Warmer weather calls for grilling, lounging and outdoor entertaining.
To get the most out of your patio and backyard spaces, consider adding a full-service kitchen to make outdoor entertaining easy and effortless. The plus side? You can prep meals and cook all in one place without leaving your guests unattended.
Get inspired to create your own unique space with these stunning backyard kitchen ideas:
Comfy Seating + Outdoor Fireplace
Create an inviting place for guests to relax while you’re grilling burgers. Buy comfortable, outdoor-friendly furniture for lounging around the fireplace.
Splash of Color
Bring in personality and liven up your outdoor kitchen with splashes of color in the furnishings, place settings and surfaces.
Stocked Mini Fridge
A backyard kitchen is not complete without a mini fridge filled with favorite soft drinks and adult beverages.
Built-In Kegerator
Another option? Put in a kegerator to keep pint glasses full at all times.
Casual Dining
Outdoor dining does not have to be fancy. Wood furniture is able to withstand unpredictable weather, and you can easily dress up the table with pretty linens and centerpieces. An outdoor rug helps ground the space and adds extra style to the design.
Under Cover
Rainy days can put a damper on outdoor parties, so keep that in mind when planning your kitchen design. A covered grilling station and seating area ensures you can enjoy the space even during a downpour.
Recycled Art
Turn empty bottles into a work of art to put on display. Embedded glass bottles add visual appeal to this stucco bar and grilling area.
Wood-Burning Pizza Oven
Please the pizza lovers with this wood-burning pizza oven next to the grill. Lots of counter space is essential for preparing large meals.
Poolside Service
Round stools inside the pool offer a place to sit, enjoy cocktails, dine and converse with the grill-master.
Convenient Herb Garden
Wood shelving beside the grill stores utensils and fresh herbs so they are easily accessible when preparing a meal.

So, you’ve been barbecuing on charcoal and gas grills, but what is that people keep telling you about pellet grills? What the heck are pellets? How do they work? Most importantly, what is the best pellet grill options to invest in? If you’re too embarrassed to ask people about it, we’re here to help.
What Is a Pellet Grill?
It’s an electric outdoor grill powered by hardwood pellets. Imagine a side-mounter hopper in place of a firebox in a traditional offset barrel smoker. It is fueled with cylindrical food-grade wood pellets – about ¼-inch wide and an inch long – consisting of compressed sawdust (hardwood). The sawdust is placed under high heat and pressure, which activates a natural glue inside it called lignin. Pellets don’t have any additives apart from the vegetable oil used to carry flavor or aid the process of extrusion. They burn clean, leaving incredibly minimum ash.
How Do Pellet Grills Work?
They’re essentially an outdoor cooker that requires electricity to run. When they’re plugged in, and the digital controller is activated, a rotating auger performs the job of delivering pellets to a cylindrical fire pot that houses an igniter rod directly from the hopper. For a reasonable amount of time, the rod glows hot to ignite the pellets. Combusting pellets then produce smoke and heat which are diffused by a blowing fan as well as the grill grate’s metal plates.
Most pellet grills burn wood pellets as fuel to flavor, smoke, and cook all types of proteins and meats. They also have the capability to accommodate larger quantities of food and span larger in size than usual household appliances.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Pellet Grills
Advantages:
They preheat quick. Just like gas grills, only the preheating process requires 10-15 minutes at maximum.
Some models of pellet grills give users pinpoint heating control by enabling them to regulate temperature in increments of 5-degrees. That is done with the help of a thermostat that sends accurate signals from the cooking chamber to the control as well as plays the role of a pellet delivery regulator.
The grill is versatile. It can roast, grill, smoke, barbecue, and even braise or bake a variety of foods. Examples include braising short ribs to barbecuing crisp chicken wings.
It’s hard to over-cook things on a pellet grill. Also, compared to the acrid smoke produced by charcoal fire or straight wood, the smoke flavor generated by a pellet grill is subtler.
As the functioning of a pellet grill is similar to the functioning of a convection oven, the user can load up cook chambers without stressing over uneven cooking. Also, soaked wood chips can be kept on the head diffuser plate directly in pouches.
Shortcomings
They have limited portability because of their reliance on electricity. In case of a power outage, the user needs to have access to an inverter or generator.
Though they’re known as “grills,” they don’t produce dark sears or grill marks, as fan-driven heat is used to run them. Hence, they’re often referred to as smokers. That said, the quantity of caramelization on the outside of cooked food can be increased with the use of a cast iron grill grate.
Less smoke will be generated at high cooking temperatures. Most smoke flavors come below 250 degrees’ temperature.
Any sort of grill that features electrical components or moving parts are prone to break down, a shortcoming that’s not present in wood or charcoal grills. Pellet fuels can disintegrate when exposed to moisture, so it’s important for those residing in humid climates to keep their pellet smokers in a dry place.
What Makes a Good Pellet Grill?
It doesn’t matter if you’re gearing up to grill beef, salmon, or chicken, you have to pick the right pellet grill for the job. While the answer depends on your needs, and your preferences, it helps to gain knowledge of the factors that make up the best pellet grill. Below are some of the important elements that go into the buying decision.
Temperature Controller: The ability of a pellet grill is largely based on its control board, which is the central nervous system of the grill. Different types of controllers including ones that feature an LCD and one-touch button allow users to produce great food. Ideally, the control should offer temperature control between 180 Fahrenheit 425 Fahrenheit.
Cooking Area & Size: Small pellet grills usually feature 450 sq. inch of primary cooking area and 100-150 sq. feet of the upper rack. It isn’t much different from larger variants that feature 500-700 sq. inch of primary cooking area. For larger families, a primary surface of 350-800 sq. inches should be enough.
Construction: The best pellet grills are made from painted steel. They’re painted using a high-quality powder coat that can survive high heat without going pale. The body should be painted well, as the steel can easily rust once exposed.

The Ultimate Guide to Buying a Gas or Wood Fireplace
Add value to your home and increase your comfort with the addition of a new fireplace! If your new dream home or remodeling project includes a fireplace, you have options. Whether you crave the crackle of a traditional wood fireplace or the convenience of a gas fireplace, Help you decide which is best for your home.
When it comes to choosing between gas and wood-burning fireplaces, the best solution is to review the key features of both. Below we have outlined some pros and cons to both unique designs, to help you determine which is best for your lifestyle.
Buying a Gas Fireplace For Your Home
You can’t beat the convenience of a gas fireplace. If you run a busy, no-nonsense household, a gas-burning fireplace may be ideal for you. Start heating your home with the flip of a switch, and never worry about having to stoke the fire or clean out ashes.
Pros To Gas Fireplaces
A gas fireplace requires very little upkeep, making the required maintenance minimal to none. Your gas fireplace can very easily be ignited with the flip of a switch and the temperature can be adjusted just as easily.
A natural gas burning fireplace has no embers or smoke, which could be a safer option for some households. Most gas-burning fireplace models will still work during power outages as well.
Cons To Gas Fireplaces
If you dream of a sitting by the cozy crackle of a fire, you won’t get this from a gas fireplace. Similarly, the traditional smell of a wood fire will be compromised if you opt for a gas-burning model.
If your home is not already equipped for a gas fireplace, the construction required to install one can be pricey. Relying on your gas fireplace to heat your home may not be cost-effective, as natural gas can come with a high price tag.
Buying a Wood Fireplace For Your Home
If you love the idea of warming up by a crackling fire and enjoy the natural smells of burning lumber, a wood-burning fireplace is perfect for you. Unlike older fireplaces that lose heat through the chimney, Creative Energy’s wood fireplaces are all designed to keep the heat in your home while properly ventilating out excess smoke. This will help you cut your energy costs, lower your dependency on energy companies, and keep your home warm and safe.
Pros To Wood Fireplaces
The relaxing ambiance of warm flames and the comforting smell of a wood-burning fireplace is one of the biggest appeals to homeowners. Your wood fireplace will become a captivating focal point of your favorite space.
One log of wood can heat a room for hours, making it incredibly cost-efficient. In the event of a power outage, your wood-burning fireplace will not be effective, allowing you to heat and light your home.
Cons To Wood Fireplaces
If you have little experience starting a fire by hand, a wood-burning fireplace could be a challenge. To ensure they are burning efficiently and safely, wood fireplaces can require a more knowledgeable user.
The hands-on maintenance of a wood fireplace can deter some homeowners. Your wood fireplace and chimney are going to require regular cleaning and annual inspections by a professional.

Learn how to clean and maintain your charcoal grill so it’ll last for years.
Clean the inside of the lid often.
Many store-bought grills are lined with a porcelain enamel. With age and wear, grease and smoke collect on the inside of the lid, and if it isn’t cleaned regularly, the lid may begin to look like chipping paint. Even though it is just debris and not toxic, you can still manage this build-up by cleaning the inside of the lid with a mild, soap-and-water solution after every grilling session when the grill is still warm (but not hot!). It should wipe right off.
Clean the grate before cooking.
Much like with a gas grill, as the charcoal heats up the grilling grate, you can scrape loose debris left over from your last cooking session using a stainless steel bristled brush. While warm, the residue will scrape away easily and leave you with a surface that your food is less likely to stick to. (Bonus tip about food sticking: This easy grill maintenance article on DIY Network also suggests that you use a little cooking spray, or rub the hot grill with an onion to prevent food from sticking while it cooks, but still be sure to clean the grate well before application.)
The inside bowl of your grill will need to be cleaned periodically too.
Clear it of all charcoal ash and use a a steel wool pad with soap and water to loosen any debris and bring it back to a shiny state.
Steam cleaners make all of this easy, too.
From cleaning the lid, to the bowl, to the debris-ridden grate, a good steam cleaning will help to keep your grill very clean. The hand steamer model I own has a steel head attachment, and it actually gets a lot of use on our oven. Since it’s useful at removing the heavy grease and grime that goes along with cooking, I’ve found that it’s nice to use on the grill too.With these easy maintenance tips, your grill will remain in good condition and provide you with many great meals.

No matter your budget, check out these ideas for creating an outdoor kitchen made for partying.
Now that the outdoor entertaining season has begun, are you dreaming about the ultimate outdoor kitchen? One where you’ve got everything you need at hand and you don’t have to go running back inside every two minutes? An entertaining space where you can set up a fancy cocktail bar and beverage center? Most of all, a grilling station that’ll make you look like you’ve got barbecue skills like Bobby Flay? We’ve got a few ideas to help you outfit your outdoor kitchen whether you’ve got a limitless budget and two acres or just a small hibachi on the veranda.
Grills
Let’s start with the grill (if the stove is the heart of the kitchen, then the grill can be the heart of the patio). If you’re shopping for a new grill, there are so many options it can be mind-blowing. First you have to decide on your fuel – charcoal or gas?
Pizza Ovens
Outdoor pizza ovens are all the rage. If you can afford the top of the line, go for a wood-fired brick Oven. Their low-dome, high-heat design cooks pizza the way it’s meant to be cooked. You can buy the dome then have it encased in stone or brick so it becomes a permanent fixture in your backyard.
Cabinets and Bars
Are you looking to build an entire outdoor kitchen? Stainless-steel cabinets are the most popular due to their durability and ability to withstand a variety of climates. Plus, they’ll likely match your grill. Outdoor cabinets are now being manufactured in a waterproof, marine-grade polymer. The plastic-like material is very low-maintenance and comes in a variety of colors. If you want to go with wood cabinetry, try teak, bamboo or cypress.