){kind=avatar}
How to Buy Outdoor Kitchen Storage | Buying Guide
The spotlight of your barbecue island is typically on grill and not the storage, however, these seemingly understated elements make up the backbone of your outdoor kitchen, contributing to the design, organization, and overall aesthetic of your outdoor space. Doors, drawers, and various storage components play a significant role in streamlining your cooking processes and this guide will walk you through the storage options available, showing you how to make the most of your outdoor kitchen space for the best functionality and enjoyment.
Why Do I Need Outdoor Kitchen Storage?
If you take away anything from this article, we hope it’s the realization that no outdoor kitchen is complete without BBQ island storage. Setting a design theme is one thing, but certain storage components are actually necessary for safety and maintenance on your appliances. Below are 3 of the biggest reasons why outdoor BBQ storage is a must-have in your outdoor kitchen.
Outdoor Kitchen Doors Provide Access to Plumbing
The most important grill island storage components by far are access doors, which are required for all appliances with plumbing for gas or water. These framed door panels create an entry point to the interior of your outdoor kitchen island, allowing you to inspect or perform maintenance on gas or water connections, most notably the valves for your grill and sink. BBQ island access doors are generally placed directly underneath the grill for design reasons, but they’re safe to install within 6 feet of your grill, or the distance mandated by local building codes.
Outdoor Kitchen Storage is Convenient
Have you ever spent an afternoon hauling cooking supplies back and forth from inside your home to your freestanding grill in the backyard? Yeah, that’s not exactly our idea of a fun and relaxing cookout either. Outdoor BBQ storage, however, lets you keep grilling tools and plates nearby so those supply runs can be a thing of the past. Trash is another concern easily solved by convenient storage components — with an outdoor kitchen pull-out trash can, you don’t need ugly and bulky upright trash bins to keep your beautiful grill island free of waste.
Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets Prevent Clutter
With outdoor BBQ storage, you’ll save tons of counter space and have a place to organize everything you need in your outdoor kitchen. What you do with that extra space is entirely up to you! You can put it to use as a prep area, install that extra outdoor kitchen appliance you’ve been considering, or leave it clean and tidy so your countertops can really shine. Outdoor kitchen warming drawers are a great example of space-saving components because they not only heat up side dishes and buns but can also store pool towels for a warm surprise after swimming.
Should Outdoor Storage Match Your Grill?
Match Your Storage to Your Grill
If you dream of a perfectly cohesive outdoor kitchen, we’ve got you covered. Many outdoor living brands, such as Lion, and Blaze, and Hestan offer full lines of kitchen island storage that match their grills in style, materials, and details. Some manufacturers even produce multiple lines to be paired with different grill collections.
Or Go with Matching Components
If matching your outdoor kitchen storage to your grill isn’t a priority, you’ll be happier in the long run having all your components at least match each other. Look for outdoor kitchen cabinets with the same style of handle, for instance. If you’re sold on a certain grill but can’t find matching cabinets, our BBQGuys Signature brand island storage will look great in any outdoor kitchen.
Choose Your Kitchen Island Storage Class
Premium Outdoor Kitchen Storage
Most Premium brands match their storage lines to their grills for a harmonized look. They’re packed with helpful, premium features like hidden hinges, recessed handles, and soft-closure mechanisms. Some storage components even have gaskets to protect dry goods from the elements. You’ll also find a few brand-specific features that enhance style, such as collection of various colorways to make your island pop. The luxury look and small details of Premium kitchen island storage are sure to wow guests, not to mention that every component is guaranteed to be durable, 304 stainless steel at minimum.
Standard Outdoor Kitchen Storage
Standard outdoor kitchen storage is best if having your grill match your storage isn’t important to you. They typically have visible hinges and simple handles along with a generic stainless steel style. Storage in this class looks similar between brands but still provides an understated aesthetic that doesn’t stand out too much. Though Standard grill island storage may include various grades of steel, we recommend you choose 304-grade for longevity such as our BBQGuys Signature brand, so you can be confident in its durability even in the harshest elements.
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Necessities
There are a handful of storage components that every outdoor kitchen needs. These must-haves are designed to provide safety and convenience in your outdoor space. While you're making note of grill island storage necessities, we recommend using our outdoor kitchen checklist to keep track of everything you'll need to create your dream backyard.
Outdoor Kitchen Access Doors
- Allows access to your gas and water plumbing connections
- Do not necessarily need to be placed directly beneath your grill, but they should be within 6 feet for easy access
- Any appliance with gas or water plumbing needs a point of access, so these should not be overlooked
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Drawers
- Provide organization and a place for everything from grilling tools to towels to flatware
- Keep everything you need for a cookout at arm’s reach
- The most convenient storage option in your outdoor kitchen
Access Door & Drawer Combos
- Provides the necessities of both access and storage while saving counterspace
- Available in different configurations that pair up to 2 doors with as many as 4 drawers
- Must be installed within 6 feet of your grill, though they’re normally set up underneath it
Propane Tank Enclosures
- Vented to provide safe and secure housing for fuel
- Clears up floor space and removes a potential eyesore from your outdoor kitchen
- Most models feature a sliding roll-out drawer for easy access
Outdoor Kitchen Trash Bins & Chutes
- Stylish, cohesive design to take care of garbage
- Available as slide or tilt out trash bins or built-in island trash chute
- Removes the need for frequent trips into the house or unsightly trash cans
Outdoor BBQ Storage You'll Wish You Included
Enclosed Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
- Perfect for storing dry goods, seasonings, and condiments right by your grill
- Preserves food from moisture and humidity while protecting it from ants or other insects
- Stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets that are waterproof, water-resistant, or labeled as dry storage is recommended
Outdoor Kitchen Paper Towel Holders
- Saves counterspace in your outdoor kitchen
- Conveniently keeps your paper towels within easy reach
- Often combined with other grill island storage components in combo units
Ice Bins & Ice Chest Drawers
- Perfect for outdoor entertainers and backyard bartenders
- Ice bins function as built-in, stainless steel ice chests that let you keep refreshments cool
- Ice chest storage drawers hold a standard ice chest and work well with ice makers when placed side by side
Kitchen Island Spice Racks
- Store all your seasonings close by your grill
- Preserves counter and storage space in your outdoor kitchen
- Keeps things neat and organized without having to run inside
Grilling Island Cutting Boards
- Able to be hidden from view with the right outdoor kitchen drawers
- Saves counterspace by avoiding a large, bulky cutting board
- Works best placed directly above a trash bin so you can toss your waste into the bin below
Outdoor Kitchen Warming Drawers
- Keeps food warm after it comes off the grill
- Able to heat up sides and warm breads
- Can be used to keep pool towels warm
Outdoor Kitchen Storage Trends
Whether your goal is to match your storage to your grill, choose a different brand for individual components, select the necessities, or building a fully stocked outdoor kitchen, each design decision you make helps establish a theme in your barbecue island. We’ll share a few starting points for deciding what themes or styles you can create using grill island storage.
Stainless Steel Barbecue Storage
In addition to its durability, stainless steel lends a sleek look that works well with traditional designs. Stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets can be paired with stone or red (or painted) brick to create a classic aesthetic in your outdoor space. They also look great with most countertop materials. We recommend using 304, commercial-grade stainless steel for maximum durability.
Colorful Stainless Outdoor Cabinets
Your outdoor kitchen should reflect the design elements that you love, so if bold and beautiful is your style, a maximalist design will suit your space well. One of the best ways to accomplish this is to build with colored steel doors and drawers like those by Hestan. They pair best with ledge and stacked stone, or stucco barbecue islands with black soapstone, marble, and quartz countertops.
Teak Grill Island Storage
If your style favors natural textures and colors, you should strongly consider using Pacific Teak Millworks grill island storage. Neutral finishes with subtle texture and earthy palettes complement teak, as does the modern look of poured concrete countertops. Teak gives off a warm and inviting feeling that you can’t achieve with stainless steel, but regular maintenance is recommended to keep it looking its best. Apply an outdoor furniture oil or sealer at least twice a year to keep your teak outdoor cabinets looking like new.
Benefits of Outdoor Kitchen Storage
Dry Storage
Some BBQ storage components, like enclosed cabinets, are designed to keep seasonings, rubs, and other dry goods safe from moisture that would otherwise damage them.
Organization
Everything has its place — outdoor cooking utensils, cooking fuels, cleaning materials, and party supplies can be housed in separate components, all within arm’s reach.
Space-Saving
By placing your supplies in the proper storage components, you can free up valuable counter space for food prep and keep your outdoor kitchen looking tidy.
Design Theme
While functionality is important, the grill island storage components you select can also play a big role in the aesthetic style or overall theme of your outdoor kitchen.
Final Considerations
The outdoor kitchen storage game is all about maximizing your available space. With the right set of island storage, you’ll also be able to keep everything you need for backyard gatherings outdoors while maintaining a neat and tidy space. That’s why we recommend multi-function components, which save room in outdoor kitchens and come equipped with useful appliances like ice makers, refrigerators, and wine cabinets.
Once you know what you’ll want nearby while grilling, you can decide which kitchen island storage components you need. Just don’t forget to give yourself room to grow—that means planning for storage that holds cooking accessories or tools you may come to need.
The most important thing to keep in mind while planning your outdoor kitchen is to make sure you’re happy with each design choice before you buy your outdoor kitchen cabinets. If you need help bringing your vision to life or just don’t know where to start, visit our Outdoor Living Design Service or call one of our experts at 1-877-743-2269.
