For homeowners looking to build an outdoor kitchen, there are a lot of decisions to be made, including whether you should purchase outdoor kitchen cabinets. Just like your home's kitchen, an outdoor kitchen needs a place to store things, which is where outdoor kitchen doors and drawers come in. If you're currently planning an outdoor kitchen project, we recommend giving some thought to your storage situation, which is why we've put together this helpful guide to answer the most common questions about outdoor kitchen cabinets.
What are Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets?
Put simply, they are what the name implies. If you're building an outdoor kitchen, you'll need storage space for things like your grill tools and accessories. While it's possible to keep those things in your home, it's significantly more convenient to have them close at hand. You don't want to be running back and forth while you've got food on the grill and risk burning it, which is why we recommend installing outdoor kitchen doors and drawers in your grill island.
What Cabinets can be Used for an Outdoor Kitchen?
We recommend using only outdoor-rated cabinets, doors, drawers and other storage solutions for your outdoor kitchen. It may be possible to use other types of cabinetry in your outdoor kitchen in the short term, but any product not designed for outdoor use is likely to fail quickly due to the ravages of the elements.
What are Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets Made From?
The answer will depend on the specific brand or model you're looking at. High-quality outdoor kitchen cabinets like those we sell here at Kickass Grills are generally made from stainless steel. Most of the brands we sell make their outdoor cabinetry out of 304 stainless steel, which provides exceptional corrosion resistance. For more details about materials, check out our stainless steel guide.
Can You Put Wood Cabinets Outside?
Wood cabinets might work outside for a time, but they'll need to be well taken care of if you want them to last. Just like any kind of outdoor wood furniture, wood cabinets would need to be regularly treated to resist moisture and pests to prevent degradation. While it is technically possible, most experts agree that stainless steel outdoor kitchen cabinets are a much more sensible choice.
Can I Use Regular Cabinets for an Outdoor Kitchen?
It's probably not wise to use regular cabinets for your outdoor kitchen. As noted above, anything that's used outdoors is subject to quite a lot of additional wear and tear from rain, snow, humidity, temperature changes, wind and other environmental factors. An indoor cabinet set may look fine outdoors for a short while, but over time the wear will cause it to look unsightly and eventually fall apart. We recommend only using outdoor-rated cabinetry in your outdoor kitchen.
How do you Waterproof Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets?
Ideally, you'll simply purchase high-quality outdoor kitchen cabinets that are already waterproof. A weatherproof outdoor cabinet is the ideal way to protect your belongings, including your grill's propane tank, which is of vital importance because of the risk of corrosion leading to leakage. While it may be possible to use sealants to waterproof a cabinet that isn't designed for it, you're running a pretty serious risk in doing so.
More Outdoor Kitchen Resources
These questions and answers are just a start in helping you design your dream outdoor kitchen. If you're looking for more ways to learn, check out these:
If you're in need of more personalized assistance, our expert team is ready and waiting to lend a hand. They're available 8am to 5pm Central Time Monday through Friday and can be reached by phone, chat or email.