The built-in grill is the centerpiece of a Broken Arrow or Tulsa masonry outdoor kitchen — the appliance that the kitchen is designed around, that drives the BTU capacity of the gas supply line, and that produces the cooking results the homeowner invested in the outdoor kitchen to achieve. Choosing the right grill for a specific outdoor kitchen project involves selecting the appropriate cooking width, BTU output per burner, burner count, and brand quality level for the homeowner’s cooking style and budget. A grill that is too small for the kitchen’s footprint looks disproportionate and limits cooking capacity; a grill that is specified above the homeowner’s actual cooking ambitions wastes budget that could be better spent on bar appliances or countertop material. VistaScapes & Design specifies grills on every Tulsa outdoor kitchen project based on the homeowner’s cooking style and the kitchen’s overall budget.
Grill Width: 30-Inch, 36-Inch, or 42-Inch
Built-in grills for masonry outdoor kitchen applications are most commonly available in three width categories: 30-inch (approximately 540 to 600 square inches of primary cooking area), 36-inch (approximately 660 to 750 square inches), and 42-inch (approximately 870 to 960 square inches). The 36-inch grill is the standard specification for most Broken Arrow and Tulsa outdoor kitchens because it provides adequate cooking area for 8 to 12 guests, fits comfortably in a 14 to 16-foot primary kitchen run, and is available in a complete range of quality levels from mid-range to luxury. The 42-inch grill is appropriate for homeowners who regularly entertain 15 or more guests and who want the visual and functional statement of a large cooking surface — the 42-inch grill produces a dramatic visual impression in the masonry base and provides enough simultaneous cooking capacity to manage an entire meal for a large group without multiple cooking rounds. The 30-inch grill is appropriate for smaller kitchen configurations where the 36-inch grill’s cutout would consume too large a proportion of the available kitchen run length.
Brand Tiers and Quality Differences
Built-in grills for masonry outdoor kitchens range from value-tier brands ($800 to $1,500 for a 36-inch grill) through mid-range brands ($1,800 to $3,500) to premium brands ($4,000 to $10,000+). The primary quality differences between tiers: burner material (mid-range and premium grills use stainless steel or cast stainless burners that last 15 to 20 years; value grills often use cast iron or painted steel burners that corrode in outdoor conditions within 3 to 5 years), cooking grate material (premium grills use heavy stainless or cast iron grates that retain heat well; value grills use thin grates that fail to produce adequate sear marks), lid construction (premium grills have double-walled stainless hoods that retain heat for indirect cooking; value lids are thin and lose heat rapidly), and BTU output efficiency (premium burners produce more even heat distribution across the cooking surface than value burners at comparable BTU ratings). Brands commonly specified on Tulsa outdoor kitchen projects in the mid-range to premium category: Coyote, Blaze, RCS, Bull, Lynx, and Weber built-in models.
Call VistaScapes & Design at (918) 779-1317 for a free outdoor kitchen consultation in Tulsa. We’ll recommend the right grill for your cooking style and project budget and design the masonry base around its specific cutout dimensions.
