Outdoor Kitchens for Year-Round Entertaining

Adding an outdoor kitchen is an investment but thinking of it as an extension of your home makes it a worthy one. Outdoor kitchens aren’t just designed for summer, they are built for year round outdoor entertaining. Where you are located in the world will determine what goes into designing an outdoor kitchen for year-round use and what maintenance is required. This article will break down what goes into designing an outdoor kitchen for all seasons.

Designing your outdoor kitchen for the seasons

When designing an outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to consider elements that will be comfortable for winter or summer. This will depend on what those seasons look like for you.

The Fontana Forni Elysia modular outdoor kitchens are made for all seasons no matter whether there’s snow, rain or wind. Our galvannealed steel is rustproof and the dual powder coating on both the interior and exterior protects the outdoor kitchen islands from any extreme heat, cold or precipitation.

When designing the layout and elements of your outdoor kitchen and outdoor space for entertaining, you’ll want to keep in mind something beyond just an outdoor kitchen design for summer:

What makes your guests most comfortable: having blankets on hand, portable fans, heaters,etc. If rain is an issue, having some sort of covering for your patio is a consideration. Make sure if you are considering any built-in enclosures or ceilings you take into account any clearance and ventilation needed for your appliances.
Appliance you’ll use year round: Our pizza ovens are excellent for cooking year-round beyond just pizza. You can roast vegetables, bake bread, make steaks and even whip up a delicious soup in our ovens. The Volta is great for any dish that needs to be kept at a specific temperature, set it and you’ll be able to monitor the temps indoors. It’s perfect to include in an outdoor kitchen design for winter.
Accessories: Depending on where you live, having covers for your appliances might be a good idea, lighting if it gets darker earlier, cleaning supplies, etc will help you easily maintain your kitchen for year-round entertaining.

Building a High-Performance Cooking Zone

After you think through some of the design elements you’d like to include in your outdoor kitchen island, you’ll want to consider what appliances to include. Fontana’s outdoor kitchens are adaptable to a variety of appliances from grills to smokers to pizza ovens. The appliances we offer, like the kitchens, are made to perform year-round.

Pizza ovens: Our newest oven, the Volta, has smart technology allowing you to set a specific temperature for the oven and monitor it from your phone which is great for winter cooking.
Grill: Grilling isn’t just for the spring and summer.
Smoker: With a generally longer cooking time, smoking is a great way to cook when it’s a little chillier out.

The materials on all of our products are designed to withstand the elements for the long haul.

Keep it light

One of the difficulties of cooking outdoors year round is the lighting! Winter brings shorter days and far less sunshine. Adding some sort of lighting source can be beneficial when it comes to cooking year round. There are so many available options:

Portable lighting: These lights provide great brightness when you need them and can be stored in a drawer when you don’t.
Ambiance lighting: Consider twinkle lights or lanterns if you are looking for ambiance lighting.They aren’t always super bright but provide a glow needed for your guests to want to hang a little longer.
Permanent lighting: if you have a structure to support it, permanent lighting is great. This can come in the form of well-lit sconces on your wall, overhead lighting from a structure.
Task lighting: It’s also common to add in LED strips under shelves or specific lights right over your appliances to better see what you’re doing.
Landscape lighting: Add lighting in surrounding bushes and trees,on the stairs to your deck or the path to your yard. These lights are both functional and beautiful.

Maintaining an Outdoor Kitchen for All Seasons

The thought of maintaining an outdoor kitchen may feel overwhelming but it’s actually quite simple. Our outdoor kitchen maintenance guide will walk you through what you need to know for daily, weekly, monthly maintenance and cleaning for the outdoor kitchen and its appliances.

How do I protect my outdoor kitchen in the winter without closing it down?

Unlike other outdoor furniture that you need to store for the winter, outdoor kitchens don’t need to be fully shut down at the first sign of frost. You can protect your outdoor kitchen easily. In many cases you don’t need to do much at all but if you are considering Outdoor kitchen design for winter you might want to consider the following:

Fridge and sink: If you choose to include a fridge or sink in your design, you’ll want to follow the instructions included on how to shut those down for the winter so the pipes don’t freeze.
Covers: If you are in an area with heavy amounts of snowfall or a salt water environment you may want to purchase a cover for your pizza oven or your other appliances.

FAQs

Can I use an outdoor kitchen in the winter?

Yes! Our outdoor kitchens are designed to be used year round, even in the winter. Our galvannealed steel is meant to withstand the elements of winter.

Is an outdoor kitchen worth it in a cold climate?

An outdoor kitchen is absolutely worth it in a cold climate. Our outdoor kitchens are designed to work in all climates.

Can I use a smart outdoor oven when it’s snowing?

You can absolutely use a smart oven when it’s snowing. The great thing about our new smart oven the Volta is you can set your temperature and monitor it from the inside where you can watch the beautiful snow fall instead of standing in it.

About Fontana Forni Outdoor Kitchens and Islands

For over 70 years, Fontana Forni has been synonymous with exceptional Italian craftsmanship. Our outdoor steel pizza ovens are a representation of Italian culture, embodying a passion for delicious food and good conversation at the heart of everything we do.

Elysia extends that philosophy with modular outdoor kitchens that are as beautiful as they are functional, offering a true gathering space for family and friends.

With a fully customizable modular design, the kitchens offer versatility, seamlessly fitting into any outdoor space and budget. Their adaptable nature ensures they can evolve with your changing needs.

Each steel module is designed with the Italian craftsmanship you expect from Fontana Forni. Just like our ovens, the assembly is quick and easy.

Design your backyard for all season cooking. Peruse our Outdoor Kitchens and make an appointment to design a modular kitchen that works best for your space.

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