Summer is almost here. Do you know what that means? It means it’s almost barbeque season. Most of us have a grill that we pull out of storage every now and then, and a few of us have a dedicated outdoor grill station.

Outdoor grilling has its drawbacks as well as its benefits. Your neighbors might not appreciate the smell of charcoal, for instance. Therein lies one of the benefits: a neighborhood barbeque can and will bring people together.

Grilled food has a unique flavor that you can’t get anywhere else. You might notice it if you have a stovetop grill—that slightly charred flavor of caramelized onion or the grill marks on a perfectly seared steak. We eat with our eyes as well as our mouths, and scent plays a vital role in this. When we smell grilled food, it awakens an innate sense that sets the mouth-watering.

Outdoor Grill Station: The Advantages

So, what is the point of an outdoor grill station? After all, you could just keep your grill in the garage and pull it out when you need it. However, I must advise that there are advantages to a dedicated space where you can fire up the grill.

It’s Efficient

First of all, we all crave some kind of efficiency. You don’t want to be ready to grill only to discover that you left your tongs in the kitchen. We’ve already discussed grilling as an efficient means of cooking. However, the space where you store your grill is also a means of efficiency.

By having a dedicated space to suit your grilling needs, you have everything you could ask for in one place. This will prevent you from having to disappear into your home every few minutes to find something that you could have sworn you just had.

This is not limited to tools. Some more advanced spaces have built-in refrigerators that can be used to store condiments, cooking oils, meats, and vegetables.

It’s Safe

People like keeping their grills in the garage until absolutely necessary. They may even pull it out the night before it’s needed. However, this is a fast pass to trouble.

Think about it like this: would you rather your garage catch fire or your backyard? A fire can easily be contained outside. You can also keep a fire extinguisher close to your back door so you can grab it on your way out if something goes wrong.

It’s Organized

In addition to being efficient, a dedicated outdoor space can be a useful means of organizing everything.

Not just a custom spot for your grill, you can have a cabinet or two dedicated to your cookware. A rack for tongs, a cupboard for steel plates and griddles, even a drawer for your apron, and any heat-proof necessities such as gloves and towels.

It’s Aesthetic

This is the most superficial reason to have an outdoor grilling space, but it’s still a valuable one.

Let’s talk property values. An outdoor grilling space offers the following:

• Although your house will, naturally, come equipped with a kitchen, there’s an additional function to an outdoor cooking space.
• Depending on the style you choose, you add to the appeal of your house.
• By using high-quality building materials, you ensure the durability of the space. This adds a sense of luxury. Imagine a renovated mid-century home with a modern grilling station. This is just an example of the power of a well-designed grilling space.

Having an aesthetic space can be a huge boost to your confidence. Some people love a clean house; other people like a space to grill that makes them feel like a top chef. A minimalistic space that’s just tiles and the grill is just as aesthetic as a Mediterranean villa-inspired space.

These are just a few of the benefits to having a space dedicated to grilling. You might want your grilling station to be an extension of your personality through its style and design. Alternatively, it could be your hobby. Some people love baking, others love crochet, and you love grilling.

By choosing to grill outside, in your own backyard, you can have a much more fulfilling experience.

Getting Creative

Grilling is a pastime associated with long, hot summer days and tailgate parties, but it can be done any time of year, provided you have the space and the creativity.

Allowing yourself a dedicated outdoor space to grill opens up plenty of chances to experiment. In fact, you might even be creative (or brave!) enough to attempt grilling a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner.

Below is just a small selection of recipes you can grill:

• Fruit kebabs: take a thick skewer and add some pineapple chunks, cubed green apple, and cantaloupe melon (if you’re feeling extra sweet, add a marshmallow at the end!). Grill for 2 to 3 minutes on each side or until grill marks appear. Remove from the grill and enjoy.
• Baked potatoes: take a good-sized potato and wrap it up in foil. You can sprinkle on some salt and black pepper for a little flavor enhancement before wrapping it up. Place the potato on the top shelf of the grill and allow it to bake until soft. As potatoes are quite hard root vegetables, I recommend piercing them with a fork so that the heat can penetrate much deeper. The foil is there to prevent the potato from burning.
• Pizza: Did you know that you can use your grill as a makeshift pizza oven? Pizza ovens work by containing heat. So long as you have an iron tray (most grills will come with one as part of the set) and you’re watchful with your time, you can make a pretty delicious pizza.
• Burgers and Steaks: This one was obvious, and it’s the reason most people have grills. You can level up your burger by grilling the inside of your bun and your steak by using a meat thermometer in order to ensure that it’s cooked to a safe temperature.

Another benefit of grilling your food is one that we don’t often associate with an outdoor barbeque. That being said, grilled food is generally healthier, or at least lower calories. Let’s say you’re grilling a burger. The fat drips out of the patty and onto the hot coals beneath. Of course, adding condiments, etc., to your burger will add calories, but this doesn’t just happen with burgers. Steaks, chicken breasts, and even pork chops all reap the same rewards. 

Grilling outdoors is also a fun experience. You can put on your favorite apron and shoot the breeze with some friends while you wait for your lunch or dinner to cook. This is socialization at its most natural.

How many times have you been to a barbeque? It may not seem like it at the time, but barbeques and neighborhood grills are fantastic means of socializing. You get to catch up with old friends and make new ones. You get to see long-lost relatives, too.

It’s completely up to you how you choose to socialize when grilling. You might want to make it a weekly thing every Saturday, or you might want to grill for special occasions. An outdoor grilling station can be the perfect storage and cooking space for a birthday party, anniversary, or graduation.

Bear in mind that you don’t have to invite the entire neighborhood around for a grilling session.

In order to prevent cross-contamination, it’s a good idea to cook things separately. Have your vegetables on the higher shelves of the grill and your meats (particularly raw meat!) on the lower part. This way, you can cook everything at the appropriate temperatures.

Another thing I would advise is to ensure that you grill in an open area. Although it can be tempting, during the rainy parts of summer, to grill in your garage, this is a recipe for disaster. The smoke from a grill contains carbon monoxide, which can be lethal in enclosed spaces. If it rains, just reschedule your barbecue. When it’s sunny, ensure that there is plenty of space and fresh air.

You might be surprised to hear this, but grilling can reduce energy costs. You don’t need all the burners on your stove activated at the same time. Additionally, with everyone outside, this prevents the need for air conditioning. No gathering is too big or too small, regardless of if it’s just friends or your extended family.

However, if you want to throw a block party, your outdoor grilling station will certainly come in handy.

A Few Final Words

Although an outdoor grilling station might seem like a waste of space or a useless luxury, that is precisely what it is—a luxury. If you can afford to have one installed or are skilled enough to install your own, you open up a world of opportunities.

Not many people enjoy the smell of burning charcoal, but everyone appreciates a well-grilled steak or BBQ ribs. An outdoor grilling station offers ample opportunities to experiment with your favorite recipes and get everyone involved in the process.