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Storage might not be the dazzling “star of the show” in your outdoor kitchen, but keeping everything organized is going to help you as both a chef and a host, so storage should be given careful consideration. At BBQ Outlets, we want to help you create the outdoor kitchen of your dreams that is practical, safe, aesthetically pleasing, and exactly what you’re looking for all around.
Luckily for you, we have helped design tons of backyards in our time, so we have a pretty good idea about what the essentials are. We’re here to make the decision process easier for you, so if you’re not sure what storage you’ll need to make the best use of your outdoor kitchen’s space, keep reading. We’ve got you covered.
An electric heater is the most eco-friendly option as well as the easiest to install. You will likely need to hardwire an electric patio heater into its own circuit, but you may be able to get away with plugging into a standard 120-volt circuit depending on your heater’s wattage. If you plan to install multiple heaters, you could always install them on the same circuit, which makes them even easier to control. Electric patio heaters aren’t releasing harmful byproducts from combusting gas, they don’t usually have airflow requirements like gas patio heaters would. This means you have a bit more flexibility in where you can install your heater, generally speaking.
If you want to fuel your heater with gas, you can choose propane or natural gas. This option is less eco-friendly because of the harmful byproducts released in the heating process. Gas heaters usually need a constant airflow to vent out those byproducts, so they can’t be recessed or used indoors or in poorly ventilated areas. As with electric patio heaters, you’ll have to pay careful attention to combustible clearance requirements for your specific gas patio heater prior to installation.
Propane-powered heaters are usually tabletop or freestanding appliances that hide the propane tank in the heater’s base. Keeping in mind the clearance requirements, you can move these around your outdoor space. These can either be fueled with 20-pound portable tanks or using a bulk tank, if you have one. If you want to use a bulk tank, you will need a licensed professional to evaluate if you have the necessary pressure and volume in that tank to support a heater. If you do, they’ll need to hook it up for you.
If you want a built-in pizza oven, you’ll have lots of decisions to make. One option is to buy an oven that already has the finished exterior, usually made of stainless steel, and mount it to a cart or build it into an enclosure. Or, you can purchase just the inside shell made of stone or ceramic. The second option gives you the freedom to finish the exterior yourself so you can have the aesthetic you want. For instance, these look great in a brick enclosure, which will give it that old Italian pizza oven look. Depending on your fuel type, the enclosure can include an area to store wood or a propane tank.
If you decide to install a built-in propane grill, you should also have a propane tank bin. Not only is this a safe way to store your fuel, but it also keeps the unattractive propane tank out of your guests’ eyesight and out of your way. For your convenience, you might want to look for a propane tank enclosure that has a sliding roll-out drawer. This makes it easier for you to refuel when the time comes. You should know that propane tank enclosures should never go directly underneath your grill. Your owner’s manual can tell you what positioning is required.
A freestanding unit could be a good option for you especially if you don’t think you’ll be using your pizza oven all that often. It’s very easy to move a cart out of the way when it’s not in use (make sure you cover it!), and you’ll have the flexibility to move a freestanding pizza oven around your outdoor kitchen when it is in use. If space is an issue, freestanding models on carts come in all different shapes and sizes, as well as a variety of fuel types, so you’ll be sure to find something that will fit your needs and your space. This is also a much more budget friendly (and easier) option than a built-in pizza oven.
The last configuration you should consider is a portable pizza oven. We don’t blame you if you want the flexibility to make yourself some pizza anywhere and not just in your outdoor kitchen. Think about the possibilities! In addition to the portability, you’ll find this option to be the least expensive configuration. These ovens are quite compact and usually designed to be very fuel efficient. That said, you’re not going to have as much space to cook as much food at once (usually one pizza at a time), but still not a bad trade-off for the portability piece.
The sky is the limit when it comes to what you can cook in a pizza oven, but we’re guessing pizza is going to be your main entrée. So, to help you visualize what size oven you’ll need, we’ll tell you approximately how many 12-inch pizzas you can fit in each oven at one time
If you want a built-in pizza oven, you’ll have lots of decisions to make. One option is to buy an oven that already has the finished exterior, usually made of stainless steel, and mount it to a cart or build it into an enclosure. Or, you can purchase just the inside shell made of stone or ceramic. The second option gives you the freedom to finish the exterior yourself so you can have the aesthetic you want. For instance, these look great in a brick enclosure, which will give it that old Italian pizza oven look. Depending on your fuel type, the enclosure can include an area to store wood or a propane tank.
You may want to consider going with a medium sized oven (27 to 33 inches wide) if you are going to need to make a few more pizzas. These can fit between two to four 12-inch pizzas, so they’re perfect for a small family.
A large size oven might be the best bet for someone who hosts a lot of pizza parties, has a large family, or has a family with several picky eaters who are all going to want different toppings. Pizza ovens 34 to 42 inches wide can fit four to six 12-inch pizzas at once.
Any ovens 43 inches wide and up are considered extra large sized. These are going to fit at least four to six 12-inch pizzas at the same time, making them great for larger families or people who host a lot of big celebrations requiring pizzas