Inspiration
Utilize your Grill and Outdoor Kitchen this Holiday Season
Story Highlights
One of the most stressful aspects of hosting holiday dinners is trying to balance the use of your oven. With the turkey, sides, and pies all needing the oven, you need the perfect schedule to ensure everything is done in time for dinner. And even with the most efficient, well-thought-out schedule, some items are cold when they hit the table.
Additionally, as everyone knows, the kitchen is traditionally the main gathering spot for guests. Though a full kitchen can be a wonderful thing during the holidays, it can also be a nightmare for the chef trying to pull off a successful meal, especially if the kitchen is small.
This year, to create more space in your oven and kitchen, make use of your grill and/or outdoor kitchen. From grilling suggestions to ways of utilizing the counter space, this guide provides useful tips that will decrease the stress and increase the success of your holiday gathering.
Grill or Smoke your Turkey or Ham
This holiday, to decrease stress and lessen the load on your oven, consider using your grill or smoker for your turkey or ham. Not only does it free oven space for other dishes and desserts, but this cooking produces meats with unbeatable flavor. Though it may seem intimidating to try something new, the delicious results are certainly more than worth the risk.
Popping the turkey on a spinning rotisserie grill attachment provides built-in basting, which results in a juicy bird with a touch of the grill's smokiness.
The Spatchocked method provides a faster, more even cook, which yields wonderfully moist meat and crisp skin.
While cooking a turkey is tricky for some, grilling or smoking a ham is so easy and delicious that you'll never go back to the oven again.
Along with your meats...
Grill Vegetables & Other Sides
Grilling is an easy and delicious way to put a fresh spin on traditional holiday vegetables. Additionally, the internet is full of wonderful recipes for grilled holiday side dishes. You certainly don't have to grill everything (though we do think that's a great idea), but if oven and burner space is going to be an issue, plan to do one or two dishes on the grill.
Pictured: These super-simple sweet potatoes were placed directly on the grill, whole, for about an hour. After being allowed to cool, they were cut in half, topped with marshmallows, and put back on the grill for 10 minutes.
Yes, this is a thing...
Grilled Pumpkin Pie!
Prepare a grill for medium indirect heat: For gas grills (with 3 or more burners), turn all the burners to medium-high heat; after about 15 minutes turn off one of the middle burners and turn the remaining burners down to medium. For charcoal grills, bank one chimney starter-full of lit and ashed-over charcoal briquettes to one side of the grill. Set up a drip pan on the other side to avoid flare-ups.
Place the pie on the indirect heat side of the grill. Cover and cook until it is starting to set around the edges, about 25 minutes, then rotate, cover, and cook for another 25 minutes (the middle will still jiggle slightly). Move the pie to the direct heat side of the grill and cook for 3 more minutes to help crisp the bottom of the pie. Transfer to a rack; let cool completely for about an hour.
Along with the grill and Smoker, be sure to
Utilize Side Burners
If your grill or outdoor kitchen has side burners, utilizing them could be the key to your success this holiday season. These burners are great for making gravy as well as side dishes. Also, if your holiday meal includes any seafood (please invite me) or other items that leave unwanted odors, outdoor burners allow you to cook the items without flooding the house with lingering scents.
Use your grill or burners to offer
Warm Seasonal Drinks
Warm seasonal drinks, like mulled wine and cider, are delicious and should be a staple of all holiday gatherings. Unfortunately, these items often do not make the menu because they require vital burner space and help to overcrowd the kitchen.
This year, if you're not using your grill or side burner for cooking, use it to warm your favorite seasonal cocktail! Paired with a fire feature, these warm drinks are sure to be a hit!
Keeping food warm
Use your grill like an oven
When entertaining, chefs will often stick food in a low-temperature oven to keep it warm. There is no reason that you cannot use your grill the exact same way. Simply keep the burners on low and place items on indirect heat. This is the easiest and possibly most helpful way to make use of your grill during the holiday season.
Some might even call this a "life hack."
Thinking outside the grill and Burners
Utilize your entire Outdoor Kitchen
If you have a grill island or outdoor kitchen, be sure to take full advantage of all the features your structure has to offer. From refrigerators and ice makers to expansive countertops and bar-top seating, we recommend utilizing them to their fullest potential.
make use of your...
Outdoor Refrigerator
Though not discussed as often as ovens and burners, refrigerator space is also typically in short supply during holiday gatherings. If your outdoor kitchen includes a refrigerator, be sure to use it to your advantage. Use it to store additional drinks, food items, and leftovers. Or, if you want to keep the most important items easily accessible, use your outdoor refrigerator to store all of the items that are not essential to your holiday gathering.
Even if it's just for backup duty, utilize your...
Ice Maker
Having extra ice is never a bad thing when entertaining large gatherings. If your outdoor kitchen includes an ice maker, make sure you have it up and running for your gathering. If your ice maker has been winterized, you can still use it like a cooler to store additional ice.
Don't hesitate to Take advantage of...
Extra Counter Space
If your indoor kitchen becomes too cluttered or if you have multiple cooks fighting for space, sometimes you just need some extra countertop to work comfortably. Outdoor kitchens provide ample working space that is not as cluttered with utensils, appliances, and decorative tchotchkes.
If your kitchen gets too crowded this holiday season, make sure you have a plan to sneak outside and achieve the space you need.
And Speaking of counter space, use your outdoor kitchen as...
A Serving Area
If the weather looks good, consider using your outdoor kitchen as the main or secondary serving area. Outdoor kitchens typically offer expansive counter space that is perfectly utilized as a serving area for appetizers and/or dinner. As an added bonus, this can help push a few people (and dishes) away from the kitchen, providing the chef with the room needed to work comfortably.
Create more indoor space with an outdoor
Bar & Cocktail Area
If you're not using your Outdoor Kitchen for cooking, consider using it as a bar and cocktail area. Indoor kitchens are often crowded during the holidays because guests are getting drinks and mixing cocktails. For chefs working hard on the meal, this can be incredibly frustrating (some, like this author, might go as far as to say infuriating). If your outdoor kitchen is set up as the bar and cocktail area, you will undoubtedly have more comfort and space to work in your indoor kitchen.
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