If you’re interested in adding an outdoor kitchen to your backyard, but you already have a freestanding grill or two… it’s not surprising that you’ll wonder if you can put your existing grill into your future outdoor kitchen.
Hence, the question: “Can I put freestanding appliances into an outdoor kitchen?”
As an outdoor kitchen manufacturer that’s helped thousands of homeowners bring their dream outdoor kitchen project to life… we’ve had to contend with this question quite frequently! In this article, you will learn whether or not you can put freestanding appliances into an outdoor kitchen, why that may not be a good idea, and if there’s a good solution out there.
Can I Put Freestanding Appliances into an Outdoor Kitchen?
You technically can put freestanding appliances into an outdoor kitchen… but that doesn’t mean you should. It is not recommended to put freestanding appliances into an outdoor kitchen for several reasons, which will be explained below.
Why is it a Bad Idea to Put Freestanding Appliances into an Outdoor Kitchen?
It’s a poor choice to put freestanding appliances into an outdoor kitchen due to improper ventilation design, long-term replacement problems, appliance matching, and warranty issues.
- Ventilation Design: Regular freestanding appliances like a Weber gas grill or Blackstone griddle are meant to be used in open-air setups, and therefore, will not come with the ventilation design required for use in an outdoor kitchen. Built-in grill brands, on the contrary, are designed for outdoor kitchen applications… which means they will come with proper ventilation design. For this reason alone, installing a freestanding appliance into your outdoor kitchen can become a significant safety hazard.
- Long-Term Replacement Problems: When you’re building an outdoor kitchen, you expect the structure to last a long time. In general, freestanding grills aren’t designed to last as long as a comparative built-in grill… which means you’ll have more maintenance and replacement costs to be concerned with. This can be especially problematic when you consider that freestanding grill brands will often change product lines to attract new customers, which means the grill you originally designed your outdoor kitchen around may be discontinued… and you’re unable to put a replacement appliance in that space. Built-in grill brands are far more standardized with sizing, so even if a built-in grill you bought is somehow discontinued, you can purchase from another brand with the same install dimensions.
- Appliance Matching: Most freestanding grill brands don’t make other outdoor kitchen appliances like refrigerators or sinks. So if you choose to put a Blackstone into your outdoor kitchen, it will not match any of the other appliances in your island. For some, this is a minor quibble. But for others, cohesive aesthetics is important!
- Warranty Issues: Freestanding appliance manufacturers recognize that their appliances are not designed for use in an outdoor kitchen. Therefore, there’s likely some fine print somewhere that your warranty will be voided if you put a freestanding appliance into an outdoor kitchen. Be sure to keep this in mind before proceeding!
Is There Any Good Way to Incorporate Freestanding Appliances into an Outdoor Kitchen?
Now that you’ve seen all the reasons why installing a freestanding appliance into an outdoor kitchen is a poor choice… you might still be holding out hope. Sure, you can’t build your existing Weber or Blackstone right in. But is there a way to have your burger and eat it too?
If you’re dead set on having your existing grill be a part of your outdoor kitchen in some way, here’s a few things you can do:
- Pedestal or Recessed Stand Design: Some outdoor kitchen brands may be able to create a custom pedestal or stand for your existing freestanding appliance. Instead of being directly seated inside of your island, your appliance will sit on a lowered countertop that raises your grill to a comfortable cooking height. The recessed stand or pedestal helps make the appliance feel like a part of your outdoor kitchen, but it still won’t match your other appliances.
- Slide Between Two Islands: Alternatively, you could create an open gap between two islands and slide your freestanding grill between them. You’ll get immediate access to counter space on either side, which is a plus. However, you do have the concern of future-proofing… will you always be able to purchase a replacement grill that fits in that slot? It’s not a guarantee.
- Directly Next to Outdoor Kitchen: Of the three, we recommend placing your freestanding appliance directly next to your outdoor kitchen. This still allows you to keep it as part of the overall outdoor kitchen space, you’ll get access to the countertops… but you won’t have the future-proofing issue because you’re not massaging your outdoor kitchen layout to accommodate a freestanding appliance.
Want to learn more about how these potential design modifications could work for you? If so, it’s high time to speak with an outdoor kitchen Design Expert! They’ll work 1-on-1 with you to
