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Pros and cons of outdoor kitchens

Outdoor kitchens are a great addition to any home. In hot climates they can be used year-round, while in cooler 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 that is used all year round. It’s a basic setup consisting of a tin roof, a gas stove, and open sides that allow the wind to blow away the smoke.

Western versions usually consist of gas barbecues with covered awnings.

According to The Telegraph, outdoor kitchens are the next craze. However, before you reach for your wallet, be sure to read through this list of pros and cons to make sure an outdoor kitchen is right for you.

advantage

– They allow you to cook food outdoors, which is much more pleasant than slaving in a hot, cramped indoor kitchen.

– Different foods can be cooked, with less worry about smoke, which can cause problems indoors. For example, good steaks require hot stoves, but the smoke from these can often set off indoor fire alarms.

– Cooking foods with strong flavors can leave lingering odors in indoor kitchens. Outdoor kitchens do not have this problem and therefore require less housework.

– Outdoor cooking adds another dimension to home entertainment and is great for impressing friends and family.

– If included as part of a pool and tennis court entertainment area, they can add a dazzling feel to a property and increase its marketable value.

Cons

– In colder places, outdoor kitchens may not be practical for much of the year. Also, in hot countries, cooking outdoors without air conditioning can become quite unbearable.

– If you already have an indoor kitchen, adding another kitchen can be an unnecessary expense.

– If you have a lot of expensive kitchen utensils, storing them outside could tempt thieves, while carrying them in and out of the house between uses could become a big hassle. So if your outdoor kitchen is going to be located far from your home, consider how often you’d actually make the effort to use it.

– Usability may be subject to weather conditions. For example, on a windy day, even a well-covered outdoor kitchen is unlikely to be usable.

– They could make you unpopular with your neighbors. If you live in a busy area, smoke from outdoor cooking could bother your neighbors, as it could get on clothes lines or force them to keep their windows closed.

An outdoor kitchen is a great idea. But please make sure you really appreciate it before you commit. They can help you get more fresh air while you entertain your friends, but remember to be a considerate neighbor and only place them where they won’t disturb others.