An outdoor kitchen can turn a terrace, garden or patio into a complete space for cooking and spending time together. Instead of moving between the indoor kitchen and the grill, you can prepare, cook and serve food in one place.

If outdoor cooking is an important part of the space, the gas grill becomes one of the key elements of the outdoor kitchen.

This also raises an important question during planning: do you need a traditional built-in grill, or can you integrate a countertop gas grill into the kitchen design?

In many cases, a countertop model offers a practical alternative. A countertop gas grill can become part of the outdoor kitchen layout while remaining accessible for use, cleaning and maintenance.

Built-In Grill or Countertop Grill for an Outdoor Kitchen?

When people think about a built-in grill, they often picture an appliance permanently installed inside a kitchen unit.

However, that is not the only way to create an integrated outdoor cooking area.

If you are planning a stone, concrete, stainless-steel or other suitable outdoor worktop, you can design a dedicated space for a countertop gas grill.

The grill can then visually become part of the outdoor kitchen without being permanently enclosed inside the structure.

This type of setup works particularly well for:

• outdoor and summer kitchens,
• garden BBQ areas,
• terraces and patios,
• villas and holiday homes,
• vacation rentals and tourist accommodation.

If you are still deciding which configuration best suits your space, you can also explore the complete range of Furlan gas grills.

Why Choose a Countertop Gas Grill for an Outdoor Kitchen?

A traditional freestanding grill requires space for the grill itself. In many cases, you also need separate surfaces for food preparation, plates, utensils and serving.

A well-planned outdoor kitchen already provides much of this.

The worktop can include:

• food preparation space,
• a dedicated area for the grill,
• a sink,
• storage cabinets,
• a refrigerator,
• serving space.

Because of this, a countertop grill does not need its own large stand or additional side shelves.

Instead, you can integrate it naturally into the kitchen layout.

A practical setup might look like this:

refrigerator → preparation area → grill → serving area

This keeps the entire cooking process in one place and makes the outdoor kitchen easier to use.

Choose the Grill Before Designing the Opening

If you are building a new outdoor kitchen, it is best to choose the grill first and design the surrounding kitchen around it.

A grill needs more than enough space for its main body.

When planning the area, also consider:

• ventilation,
• sufficient space around the grill,
• access for cleaning and maintenance.

If the kitchen is built first and the grill is chosen afterwards, your options

may become much more limited.

What Grill Size Should You Choose?

The right grill size depends mainly on how many people you usually cook for and how much space is available.

For a smaller household or occasional cooking, the largest model is not always necessary. However, if you regularly cook for family and friends, a larger cooking surface can make preparation much easier.

Furlan offers several grill sizes, so it is worth reading What Grill Size Should

 You Choose? before finalising your outdoor kitchen design.

Do Not Forget the Worktop Next to the Grill

One common outdoor-kitchen planning mistake is to leave plenty of room for the grill but too little space for actual food preparation.

While cooking, you will need somewhere to place:

• prepared meat, fish or vegetables,
• plates,
• ingredients and seasonings,
• finished food before serving.

For this reason, it is useful to leave a comfortable amount of free worktop space on at least one side of the grill.

If your kitchen layout allows it, having some preparation space on both sides is even more practical.

What About the Space Below the Grill?

This part of the outdoor kitchen is easy to overlook.

A gas grill produces significant heat during operation, so the space below and around the grill should also be considered carefully during the design stage.

If the outdoor-kitchen construction allows it, an additional stainless-steel shelf or intermediate surface can be installed below the grill.

Why Can an Additional Shelf Below the Grill Be Useful?

The purpose of this shelf is not to cool the grill itself. The grill needs to reach high temperatures during normal operation.

Instead, an additional shelf can create more separation between the hot grill and the structure or elements directly below it. This can help reduce direct heat transfer towards the lower part of the outdoor kitchen.

This may be particularly useful when the area below the grill contains:

• cabinets,
• storage shelves,
• storage areas,
• other kitchen elements.

A stainless-steel shelf can also provide an additional protective surface and create a cleaner, more organised interior.

However, it is important to remember that an additional shelf does not replace proper ventilation or the required clearances around the grill.

The space underneath the grill should therefore not simply be sealed completely. The design must still allow adequate airflow and safe access to the gas components.

If you are having an outdoor kitchen made to measure, this is something worth discussing during the planning stage. Depending on the layout, an additional stainless-steel shelf below the grill can be incorporated into the construction.

Do Not Completely Enclose the Grill

If you want the clean appearance of a built-in grill, it can be tempting to leave as little visible space around the appliance as possible.

However, appearance should not take priority over a practical and safe installation.

A gas grill needs suitable space for ventilation, operation and access to its components.

For this reason, it is better to think of the setup as integrating a countertop grill into the outdoor kitchen, rather than simply sealing the grill inside a fitted opening.

You still achieve a clean, built-in appearance while keeping the grill accessible.

Which Furlan Grill Is Suitable for an Outdoor Kitchen?

There is no single model that works for every outdoor kitchen.

The right choice depends mainly on the available space, how often you grill and how many people you usually cook for.

For many home outdoor kitchens, a medium-sized model offers a good balance between cooking space and overall footprint. If you regularly prepare food for larger groups, a bigger cooking surface may be more practical.

For example, the Furlan P600 PRO countertop gas grill combines a larger cooking area with a countertop configuration. Furlan also offers larger countertop models for users who need more cooking space.

You can compare the complete range of Furlan gas grills before deciding which model best suits your outdoor kitchen.

Design the Outdoor Kitchen Around How You Actually Cook

It is easy to focus mainly on appearance when planning an outdoor kitchen.

Stone, ceramic, stainless steel, wood and lighting can create a beautiful space. However, the quality of the design becomes most obvious when you actually start using the kitchen.

Before finalising the layout, ask yourself a few practical questions:

How many people do we usually cook for?

Do we want a sink or refrigerator next to the grill?

Where will we prepare the food?

Will we need storage underneath the grill?

Once these questions have been answered, it becomes much easier to create an outdoor kitchen that is not only attractive in photographs but also comfortable to use.

What If You Already Have an Outdoor Kitchen?

Even if the kitchen has already been built, a countertop grill can often be incorporated into the existing layout.

Before choosing a model, check:

• how much space is available,
• whether the surface is suitable for the grill,
• how ventilation will be provided,
• whether the gas connection remains accessible,
• whether there is enough room for cleaning and maintenance.

You can then browse the Furlan countertop gas grill range and choose a model that fits the available space.

If you are still in the planning stage, the process is simpler:

choose the grill first, then design the outdoor kitchen around it.

Frequently Asked Questions About Grills for Outdoor Kitchens

Can I Use a Countertop Gas Grill in an Outdoor Kitchen?

Yes. A countertop gas grill can be incorporated into an outdoor or summer kitchen when it is placed on a suitable, stable surface and the required ventilation, clearances and access to gas components are maintained.

Furlan’s countertop gas models are designed for outdoor use and are suitable for outdoor kitchens, terraces and similar outdoor cooking areas.

Does the Grill Have to Be Permanently Built into the Worktop?

No. A countertop grill can be visually integrated between kitchen elements without permanently enclosing it inside the structure.

This makes cleaning and maintenance easier while still creating the appearance of an integrated outdoor cooking station.

Is It Useful to Add a Stainless-Steel Shelf Below the Grill?

In some outdoor-kitchen layouts, an additional stainless-steel shelf below the grill can be useful. It creates extra separation between the hot grill and the lower structure and can help reduce direct heat transfer towards the elements underneath.

However, the shelf does not replace proper ventilation or the required space around the grill.

What Grill Size Is Best for an Outdoor Kitchen?

This depends on the available space and how many people you usually cook for. A medium-sized grill is often suitable for regular home use, while a larger cooking surface is more convenient for frequent gatherings or larger groups.

For a more detailed comparison, read What Grill Size Should You Choose?.

Should I Choose the Grill Before Building the Outdoor Kitchen?

Yes, whenever possible.

Choosing the grill first allows you to plan the worktop, ventilation, space underneath the grill and access to the gas connection around the actual model you intend to use.

Planning an Outdoor Kitchen?

A good outdoor kitchen starts with the way the space will actually be used.

If the grill will be one of its main features, choose the model before the worktop is built. This makes it easier to plan enough space for food preparation, grilling, ventilation and maintenance.

Explore the Furlan countertop gas grills or view the complete Furlan gas grill range.

If you are planning a custom outdoor kitchen, Furlan can also help you choose a suitable grill size and configuration