Sam Hickey, Author at Creekstone Outdoors

06 Nov

Knife Care: Take Care of Your Grilling Tools!

If you don’t know much about kitchen knife care, you’re probably finding it hard to keep your knives sharp. Many materials in your kitchen can destroy the sharp edges of your high-quality kitchen cutlery. Tile, marble, and granite countertops are some of the things that can damage your sharp grilling tools. How can you take care of the kitchen knives?

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Keeping your kitchen knives clean and sharp is very important. You need to avoid practices that might damage the cutlery, such as using the knives directly on glass and metal surfaces. We’ll show you some simple tips for storing and caring for your precious knife collection. Here are the ideas to consider:

Properly Storing Cutlery

The safest place to store your kitchen knives is either on a knife block or magnetic strip. Tossing a sharp knife in the drawer can destroy the sharp edges. You also risk cutting your hands when reaching the drawers. When using a magnetic knife strip, ensure that it’s strong enough to hold the heaviest knives in your cutlery. Use a magnetic strip made of stainless steel and wood in front of magnets to prevent metals from rubbing against each other.

How Often to Sharpen Knives

Keeping your kitchen knives honed and sharpened throughout is the secret to owning quality cutlery. To ensure that the blades remain sharp, remember to hone and sharpen them frequently. You can do that before and after every use, and even polishing them with a leather strop to keep them in great shape. The blades will last for many years.

Pro Tip: To give your top-quality cutlery the proper care and maintenance they deserve, hone and sharpen the knives regularly using the sharpening blocks and honing steels.

Quality Cleaning Guidelines

Cleaning your kitchen knives properly can keep them in great condition. Avoid washing the cutlery in a dishwasher, which tends to remove any protective coatings on the knives. The dishwasher uses highly-caustic chemicals that can wear the blades’ edges, making the knives dull. Always wash the blades by hand using hot water and mild detergent.

Taking Great Care of Your Cooking Utensils

Since your cutlery is one of the most valuable assets in your kitchen, you need to embrace all the knife care tips we’ve discussed. Make sure you hone and sharpen the knives frequently, wash them regularly, and store them properly. With these knife maintenance ideas, you can keep your blades sharp for a very long time.

Connect with us to learn more knife care tips and ideas.

30 Oct

How to Clean a Gas Grill

Learning how to clean a gas grill can help to extend your grill’s lifespan. If not removed, the carbon buildup and food residue remaining on the grill will form rust and damage its components. You will have to buy replacement parts or even a new gas grill every time.

It’s important to deep clean your gas grill every so often. Here are some tips on maintaining it for years to come. Share on X

While cleaning a gas grill may not be as easy as grilling a savory meal for dinner, you should clean the grates after cooking. To ensure that the gas grill is in great shape, you should deep-clean it occasionally. It involves cleaning the grill from the top down. Here is how to clean gas grill components.

First Steps to Take

If you intend to deep-clean your gas grill, you should first clean the grates by burning off the leftover grease and grime. Here are the first steps to take for quick cleaning.

Set all burners to high while keeping the lid closed for around 10- 15 minutes
Open the lid, turn off all the burners, and disconnect the gas supply
Let the grill cool to a moderate temperature of around 250°F – 300°F
Scrub the grates back and forth using a wadded ball of foil or grill brush

After scrubbing the grates, ensure there’s no grime left before cleaning the whole grill.

Cleaning Supplies to Use

As the gas grill cools, get all the cleaning supplies for deep cleaning ready. You’ll need water, a sponge, and mild dish detergent to wash the grill’s components. The mild detergent is ideal for grills that require surface cleaning only. For hard-to-clean grills, use Bar Keepers Friend, which is tough on rust. It’s available as a powder or liquid.

Getting a Deep Clean

To deep-clean the gas grill, start by setting aside the cleaned grill grates to access the flame tamers. Remove and scrub each flame tamer using a stainless steel wire brush. Check if there are food residues on the grill’s underside and clean it. Exposing foods to direct flame can burn off drippings, which find their way to the bottom.

When you remove all the flame tamers, you’ll access the burners and heat baffles, if present. Clean the burners one at a time by scrapping the exterior using the grill brush and unclogging the gas ports using a paperclip. Scrub the grill’s firebox walls and side walls using the wire brush.

Pro Tip: Remember to check for carbon buildup on the hood’s underside and at the back of the hood’s thermometer’s back and clean it off with a soft cloth and Carbon-Off.

Deep Cleaning Your Gas Grill for Grilling Season

Now that you know how to clean a gas grill, you’ll find it easy to keep your gas grill clean. Ensure that you deep-clean the gas grill occasionally during the grilling season. Finally, avoid using cleaners that might react with your grill components.

Connect with us to learn more about gas grill maintenance practices.

23 Oct

Outdoor Kitchen Design: 5 Things to Remember

Choosing an outdoor kitchen design that matches your style is the best way to add fun to your outdoor living space. Before you dive into the basics of outdoor kitchen planning, spend some time looking for the type of space that will best fit your lifestyle. Let’s take a look at some of the best outdoor kitchen ideas to consider.

If you’re designing an outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to get these 5 essentials incorporated into your backyard space. Share on X

What are some essentials to keep in mind for your outdoor kitchen?

When setting up a kitchen in your backyard, you must install all the essentials to complete the space. Some of the must-have accessories in an outdoor kitchen include refrigerators, barbeque grills, and ovens. Consider equipment made from stainless steel to withstand adverse weather conditions.

Here are the critical factors to consider when setting up an outdoor kitchen.

The Basics
Cooking & Grilling
Refrigeration
Organization
Insulation & Ventilation

1) The Basics

You want an outdoor kitchen design that fits your lifestyle. But where should you start? Install the basic outdoor kitchen equipment, such as built-in gas grills, access doors, a compact refrigerator, a side burner, and a trash bin. The patio kitchen should also have a sink and sizable counter space for meal prepping foods.

2) Cooking & Grilling

Adding a grill to your outdoor kitchen can make cooking more convenient. There are various types of grills, including gas grills, charcoal grills, pellet grills, and portable grills. Select a design that fits your needs and lifestyle. Other essentials that can add cooking versatility to the grill area include a smoker, power burner, or kamado.

3) Refrigeration

If you love entertainment, take your kitchen space to the next level by adding ice makers, wine coolers, beverage centers, and kegerators. When organizing poolside adventures, turn your outdoor kitchen into a cocktail paradise by installing the outdoor refrigeration appliances. Your family and friends will enjoy having ice-cold beverages.

4) Organization

Keeping all the appliances and accessories organized can improve your outdoor décor and help you save more space in the outdoor dining area. Ensure the kitchen has a big dining table and enough storage compartments to store all the ingredients you’ll need to grill your favorite meal. You’ll easily access the items while grilling.

5) Insulation & Ventilation

When setting up an outdoor kitchen, your safety should come first. One of the best ways to ensure that is by insulating and ventilating the outdoor kitchen. Use insulated jackets when installing your cooking appliances on a combustible island. Vent panels or vent hoods are also essential for proper gas venting in the kitchen.

Pro Tip: Look at design ideas online to find the outdoor decor that will best suit your new kitchen!

The Perfect Outdoor Kitchen Design for Your Home

Modern outdoor kitchens are an excellent example of a perfect outdoor kitchen design. Ensure you select the appliances that can spice up your outdoor living space. Consider modern outdoor cooking appliances over the traditional ones. The bottom line is to find an outdoor kitchen design that fits your needs and lifestyle.

Connect with us to learn more outdoor kitchen ideas and designs.

16 Oct

Designing An Outdoor Bar for Great Times

Setting up outdoor bars in a backyard is an excellent way for homeowners to maximize outdoor space in a home. As you add an outdoor bar in your home, implement features that will ‘fire up’ the place and make it more inviting to guests. What are the best features to consider?

What are some must-haves for your outdoor bar? Let’s take a look at the best accessories available for entertaining guests. Share on X

What should your outdoor bar include for entertainment?

The size and location of your new outdoor bar will influence the accessories you will add to its’ space. If you don’t know what equipment you should add to your outdoor bar, don’t worry, we’ll help you figure it out. Here are some of the outdoor bar appliances to consider:

Bar Center
Kegerator
Wine Cooler
Bar Furniture
Fire Pit
Pizza Oven
Charcoal Grill

1) Bar Center

With a bar center outdoors, you can have all the things you’ll need for entertainment, including an ice bin, bottle opener, condiment holders, and a sink & faucet. If you are a mixologist, add a well near the bar center to store your favorite mixers.

2) Kegerator

If you intend to serve the guests with some briskly cold beer, add a kegerator to the outdoor bar. A kegerator is a small refrigerator that comes with one or two taps for dispensing beer. So, you won’t have to buy many beer bottles to serve your guests, helping you save more money.

3) Wine Cooler

Enjoy chilly wine bottles while hosting a party in your backyard by adding a wine cooler to your outdoor bar. Unlike other outdoor refrigeration accessories, wine coolers work at a slightly higher temperature range. Most wine coolers have removable horizontal shelves for easy storage.

4) Bar Furniture

One of the essential features in an outdoor space is adequate seating. Consider adding some bar stools and chairs around the bar island and let the guests enjoy the party while sitting. It’s an excellent way to interact with the guests as you grill a savory meal.

Pro Tip: If your outdoor bar has no island, add a separate bar table and a set of chairs on one side. Select chairs that match the right height of the counter or bar table so you can enjoy and relax in comfort.

5) Fire Pit

You can also inspire your outdoor bar by adding a fire pit to your space. It will make the place more inviting for guests and family members. With the fire pits put in place, you can host night parties in your backyard throughout the year. Learn more about our fabulous fire pits to inspire your outdoor living.

6) Pizza Oven

An outdoor pizza oven is one of the best outdoor kitchen appliances that can also inspire your outdoor bar space. It’s highly versatile and easy to use, making it a must-have accessory for pizza lovers. The common types of pizza ovens include gas pizza ovens and wood pizza ovens.

7) Charcoal Grill

A night party is not all about drinking. Alongside drinks, you can add a charcoal grill for an outdoor barbeque party. However, there are many charcoal BBQ grills, such as a built-in grill and a portable grill. The Big Green Egg is an excellent example of a portable grill.

Building the Outdoor Bar of Your Dreams

Designing outdoor bars is an excellent way to spice up the outdoor living. If you have a big backyard, you can add an outdoor bar that matches your style. Install high-quality accessories that can withstand extreme environmental conditions.

Contact us to learn more about getting your perfect outdoor bar started!

09 Oct

Complete Your Outdoor Kitchen with These 6 Appliances

Are you planning to set up an outdoor kitchen in your backyard? If so, you’ll need to add a few outdoor kitchen appliances to complete the space. You wouldn’t want to make frequent trips into the house to use your indoor kitchen appliances. Which equipment options are needed for an outdoor kitchen? Let’s find out!

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What are some great appliances to complete your outdoor kitchen?

Outdoor kitchen appliances are not new. The only difference between them and indoor kitchen appliances is that they are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions, like temperatures and humidity. So, make the right choice when buying appliances for your outdoor kitchen. Here are some suggestions for you to consider:

Charcoal Grills
Gas Grills
Pellet Grills
Pizza Oven
BBQ Smoker
Side Burners

1) Charcoal Grills

Charcoal grills are highly versatile and offer the simplest way to grill your favorite food, whether meat, fruits, or veggies. However, there are different designs of charcoal grills, including built-in charcoal grills and free-standing charcoal grills. The latter is mobile, making it easier to set it up anywhere in your backyard. Whatever your outdoor cooking preferences, charcoal grills are a great option for parties.

2) Gas Grills

Gas grills are excellent alternatives to charcoal grills. They are customizable, versatile, and easy-to-use. Most importantly, the grills can generate and maintain stable high heat levels, allowing you to cook meals quickly. However, the designs for gas grills vary, depending on configuration and the type of gas used.

3) Pellet Grills

If you crave for slow-cooked smoked meat but don’t want to use charcoal or gas grills, you can opt for the pellet grill. It uses a special fuel (wood pellets) made by compressing hardwood sawdust. Thankfully, the pellet grills can ignite easily and produce even heat. You can choose either a free-standing or built-in grill.

Pro Tip: With a temperature range of 200-700 degrees Fahrenheit, pellet cookers can smoke, grill, barbecue, broil, and bake. Some models can even sear food.

4) Pizza Oven

Are you a pizza fanatic? If so, a pizza oven is a must-have appliance in your outdoor kitchen. The equipment is highly versatile and comes in different styles, depending on configurations and type of fuel used. Some of the designs include built-in, free-standing, portable, and countertop pizza ovens. Their sizes also vary.

5) BBQ Smoker

Like the pellet grills, BBQ smokers can cook foods at low heat for longer periods. The good news is, there are various models in the market, including electric, charcoal, gas, and pellet BBQ smokers. Generally, you ought to choose a model that matches your outdoor kitchen’s style.

6) Side Burners

You can inexpensively boost your outdoor kitchen’s versatility by adding a side burner. It offers separate temperature controls, allowing you to cook at multiple heat levels for a sear, simmer, and boiling. Notably, there are different side burner designs, including single side burners, double-side burners, and power burners.

Finalizing Your Dream Outdoor Kitchen

Now, it’s time to spruce up your outdoor kitchen space by adding these outdoor kitchen appliances. Choose brands that will suit your kitchen style. You can buy appliances of the same brand or mix and match different brands. Once you’ve done that, hire a reputable contractor to help you install the kitchen appliances.

Contact us for outdoor kitchen design solutions, including appliance installations.

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Author Archives: Sam Hickey