The storage configuration of a masonry outdoor kitchen base — the combination of hinged access doors and pull-out drawers that fill the non-appliance sections of the masonry base — significantly affects how functional the outdoor kitchen is during actual use. Access doors and drawers serve different storage functions, and the right combination depends on what the homeowner plans to store in the base, how frequently they access it during cooking, and the kitchen’s overall layout. VistaScapes & Design designs access door and drawer configurations into every Broken Arrow outdoor kitchen based on the homeowner’s use case rather than a generic default layout.
Access Doors: Best for Bulk and Utility Storage
Stainless steel access doors — single or double-door panels that swing open on piano hinges to reveal the interior of a masonry base cabinet — are the most common outdoor kitchen storage component and the appropriate choice for bulk items that are too large or oddly shaped for a pull-out drawer. Propane tank storage (for kitchens with propane-supplied appliances), gas connection access panels, grill cover storage, large cooking vessels (Dutch ovens, large stockpots), and utility items (extension cords, outdoor tool bags) are best stored behind access doors. Access doors are also appropriate for the under-grill storage section, which requires access to a large, open cavity for cleaning access and for accommodating the grill’s grease management system. Standard access door heights in a 36-inch counter-height base are typically 22 to 26 inches tall, providing useful access to the full interior of the base cabinet below the countertop.
Drawers: Best for Cooking Tools and Frequently Used Items
Pull-out stainless steel drawers — typically 4 to 6 inches tall for utensil/tool storage or 8 to 10 inches tall for larger item storage — provide better organized access to frequently used cooking tools than access doors, because the drawer reveals all its contents at once without requiring the user to reach into the back of a dark cabinet. Spatulas, tongs, grill brushes, thermometers, spice containers, and cooking accessories are more accessible and better organized in drawers than behind access doors. Most quality outdoor kitchen drawer systems (Blaze, RCS, Coyote, Lynx) use stainless drawer boxes with soft-close hardware and weatherproof seals around the drawer face to prevent water infiltration. We typically specify a two-drawer stack (two 4-inch drawers) adjacent to the grill on the cooking run and access doors for bulk storage elsewhere — this combination gives the host quick access to cooking tools without compromising bulk storage capacity in the kitchen base.
Call VistaScapes & Design at (918) 779-1317 for a free outdoor kitchen consultation in Broken Arrow. We’ll design the access door and drawer configuration for your kitchen base based on how you actually cook and what you plan to store outdoors.
