4 Tips for Preparing Your Outdoor Kitchen for Fall

An outdoor kitchen provides plenty of space for entertaining guests, or to simply cook and enjoy a meal outside. But like many things, outdoor kitchens also bring with it a few tasks to add to your fall to-do list. It is easy to complete these tasks within a weekend, so make sure to do it before cold weather strikes. Not preparing your outdoor kitchen can lead to an expensive start to the cooler weather season.

How to Get Your Outdoor Kitchen Ready for Fall

Living in Georgia means our cold weather season is not as intense as it is to our North. However, it doesn’t mean that you can completely ignore cold weather and not take preventative measures for your outdoor kitchen. By being proactive, you will make outdoor cooking easier this fall season.

1. Protect the plumbing.

Take time to clear out any water that might be stored in the pipes. Failing to do this can lead to burst pipes should the weather drop below freezing. Check to see that all drain valves are in the open position so that no water can be trapped. This is also the time to clean the sink and cover it to prevent any scratches.

2. Prepare the grill.

If you have a grill in your outdoor kitchen, give it a thorough cleaning. Here’s how:

• Use a degreaser to remove any grease build-up.
• Polish surfaces with stainless steel polish.
• Remove the grill grates and clean underneath. Remove all previous cooking residue. This will help your burners perform better and prevent grease fires.
• Season the cooking surface(s). Apply vegetable oil and allow the grill to heat to 500* F for 20 minutes to remove any build-up. Seasoning the cooking surfaces of your grill will help prevent food from sticking.
• Turn off the gas line if you don’t expect using your grill during cold weather months. This helps further protect the most critical pieces of your outdoor grill

3. Prevent damage to your outdoor kitchen.

Cover all surfaces and appliances that are subject to cracks, stains, and scratches due to cold weather or debris that might get blown that direction. If you have cabinetry or stone countertops, now is a good time to apply a coat of oil or sealer. Applying a coat of oil or sealer will extend the life of the surfaces and make cleaning them easier.

4. Turn off the refrigerator and ice maker.

In addition to turning off the water supply, be sure to unplug these units. Then empty each of them of any food that might be stored inside. However, do not cover them with any type of cloth as this can cause moisture accumulation, and ultimately damage them.

Having an outdoor kitchen is a wonderful option. After all, it means you have more useable space to enjoy cooler fall weather in Georgia weather. But you don’t want your outside kitchen to become a “used to be” space that is no longer useable. Make these tasks a part of your fall routine, so that you can get many long years out of your outside kitchen.

If you want to install or update your outdoor kitchen, contact Outdoor Makeover & Living Spaces! We design and build outdoor kitchens that are custom built around your needs.

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