Get Sizzling with a Restaurant-Style Flat Top Grill in Your Outdoor Kitchen
Having an outdoor kitchen opens up a world of culinary potential right in your own backyard. From summer barbeques to holiday meals, you can cook up delicious feasts alfresco. But taking your outdoor cooking game to the next level requires the right equipment. That's where installing a flat top grill comes in.
Restaurant-style flat top grills allow you to achieve commercial-grade results in your outdoor kitchen. With advanced heating systems for unparalleled temperature precision and expansive stainless steel surface area, these professional grills are perfect for everything from pancakes to Philly cheesesteaks.
Types of Flat Top Grills for Outdoor Kitchens
When selecting a flat top grill for outdoor installation, you have two main options:
Standard Flat Top Grills
Standard flat top grills offer a versatile, affordable way to equip your outdoor kitchen. These grills feature steel griddle tops powered by either single or double burners for ample heating across the spacious surface. Popular entry-level models from brands like Blaze Grills and Bull Outdoor Products deliver up to 30,000 BTUs for excellent cooking performance.
Standard flat top grills excel at cooking techniques like frying, searing, simmering, and more. Durable surface materials like cold rolled steel withstand high temperatures for consistent results across the expansive cooktop. With griddles ranging from 575 to 760 square inches, you'll have plenty of space to handle everything from pancakes to stir fry.
Premium Flat Top Grills
Stepping up to a premium flat top grill brings commercial-grade features like commercial-thickness steel plate construction and powerful dual burners. Top-of-the-line models like Le Griddle stands out with unmatched heating power and durability.
The Le Griddle cooktop is crafted from thick 14-gauge 304 stainless steel optimized for excellent heat conduction and distribution. Combined with the exclusive dual Excel Pro burners, these flat top grills achieve a staggering 140,000 BTUs for unmatched searing temperatures up to 900degF.
With professional-style functioning and all-weather construction, the Le Griddle flat top grill delivers bbq-quality results across the spacious 584 square inches of cook space. Flat top fanatics will also appreciate the proprietary dual plate heating system for easy cleaning and maintenance after all your cookouts.
Designing and Building Your Outdoor Flat Top Grill Station
To fully unlock a flat top grill's potential for backyard cooking magic, proper installation is key. Here's what you need to know before construction:
Space Requirements
Standard flat top grills span dimensions ranging from 44" - 74" width and 21" - 28" depth. Be sure to account for extra room on all sides for safe clearance. Overhead ventilation hoods also require a minimum of 26" - 32" of height off the countertop.
Integrating into Outdoor Kitchen
Look at your current outdoor kitchen setup to determine the best way to incorporate your flat top grill station.
For standalone installations, allow room for side tables or shelving to expand the workspace. To build into existing cabinetry or appliances, ensure adequate ventilation and hood above.
Factor in additional features like a grill cover, storage drawers, lighting, etc. Mapping out the layout ahead of time guarantees everything fits together perfectly.
DIY Installation Tips vs. Hiring a Contractor
How hands-on you go with the installation depends on your skill level and tools available.
With some handy skills and proper guidance, DIY is definitely achievable for these steps:
- Assemble cabinetry framework
- Secure grill unit safely
- Hook up gas or electrical supply
However, to seamlessly integrate ventilation and higher-end features, hiring a professional may be the better (albeit pricier) option.
Getting the Most from Your Flat Top Grill
Once your sparkling new flat top grill station is ready to go, it's time to fire it up! Follow these pro tips and techniques for exceptional backyard cooking every time.
Seasoning the Surface
Before cooking your first meal, proper seasoning prepares the steel cooktop for top performance:
- Wash surface with mild soap and water
- Rinse thoroughly and let dry completely
- Rub a thin layer of high-smoke point oil like grapeseed or avocado oil evenly across the griddle using a paper towel
- Turn burners to medium-high heat and let sit 5 minutes until oil lightly smokes
- Carefully wipe away excess oil with a fresh paper towel and let cool
Repeat oiling and heating process 2-3 times until cooktop develops a slick patina.
Cooking Techniques
The expansive solid steel surface allows cooking possibilities far beyond just burgers and dogs. Check out these must-try cooking methods:
- Frying - From fluffy pancakes to crispy bacon, frying excels on the wide flat top
- Searing - Get the perfect crispy crust on chicken, steaks, chops and more with high-heat searing
- Simmering - Keep sauces, soups and even oatmeal at a consistent low boil
- Stir-frying - Cook meat and veggies in batches for even exposure to heat
And with precise burners and evenly dispersed heat, you'll achieve consistent results across the entire surface every time.
Cleaning and Maintenance
To keep your flat top grill in top working order for years of backyard feasting, follow these simple maintenance steps:
- Clean after every use - Wipe away food debris and grease with a flat top grill scraper while the surface is still warm, then finish with a stainless steel polish and clean rag
- Avoid harsh cleansers - Steer clear of heavy-duty caustic chemicals and abrasive tools that could damage the cooking surface
- Re-oil before each use - Rub a thin layer of high-smoke point oil to prevent food from sticking and add a protective barrier against moisture damage
By properly caring for your flat top grill after each use, you'll enjoy reliable high-performance cooking every time your fire it up.
Enjoy Restaurant Creations from Your Own Flat Top Grill
A flat top grill opens up exciting culinary potential for backyard cooking. Here are just a few signature dishes you can now create:
Restaurant-Style Burgers
Get that appetizing sear on juicy beef patties or turkey burgers. Toast the buns alongside while melting slices of cheese to absolute perfection.
Steakhouse Steaks
Perfect the art of flawlessly seared yet tender and juicy cuts of meat like New York strip, ribeye or filet mignon.
Famous Diner Pancakes
Crank the flat top grill up high and be the new hot spot for light and fluffy short stacks.
Breakfast Tacos
Scrambled eggs sizzling with your choice of bacon, ham, sausage or veggies wrapped in a warm flour tortilla is simple yet satisfying fare.
Philly Cheesesteaks
Slice up steak and peppers, pile it high on a hoagie roll, and smother everything in melty cheese sauce for the ultimate sandwich.
With some creativity and practice, you can even put unique twists on classics like fajitas, stir fry noodles and more using that expansive flat surface.
Adding a restaurant-quality flat top grill unlocks a world of live-fire cooking potential right in your own outdoor sanctuary. With superior temperature control and cooking flexibility, backyard chef's gain all the capabilities of a professional kitchen.
Top-rated brands like Le Griddle stand apart with commercial-grade construction to deliver unmatched power, performance and longevity. And with the right techniques, your grill's non-stick surface makes cooking - and cleanup - easier than ever.