Outdoor Kitchen Care in New Orleans: Humidity, Heat and Storm Season

Outdoor kitchens in the New Orleans area may be exposed to humidity, grill heat, airborne salt and severe weather. Routine care can help maintain stainless steel, catch gas appliance problems early and simplify storm preparation. This guide covers stainless steel, salt air, grill checks, countertops and cabinets, water lines, electrical items and a storm-season plan, with a simple checklist at the end.

Stainless Steel: Clean With the Grain

Stainless steel resists corrosion, but it still needs attention outdoors. The American Outdoor Grill L-Series owner’s manual gives care instructions for that grill. Check your own manual, since instructions vary, but this one shows what stainless care involves:

• Clean first with a stainless steel grill cleaner to remove grease and dirt, always wiping with the grain, then apply stainless steel polish.
• Expect heat from grilling to change stainless surfaces from silver to brown and blue. The manual says stainless steel cleaner can remove this discoloration.
• Remove surface iron oxide deposits promptly with stainless steel cleaner. The manual warns that permanent pitting may occur if they are not attended to.
• Do not store chemicals such as chlorine or fertilizer near the appliance.

Location matters too. The manual says a grill installed in a seaside (salt air) or poolside (chlorine) location will be more susceptible to corrosion and must be cleaned more frequently.

Know Whether Salt Air Reaches Your Yard

According to the Specialty Steel Industry of North America’s designer handbook on coastal and salt corrosion, chlorides in airborne sea spray, rain and dry salt particles carried by wind can cause pitting and rusting of stainless steels unless a sufficiently corrosion-resistant grade is chosen. The handbook says locations within five to ten miles of salt water are generally considered at risk, and it notes that the distance airborne salt travels can vary significantly with local wind patterns.

The same handbook notes that Type 316L stainless contains molybdenum, which improves resistance to pitting and crevice corrosion. If your home is close to the coast or other salt water and you are replacing an appliance, hardware or trim, ask the manufacturer which grade it uses. Either way, follow your manufacturer’s cleaning schedule and clean more often if salt air reaches your yard.

Grill Checks That Prevent Bigger Problems

Gas grills need regular inspection as well as cleaning. The AOG manual calls for these checks:

• Gas hose: inspect the hose assembly each time before the gas is turned on, and replace a cracked or frayed hose immediately.
• Burners: inspect and clean burner inlets for insects and nests. The manual warns that a clogged burner can lead to a fire in the bottom of the appliance.
• Ventilation: keep the required vent openings and the area around the grill enclosure clear.
• After cooking: brush the cooking grids, run the grill on high with the hood closed for 10 to 15 minutes to burn off grease, and cover the grill once it has completely cooled.

The manual also tells you what to do if you smell gas: shut off the gas to the appliance, extinguish any open flame and open the lid. If the odor continues, keep away from the appliance and immediately call your gas supplier or the fire department.

Countertops, Cabinets and Sinks

Countertop care depends on the material. Follow the fabricator’s or manufacturer’s instructions for cleaning and, where it applies, sealing, and wipe up grease and acidic spills after cooking. If you are still choosing a surface, our post on outdoor kitchen countertop materials compares options.

For cabinets and drawers, we suggest checking hinges, slides and door seals each season, keeping the insides dry and storing food in sealed containers so pests are not drawn in. Do not keep chlorine or fertilizer in cabinets next to stainless appliances, which the AOG manual specifically warns against.

Outdoor water lines may need protection when freezing weather is forecast. The City of New Orleans winter weather hazard page lists pipes among the types of infrastructure at additional risk during winter weather. When a freeze is forecast, follow your sink or faucet manufacturer’s instructions for protecting or draining outdoor lines.

Electrical Items and Lighting

Moisture and electricity call for care. The AOG manual calls for electrical outlets near the grill to be properly grounded under local codes or, where there are none, the National Electrical Code, and for power cords and fuel hoses to be kept away from heated surfaces. We suggest having a licensed electrician check outdoor outlets, lighting and appliance connections if anything stops working, and before using them again after flooding or storm damage.

Storm-Season Prep for an Outdoor Kitchen

The main kitchen installation generally stays outdoors, so storm prep focuses on what can be moved or secured. Ready.gov advises clearing drains and gutters and bringing in outside furniture ahead of a hurricane. For an outdoor kitchen, we suggest adding these steps:

• Bring in cushions, grill covers, utensils, portable grills and anything loose that wind could pick up.
• Clean out grease trays and food so nothing attracts pests while you are away.
• Close the appliance’s gas shutoff valve.

If your kitchen runs on propane, a Propane Education and Research Council brochure reproduced on the North Carolina Department of Agriculture website lists steps for before, during and after a storm: know how to shut off the propane supply, learn from your propane company which appliance valves need to be closed, turn off the gas as the storm approaches whether you are staying or evacuating, and never use outdoor appliances indoors. It also says propane containers below the 100-year flood level should be securely anchored to prevent them from floating away.

After a storm, we suggest having your gas supplier or a qualified technician look over the grill, lines and connections before you light it if anything was damaged or flooded. Our hurricane season roof checklist covers the rest of the house, and a patio cover or outdoor kitchen roof may reduce the rain that reaches parts of the kitchen, depending on its design and exposure.

A Simple Outdoor Kitchen Care Checklist

Here is how we suggest organizing those tasks:

• Every cook: inspect the gas hose before turning on the gas; after cooking, brush the grids, run the grill on high with the hood closed for 10 to 15 minutes to burn off grease, and cover it once it has completely cooled.
• Regularly: clean stainless steel with the grain, remove rust-colored spots promptly and wipe down countertops.
• Each season: check burners for insects and nests, clear vent openings, and look over hinges, drawer slides and cabinet interiors.
• Before storm season: review your gas shutoff steps and decide where cushions, covers and portable items will go.
• When a freeze is forecast: protect or drain outdoor water lines as the manufacturer directs.
• After a storm: have damaged gas or electrical components checked before use.

Keep Your Outdoor Kitchen in Shape With TurnKey Patio

TurnKey Patio designs and installs outdoor kitchens for homeowners in New Orleans and our surrounding service areas. Planning a new kitchen? Our guides to adding a bar or island and outdoor dining area ideas can help. We benefit if you hire us, and the care steps above are useful no matter who built your kitchen. Call (504) 285-2824, Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, or request a free estimate.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I clean outdoor stainless steel appliances?

Follow your appliance manual. The American Outdoor Grill L-Series manual, for example, says to clean with a stainless steel grill cleaner, always wipe with the grain, then apply stainless steel polish. It also says to remove surface iron oxide deposits promptly, since permanent pitting may occur if they are not attended to.

Why is my stainless steel grill turning brown or blue?

Heat from grilling changes the color of stainless steel. The American Outdoor Grill L-Series manual describes surfaces changing from silver to brown and blue and says the discoloration can be removed with stainless steel cleaner.

Does salt air affect an outdoor kitchen in the New Orleans area?

It can if salt reaches your yard. The Specialty Steel Industry of North America says chlorides carried by wind and rain can cause pitting and rusting of stainless steels and that locations within five to ten miles of salt water are generally considered at risk, though local wind patterns matter. The AOG manual says grills in salt air locations must be cleaned more frequently.

What should I do with my outdoor kitchen before a hurricane?

Ready.gov advises clearing drains and gutters and bringing in outside furniture. We also suggest bringing in cushions, covers and loose items, cleaning out grease and food, and closing the gas shutoff valve. For propane systems, a Propane Education and Research Council brochure says to know how to shut off the supply and to turn off the gas as the storm approaches.

How often should I check my grill’s gas hose?

The American Outdoor Grill L-Series manual says to inspect the hose assembly each time before the gas is turned on and to replace a cracked or frayed hose immediately. Check your own grill’s manual for its inspection steps.