless steel sink, because they won’t rust.  Make sure that you install a water shutoff valve inside your home so you can drain that water in the line when winter hits.

REFRIGERATOR

A refrigerator outside in your cooking area can be a big convenience when preparing a meal for a big group of guests.  A refrigerator that can be installed under the counter is great.  They are well hidden by the counter and out of the way, plus they are easily accessible when preparing meals.  If you live in a cold weather environment, make sure your refrigerator is easily disconnected and moved inside.

Certain accessories for an outdoor kitchen are absolutely essential.You need to have a grill and a decent amount of counter space. A refrigerator and sink, although certainly convenient and nice touches, are optional.

Keep in mind, however, that including all the accruements can significantly boost the value of your home.  According to Pam Young, founder of Sacramento, California based Patio Kitchens, the increase in home value may very well “equal the cost of the project” in the first place! Another attractive reason to consider building an outdoor kitchen is that fact that you will be freed up from the constraints of indoor construction, allowing your artistic side to shine.

There are all sorts of rules and regulations associated with indoor kitchen construction, but not near as many for outdoor kitchens.

Depending on your families needs, an outdoor kitchen can be as elaborate and ornate or as simple as you like.  Do you like to cook out mainly on the weekends?  Or do you like to dine outside as frequently as possible?

Keeping these questions in mind while you construct your outdoor cooking area, and shop for your grill and accessories will help you to avoid spending un-necessary amounts of money.

ASSEMBLY REQUIRED?

If you are relatively handy with tools, this shouldn’t be too much of an issue.  If this worries you, you may want to consider a grill that can be assembled without the use of tools, or maybe even consider purchasing an already assembled floor model.  Many retailers will offer deep discounts on grills that are pre-assembled and used in-store for display.

BAUBLES and ADD-ONS

Some grills will come complete with a rotisserie for broiling foods.  Others will not, but are designed to accommodate an after market rotisserie.  Make sure that the lid of the grill includes an easy to read thermometer.  You haven’t come this far just to dry out your steaks on a grill that is too hot.  You may also want to consider including a decent meat thermometer, and some hooks to hang your barbecue tools on.

You face many choices when picking out the grill, the heart of your new outdoor kitchen. You can spend anywhere from one hundred and fifty dollars all the way up to six thousand dollars for a gas grill. Be honest with yourself. Do you want the Ferrari of gas grills? Would you even use all of the features that a top of the line barbecue has to offer? Or could you be happy with a smaller grill with fewer features?

You don’t want to go into debt to feed your family and friends a delicious hamburger. If it is important to you to have the biggest and best new toys and the block, than be prepared to shell out the big bucks.

If you are more concerned with the practical side of things, you can get a gas grill that has the features that you REALLY want and need, without any of the bells and whistles that you don’t. You can get yourself a great gas grill for around three to five hundred dollars. Why spend money you don’t need to, to buy a grill that, although cool looking, has many more options and features than you can possibly use?

Why buy a grill that can flash fry a water buffalo, when all you want to do is cook a delicious steak for your father in law? Look at all of your options. Do you want a rotisserie? How often are you going to use your grill, and how many people are you planning on entertaining? Do you want to be able to saute some onions for a patty melt?

If so, you grill is going to need the features that will enable this.