Have you thought about upgrading your kitchen this summer? You have various options available for gas, electric, or charcoal grills and many accessories to add to your outdoor kitchen.
If you choose to have a stainless steel outdoor kitchen, it’s a perfect, low-maintenance option to bring your yard space together. We have a few tips for keeping your area in great shape all summer long and beyond!
Clean it every time after use
To keep your stainless steel outdoor kitchen looking great, you have to clean up after yourself every time. This may seem like a hassle, especially on a full stomach, but it’s important for keeping your stainless steel outdoor kitchen in the best shape.
Stainless steel is durable, as it is resistant to rust and corrosion and designed to withstand the outdoor elements. However, it isn’t indestructible. With consistent maintenance, it prevents buildup or other potential damage.
Do you plan to serve your friends and family outdoors as well? Make sure to never cut directly on a stainless steel surface; use a cutting board instead. Also, don’t leave metal cans, hot steel or cast iron cookware sitting on your surfaces for any amount of time. This can damage the sleek appearance of your stainless steel grill.
Who wants to clean their grill RIGHT before using it? Not us! Take a few extra minutes after the meal to wipe it down, and you are already set for your next grilling night out!
Go soft
When you are cleaning stainless steel surfaces, go soft. To clean a stainless steel outdoor kitchen, wipe with a damp, non-abrasive cloth or sponge with warm, soapy water. Make sure to follow the grain of the metal and wipe in a motion that is parallel. You can air-dry the stainless steel, but a follow-up with a soft towel can get rid of water spotting.
Use only alkaline, alkaline-chlorinated, or non-chloride cleaners. Avoid hydrochloric acid, as well as steel pads, wire brushes, and scrapers. If you do have to use chlorinated cleaner, rinse thoroughly and dry immediately.
Buff with a special polish
You can buy special polish or cleaner for stainless steel. These can help keep your stainless steel shining, as well as help prevent damage.
Another tip: Use glass cleaner. This actually acts similarly to the special stainless steel polish, and we bet you have it in your cleaning cabinet already!
Make sure to cover, no matter the season
Stainless steel is not necessarily stain-proof. You can minimize aging over time by storing or setting up in a dry, shaded area and always remembering to cover your kitchen area with a vinyl or other cover. This can also apply to your whole patio, so get in the habit now of covering at the end of the day to keep your stainless steel outdoor kitchen in perfect condition for years to come.
Upgrade with powder coat finish
You can add a special powder-coated finish to your stainless steel. This option doesn’t require as much cleaning and helps prevent rust over time, adding to the ease of maintenance. Keep in mind that if you have a pool or live near the coast, this can accelerate the corrosion process, as chlorine in the air or salt from sea air are two major contributing factors. This option is offered in a wide range of colors and designs that can add variety to your stainless steel outdoor kitchen.
Are you ready to get cooking in your new stainless steel outdoor kitchen? Contact AES Hearth & Patio if you’re in the South Central Pennsylvania area. We’re ready to upgrade your outdoor space!
Creating Warm Memories Through Every Season.
I built an “ice table” with some leftover pieces of exterior plywood, some PVC trim material sprayed it with “Flex-Seal” paint and put a hose fitting for drainage, I use to as a “cold area for parties and in the winter it lives in the back room covered with plants any over runs of water just discolor it a little and some soap and water takes care of it well enough.
I keep seeing the “sink tables” from Cabela’s and would get one but, I really can’t think of where I’d store it!
Right now, I have the space between the two kettles then behind you (facing the kettles) I have a brick shelf that is a good working height for me. It works pretty well for buffet style serving. I try to set up the ice table under my EZ up, (I have a lot of birds around here) so it’s shaded and protected, when the party is over, let the table drain, dry in the sun and put it away!