Friday Find - Traeger Lil' Pig Grill

It's squarely grill season in the Heart of Dixie. As much as I love pigs and grills, it was natural that when I saw the Lil' Pig from Traeger that I'd be in love.

Now, if you're not familiar with Traeger Grills and their pretty sweet Wood Pellet Grill system you should absolutely check it out. At first, I was a bit skeptical that it could beat out a traditional charcoal or even a big gas monster like the one I normally use at home, but look at just how the grill works...

Between an automatic start function and convection cooking(all you foodies just perked up, huh?), the Traeger system is easy to use and function extremely efficiently. Traeger Wood Pellet Grills use considerably less than most wood grills.

If you're in the market for a new grill(but can't handle a pig on your deck), contact your local Traeger dealer and get cooking!

Grills Gone Wild!

It's that time of year again... Time to break out the grill and fire it up! BUT... got to be safe. No sense in burning down the castle for a burger.

What kind of grill do you use?

4 Tips for Winter-Proofing Your Outdoor Kitchen

Real winter weather is just around the corner in our neck of the woods(some of you are already seeing snow!) and part of every outdoor chef's late season preparation should be winterizing the outdoor version of their kitchen. Whether you have a standalone grill or a full-blown outdoor kitchen, these tips are sure to help keep your space in tip top shape.

Big thanks to Marisa Alan from Outdoor Living for contributing to Cupboards Blog!

4 Tips for Winter-Proofing Your Outdoor Kitchen

Winter’s fast approaching, and that means cold temperatures and precipitation are on the way. If you’ve spent a lot of time working on your outdoor kitchen, this can make for a disaster if you don’t plan properly. But it’s actually pretty easy to get your kitchen ready for cool weather. Here are the 4 tips you need to know for winterizing your outdoor kitchen.

Shut Water Off

First and foremost, shut all water off. This includes all lines going to sinks, ice makers, and any other hoses or faucets. Don’t wait until the night of your first freeze to do this. You want to get it shut off well in advance so any water still in the pipes can dry up. If not, you could end up with a pipe bursting and some major repair bills on your hands! Extra tip: remember to insulate all faucets attached to the outside of your home when freezing temperatures get close.

Unplug

If you know you won’t be using anything in your outdoor kitchen all season long, go ahead and take the time to unplug any electrical items. Even though you may not be using them, they still use a tiny bit of electricity just being plugged in, so this will help you use less energy and save money on your electric bill. This can be tackled while doing part of the next thing on our list…

Clean Up

Since you’re getting everything moved around, put away, and ready to be stored for a few months, it’s a good idea to go ahead and give it a cleaning too. Use a stainless steel cleaning fluid on all stainless surfaces (a bit of polish is a good idea as well) and remember to scrub down all cooking grates and remove any debris that’s fallen back in your grill. This is also a good time to check for things like leaves and small twigs that can get stuck behind refrigerators and other large accessories.

Use Covers

  Finally, when you’re ready to put everything under wraps until next spring, use some covers to do it. Things like your grill, sink, and pizza oven can all benefit from them, as they’ll prevent snow and ice buildup, keep pesky critters from invading, and stave off any lawn debris that might blow through. Make sure to look for covers made of high quality synthetic material designed for outdoor exposure that can take moisture and sunlight without breaking down, as they’ll do the best at keeping your items protected.

An outdoor kitchen is one of the best investments you can make in your home, and it’s important to make sure it stays protected during winter. Take care of these 4 areas and your kitchen will look great for years to come!

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About The Author – Marissa Alan is a writer with Outdoor Living and loves talking seasonal design and decorating. For more on items like chimineas, outdoor grills, patio furniture, and patio heaters, visit OutdoorLiving.com.

Guest Post: Outdoor Kitchen Design Tips

Thanks to Marissa from OutdoorLiving.com for stepping in and sharing a great post today! Have a great weekend!

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Outdoor Kitchen Design Tips

In the last 5 years or so, the outdoor living space emerged as one of the top trends when designing a home. People wanted a place to enjoy the comforts of the inside with the ambiance of the outside and that’s just what they got. As always, trends change with time. Now that the outdoor living space has become accepted, the new thing popping up is the outdoor kitchen. It’s a natural addition in the outdoor space, as it’s another way to enjoy the comforts of inside while out in nature. If you’re just beginning to plan your outdoor kitchen, here are 4 tips to help you get started.

Consider the Type of Entertaining You’ll Do

• If you’re putting in an outdoor kitchen, chances are you’ve got a pretty good sized outdoor area. The big consideration here, though, is the size of gatherings you’ll be having. If it’ll just be something you and your family use, a small kitchen with simple bar seating may be all you need. Conversely, if you plan on hosting outdoor gatherings with a lot of guests, you may want to add more cooking space and extra accessories, like a built-in drink cooler. A dining area next to the kitchen is a great idea as well, as it gives everyone a place to gather before, during, and after the meal.

The Grill is the Centerpiece

• Don’t forget that the centerpiece of your outdoor kitchen is the grill – it’s where the food gets cooked and where you’ll be spending a lot of time. With that said, don’t just go with any cheap grill you find here. There are certain things in an outdoor kitchen that you can spend less on, but you’ll want to invest money in a high quality grill. A cheap model will burn out after a few seasons and need to be replaced. A quality grill will last through years of cooking and hundreds of meals, easily paying for itself over time. As a bonus tip, go with a propane grill – it will cost less than running a natural gas line or an electric line out to your kitchen.

Accessorize Properly

• While the grill is the centerpiece, you can’t forget about the accessories. These are what make it an outdoor kitchen and not just a fancy grilling spot. Staple accessories every kitchen should have include a sink, storage cabinets, and a small refrigerator. With these, you’ve got the basics and can do all you need to have a great meal outside. If you want to get a little fancier, you can add things like a wine chiller, lobster boiler, or a warming station. For a real treat, consider adding a pizza oven. These have become the top accessory in outdoor kitchens over the last year, as they’re easy to install and give you a quick way to cook a food everyone likes.

Plan for Mother Nature

• Finally, you’ve got to take the elements into consideration when designing your outdoor kitchen. A well planned one will have the main cooking and (if implemented) dining areas covered so the space can still be used in rain or other bad weather. If you’re in a cooler region of the country, adding a heating element like a nice stainless steel patio heater is an easy way to make sure you and your guests are always comfortable in your outdoor kitchen. For warmer regions, an outdoor fan or misting system always makes a good choice for keeping cool.

When you consider the value outdoor kitchens provide, both in terms of hosting guests and in the resale of your home, it’s no surprise they’re becoming so popular. Let these tips guide you when you start designing yours and you’ll have the perfect one together in no time!

About The Author – Marissa Alan is a writer with Outdoor Living and enjoys cooking, outdoor decorating, and making her own wind chimes. For more on products like fire pits, grills, outdoor kitchen accessories, and garden water features, visit OutdoorLiving.com. 

Nick's KBIS Picks: Kalamazoo Hybrid Fire Grill

Stop number four of seven in Kitchen and Bath Industry Show(Las Vegas) adventures... 

KBIS had a heavy outdoor kitchen flavor this year.

Easily at the top of the mountain was the Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Hybrid Fire Grill. At my house, I have a gas grill, a charcoal grill and a smoker. The Hybrid Fire grill would allow me to get rid of all of those and just have a sole piece of barbecuing genius! 

via Kalamazoo

How is the Hybrid Fire Grill really hybrid, you ask? This grill allows a backyard chef to cook with either gas, wood or charcoal... or all three. The nifty drawers above the temperature controls allow you to insert your favorite woods or coals- you can use the gas to crank it up and then once you have a good fire shut down the gas and just cook with charcoal or wood. Gas temps range from 250 to 800 degrees Fahrenheit while wood and charcoal have a 150 to 1200 degree Fahrenheit range. 

The Hybrid Fire Grill will be available in June 2011 and is available in 12 models in 4 sizes. Choosing between 50,000 and 150,000 BTUs will be the only challenge! The 150,000 BTU Hybrid Fire Grill boasts 10 sq. ft. of cooking grate. Pricing will start just shy of $10k. 

In addition to the Hybrid Fire Grill, Kalamazoo was proudly showcasing its Outdoor Dishwasher.... 

via Kalamazoo

... and Artisan Fire Pizza Oven.

via Kalamazoo

Kalamazoo Gourmet is made in Kalamazoo, Michigan by hand and is built to endure the toughest conditions.

Check them out!

Nick's KBIS Picks: Dimplex PowerChef Grills

This is the first of seven posts about my recent trip to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show(KBIS) in Las Vegas. It was a ton of fun(and exhausting), but I've got lots of neat stuff to share.

I will probably take some heat(no pun intended) from some of my hardcore barbecue buddies for even uttering the words "electric" and "grill" in the same sentence, but times have changed!

 via Dimplex

This is the PowerChef electric grill by Dimplex. My only previous experience with Dimplex was with their line of electric fireplaces and knowing the quality of those, I was excited to see a line of cooking products.

Electric grills have notoriously underachieved when compared with more traditional outdoor cooking. Dimplex set out to change that and may have hit a home run. Many apartment and condo owners aren't permitted gas or charcoal cooking systems and the PowerChef offers a comparable(and easier) way to prepare those grilled feasts.

One of the features that really stuck with me was the direct-heating system. A lightning hot stainless steel upper grill is for searing and a lower element cooks via radiant heat. The grill has an even temperature surface that eliminates cold/hot spots and can crank up to a warm 650 degrees to sear in flavor. Optional rotisserie components allow for endless possibilities.

The PowerChef is also startlingly automated. The touchpad allows you to scroll through and choose your food and how done you want it- it does the rest! This grill even lets you know when it's time to flip the burgers!

via Dimplex

Now I haven't had the opportunity to use one of these grills yet... But I will. I've already contacted the dealer nearest me and look forward to test-driving one of these bad boys.

What's your take on electric grills? Would you be willing to ditch the propane tanks and charcoal for the ease of electric?