Outdoor Life Four ways to upgrade outdoor kitchens

4Ideas to Upgrade Backyard Kitchens

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There are few better ways to gather and enjoy the outdoors than in a beautiful backyard kitchen. Backyard kitchens allow you to entertain and dine outside with ease. They also add value to your home, encourage healthier eating, lower spending on eating out and save energy.

Whether modest modern or full-service functional, consider these ideas for integrating or updating backyard kitchens from the experts at Best Pick Reports.

The location of your backyard area should be relatively flat and easy for you and your guests to access. It should also be large enough to include a cooking area and comfortable seating.

Another aspect of your backyard kitchen’s location is its distance from a power source. If you aren’t sure which area of your backyard would work best, reach out to a professional. He or she can help you pick a safe space and aid you in design.

Protect Your Space from the Weather

Perfect weather is never guaranteed. Don’t count on it, especially when you have plans. Ensuring you can still use your backyard kitchen even if it rains is important. The sun can also be a mood killer for you and your guests on scorching days. Having a shaded space can make everyone more comfortable.

The ideal backyard kitchen should include a screen or shelter against the elements, whatever the weather may bring. This may be as simple as installing large umbrellas. A more substantial option is a fully screened gazebo or room. Be sure to keep the temperature in mind as well. Fans for air movement can help increase everyone’s comfort level.

Ensure There’s Enough Seating for Everyone

When enjoying your backyard kitchen, you and your guests will want someplace to relax. A few questions to ask yourself: How many guests do you want to seat? What type of seating would you prefer (bench, stone, cushioned)? Do you want the seating to be secured? Will the seating be outside and exposed to the elements year round?

One idea is a rustic outdoor bar with bar-style seating. Another is a sturdy wood or stone picnic-style table. You might also consider combining your outdoor kitchen with a comfortable outdoor living room, which can be done with cozy yet durable outdoor sofas and lounge chairs.

Choose the Right Appliances

A backyard kitchen isn’t complete without a collection of appliances. From the grill to the refrigerator, it’s important to choose the right options for your family based on budget and usability.

Grill – Whether it’s gas, charcoal, electric or a hybrid model, a good grill is often the focal point of the outdoor kitchen that keeps your guests coming back for more. If you’re not much of a griller, a smoker or wood oven will work just as well. Refrigerator – If there’s one thing that lets bugs into your house, it’s guests going in and out to grab a drink from the fridge. Outdoor fridges are convenient additions to backyard kitchens. Available in freestanding or built-in options, they come in all kinds of shapes, sizes and capacities. Sink – If you’re grilling, chances are you’re handling raw meat. Aside from using it as a handwashing station for guests, a sink in your outdoor kitchen can help keep you and your workspace clean and sanitary.

If you need a professional to help plan your dream outdoor kitchen, visit bestpickreports.com and fivestarrated.com to find experts in your neighborhood.

5Easy Ways to Save Energy in the Kitchen

The kitchen is the heart of the home, it’s also a space where you can waste a lot of energy if you’re not careful. By making a few simple adjustments to your habits in the kitchen, you can easily cut your energy bills and do your part to help the environment.

“The appliances you select for your kitchen have effects far beyond the food you eat,” says Peter Weedfald, senior vice president of Sales and Marketing at Sharp Home Electronics Company of America. “From the appliances you choose to how you use them, you can make a real difference in your energy consumption today.”

Here are a few ideas for getting started:

1Keep it cool: Minimize the time you have the refrigerator door open. Cold air falls straight to the floor like water. The longer you leave the door open, the more cool air drains away and the harder your fridge has to work to replace it. Refrigerators that have pantry and freezer drawers help contain the cold air even when they are open. Keep frequently accessed items in the refrigerated pantry drawer so everyone in the family can help themselves.

2Go small or go home: Whenever possible, opt to use your small appliances. For example, the next time you’re reheating food, use the microwave instead of the stove or oven. According to the federal government program ENERGY STAR, microwaves use up to 80% less energy than conventional ovens.

3Wash-up smart: If you find yourself running your dishwasher before it’s full, it’s time to consider an upgrade. Find a dishwasher that allows you to manage your load size. Features like the half-load option or Wash Zone setting available on Sharp’s Slide-In Stainless Steel Dishwashers will focus the water in one area when washing smaller loads to make every drop count.

4Unplug: If you’re like most people, you use appliances like your toaster and coffeemaker for just a few minutes each day. Unplug small appliances like these after you’re done to stop “vampire energy,” which is the energy consumed by items when they are plugged in but are not in use.

5Make an upgrade: Today’s appliances are generally more energy efficient than older appliances, and there are a lot of energy efficient selections. According to ENERGY STAR, induction cooktops are around 5-10% more efficient than conventional electric units and about three times more efficient than gas. Bonus? Making the switch also means you’ll no longer be emitting greenhouse gases associated with gas cooking. Learn more about smart, energy-saving appliances at sharpusa.com.

To put a dent in your energy bills and reduce your impact on the environment, be mindful of your habits in the kitchen. Small changes can add up quickly.