Outdoor Kitchens Guide

There is nothing more frustrating to a lover of grilling out than being told they cannot do what they love. If you live in certain places, this is a very real dilemma. But there is good news for anyone living in a place that prohibits the use of gas appliances on balconies and lanai areas. Introducing the electric grill! There is nothing new about the idea of an electric grills as they have been around for a very long time. But manufacturers have really gone a long way in recent years to make these grills as functional and stylish as any gas powered grill. These improvements are causing people to build outdoor kitchens in places where they previously were not because they thought the project would be incomplete without a “real” grill.

Not only can you get an electric grill for your patio or balcony area, but there is actually now a large selection of built in electric grills, which allows you to have that full fledged outdoor kitchen. It used to be that an electric powered grill was more like an in indoor cooktop than a traditional grill. The market was dominated by the Jenn Aire downdraft style of grill. This unit uses electric griddles to supply yhe heat, while a built in fan draws the smoke down and out through a duct system. the biggest benefit of this type of grill is the lack of smoke and grease in the air and on the wall behind the grill. While these were, and in fact still are viable alternatives for someone who cannot have a gas grill, it does not really have the look and feel of a “real” grill. In addition to that, you cannot do things like rotisserie, smoke, or simply have a “real” looking grill.

That last part is what has changed in recent years. There is now a pretty large selection of built in outdoor grills available that look just like a traditional grill. You can have that stainless steel bbq in an electric version, and you can have a rotisserie,a grill light, a searing burner, etc, all the things you want in a grill. If you read my other posts, particularly the one  on built in grills, you know that I advocate the use of outdoor built in grills made from 304 stainless steel. It just makes sense that if you are building an built in outdoor kitchen you use components that are going to last a long time. If done properly the result should be something that lasts as long as your home lasts. Luckily, you can still follow this advice when using an electric built in outdoor grill. This type of grill outdoor kitchen will not be the least expensive, but it will be the highest quality and will last the longest out of all your choices.

One thing to note is that electric grills require either 110V or 220V power. You have to pay attention to as you research each grill and take note of the power requirements. In general, the higher quality grills are going to require 220V power. Don’t let this scare you away, as these grills are much more powerful than 110V grills and will be able to generate more heat for various kinds of cooking. Many condo buildings these days are pre-wired with 220V power, so you might not have any added expense as far as powering the grill goes.