Have you ever thought about trying outdoor cooking? It can be a great way to enjoy time outside while still being able to prepare your favorite meals.
There are many reasons to take up cooking in the yard—from saving money to promoting creativity—but perhaps the most important is simply being able to enjoy some fresh air. After all, life gets hectic, so it can be all too easy to spend countless hours in the office or on the couch. Keep reading to find out the many reasons to try outdoor cooking.
Ways to Cook Outdoors
Before we get into all the benefits of outdoor cooking, let’s talk about the options that allow you to enjoy doing it while still getting all the goodness from your meals.
Of course, traditional grilling is one of the most popular methods, but it’s not the only way to cook outdoors. You can also use a campfire, smoker, a pizza oven, or even an outdoor oven to prepare your food.
These are all traditional and well-known ways to cook outside, but a new way that is starting to become more popular is using a fully furnished outdoor kitchen. This option is an excellent one if you have the space and the budget for it because it lets you have all the cooking amenities inside your home but with the added bonus of being outdoors.
Outdoor kitchens can include features such as a sink, countertop space, storage, and even a refrigerator. This ensures you have everything you need right at your fingertips so you can prepare a meal just as if you were cooking inside your home.
Read Also:
Benefits of Cooking Outdoors
Now that that’s covered let’s take a look at why outdoor cooking can benefit you. The luxury of cooking outdoors comes with a variety of benefits that not only put good food on your plate but also:
- Improves your social life
- Positively affects your mental health
- Boosts your physical health
- Cuts back on expenses
- Saves you time
Spend More Time Outdoors
One of the best reasons to try outdoor cooking is that it gives you an opportunity to spend more time outdoors. Cooking in the yard (or anywhere else) lets you unwind without having to sacrifice your home-cooked meals.
Unfortunately, studies have shown that people are increasingly spending less time in nature. About 25% spend fewer than two hours, with some of the reasons being attributed to a less accommodating work-life balance and the growing prominence of technology in our lives.
Outdoor cooking gives you the best of both worlds by letting you enjoy the fresh air and beautiful scenery without being tied to an indoor kitchen.
Improve Your Mood
Fresh air and sunshine can help improve your mood and overall sense of well-being. Cooking outdoors allows you to get out of the house and soak up some Vitamin D from the sun. The sun’s rays have a positive influence on one’s emotional well-being, and spending time in nature has been shown to lower stress levels.
According to a report by the Environmental Protection Agency, spending time outdoors can reduce stress, anxiety, and depression. So long as you don’t put pressure on yourself while cooking, being outside could be the perfect solution if you’re looking for a way to improve your mood.
Can Save You Money
In addition to the physical and mental health benefits, outdoor cooking can also benefit your pockets. Dining out is fun, but it can be expensive, especially when done often.
An outdoor kitchen can let you take advantage of cheaper cuts of meat and produce. These items may require longer cooking times but will taste just as good if not better than what you’d find at a restaurant.
On top of saving you money on dining out, outdoor cooking could cut your electricity bill. Grilling doesn’t heat up your kitchen like cooking inside does, making it a more efficient option for prepping food.
Great for Entertainment
Outdoor cooking can be a fun way to entertain guests. It can play a big role in celebrating special occasions, like a birthday, graduation, and anniversaries. But it’s equally practical for more intimate gatherings with a few friends for dinner. You can’t go wrong with filling people’s tummies and hearts with great food prepared in the open, refreshing air.
You’re often stuck inside cooking in an indoor kitchen while everyone else is outside enjoying the nice weather. With an outdoor cooking setup, you can join in on the fun and play a more active part in the entertainment.
If you have a backyard or patio, you could even build a beautiful open-air kitchen to serve your guests fresh, delicious food. An open-air kitchen can be enhanced with ambient lighting or speakers, so it can thrive as an entertainment focal point.
Brings People Closer Together
For many, there’s nothing more traditional than having a gathering with loved ones around a BBQ. Whether you are feeding family, long-time friends, or new guests, cooking outdoors is a great way to bond with people.
You can create memories that will last a lifetime while grilling burgers for a backyard barbecue or cooking a multiple-course meal in a full-service outdoor kitchen.
One of the best things about outdoor cooking is that it lets you be social while still getting stuff done. You can talk to your guests while you cook, and you don’t have to worry about being stuck inside while everyone else is enjoying the nice weather.
Adds Value To Your Home
An outdoor kitchen can add sentimental and resale value to your home, especially if you include outdoor kitchen equipment. A study conducted by the National Association of Realtors found that 61% of buyers would pay more for a home with an outdoor kitchen.
The potential return on investment will depend on several factors, such as the type of outdoor kitchen you choose and its overall quality.
Still, not only will it make your house more attractive to potential buyers if you ever decide to sell, but an outdoor kitchen can also make your home more enjoyable for you and your family.
After all, the versatility of an outdoor kitchen means you could have romantic dinners with your significant other or entertain the masses for a family reunion.
You Can Get Creative with Your Menu
When you’re cooking outdoors, you can get creative with your menu and try new things that you may not be able to make indoors. For instance, you could cook a pizza in a wood-fired oven or grill fruit for a healthy and delicious dessert.
There are no limits to what you can make when you’re cooking outdoors, no matter whether it’s a simple hot dog, an entire Thanksgiving feast, or new recipes you discovered online.
Improve Your Physical Health
Not only is spending time outdoors good for your mental health, but it can do wonders for your physical health.
After all, a healthier lifestyle doesn’t just involve exercise, but how you eat. When you cook outdoors, you have complete control over what goes into your food. You can use fresh, healthy ingredients and avoid processed foods.
People who cook outdoors are more likely to get their recommended daily intake of fruits, vegetables, and proteins. In part, that owes itself to the foods typically used while cooking outdoors, such as grilled meats, vegetables, and fresh fruits.
Moreover, outdoor cooking often requires less oil and fat than indoor cooking, leading to healthier meals. Healthy meal prepping is also very easy to do on a grill, which can help you save time and money. You can cook a large batch of food and then store it in the fridge or freezer for later.
Easy to Clean Up
Finally, one of the best things about cooking outdoors is that it’s usually easy to clean up. When cooking indoors, you often have to worry about the grease and smoke from your food making a mess of your kitchen.
Besides any unsightly spillovers, you’ll likely use more dishes to prepare, cook, and serve everything as compared to, for example, a grill.
With a grill, you can cook multiple items at once, brush it off when you’re finished, and not have to worry about dealing with an overwhelming pile in the sink at the end. Not only is it easier to clean up, but you’ll avoid attracting bugs or animals into your home if he leftovers.
Improve the Flavors of Your Food
One of the most underrated benefits of outdoor cooking is that it can improve your food flavors. When you cook with a charcoal grill, the smoke from the charcoal can add a unique flavor to your food.
If you’re looking for even more flavor, you can try using wood chips to smoke your food. Cooking a pizza in a wood-fired oven will give it a more intense quality you can’t get from cooking indoors.
Wrap Up
As you can see, there are many benefits to cooking outdoors. Whether you’re looking to save money, bond with friends and family, or simply want to try something new; outdoor cooking is a great option. Give it a try today!
