How to choose an outdoor kitchen

Choosing an outdoor kitchen comes down to a handful of decisions. Get them right and you will have a second kitchen you use for years; get them wrong and you will be covering it up or replacing it. Here is how to approach it, step by step.

1. Start with the space

Decide where the kitchen will go — a terrace, the garden, or beside the pool — and measure the width you can give it. Also think about access: a turnkey kitchen is usually craned into place, which works even where ground access is tight. If space is limited, a small outdoor kitchen can still include full equipment.

2. Decide how you want to cook

A gas BBQ covers most needs with fast, controllable heat. If you want charcoal flavour, smoking, slow cooking or pizza, add a Kamado. Then consider the supporting features: a sink for prep and clean-up, a fridge for drinks and ingredients, and — if you will cook under a pergola or cover — an extractor hood.

3. Check the materials

Materials decide whether a kitchen lasts outdoors. Look for a galvanised steel structure, stainless steel cabinets and a sintered-stone or stainless worktop, and avoid porous stone or untreated metals that warp and rust. Our guide to the best materials covers this in detail.

4. Consider how it is installed

There are three routes — freestanding, custom masonry, and turnkey — and they differ enormously in cost, time and disruption. Our guide on turnkey vs custom vs freestanding compares them. A turnkey kitchen avoids on-site building entirely.

5. Set a realistic budget

Prices range from a few thousand euros for freestanding units to well beyond €30,000 for custom builds. Our cost guide breaks down what drives the price. Baxalt’s recommended retail prices typically range from €14,000 to €24,000 for a complete, installed kitchen.

How Baxalt makes it easier

You can work through all five decisions in one place: design your kitchen in real-time 3D, then take your configuration to a showroom partner who handles the site assessment, delivery and one-day installation. Explore the range to see the three models.