Plastic vs Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
When it comes to choosing the material for your outdoor kitchen furniture, there are many factors to consider, including durability, strength and ease of maintenance.
You need to choose the best materials for your summer kitchen furniture, so that you can use it for decades to come!
These days, it seems that when you ask about different types of outdoor kitchens, materials and prices, every company tells you that what they’re selling you is the best product. But how true is this statement, because there are clearly price differences between brands, even if at first glance it seems that the cheaper ones are just as good as the higher-priced ones.
In this blog, we’ll explain in detail why, when designing your garden kitchen, not all materials are suitable and appropriate. If what you want is for it to last over time, be low-maintenance and have appliances that live up to your expectations, then this blog is for you.
These days, it seems that when you ask about different types of outdoor kitchens, materials and prices, every company tells you that what they’re selling you is the best product.
But how true is this statement, because there are clearly price differences between brands, even if at first glance it seems that the cheaper ones are just as good as the higher-priced ones. In this blog, we’ll explain in detail why, when designing your garden kitchen, not all materials are suitable and appropriate.
What is the best material for outdoor kitchen cabinets?
Best Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
Plastic Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
High-density polyethylene (HDPE) and other plastics are commonly used for outdoor furniture, as plastic won’t rust, corrode or rot outdoors.
Plastic is also popular for outdoor use, as it is available in many colors and does not need to be painted. Although plastic can be used to build outdoor kitchens, it presents several maintenance and integrity problems when used outdoors and near heat.
Degradation with Color Loss
Your HDPE outdoor furniture may fade in color under sunlight, and environmental changes may cause warping and cracks in your plastic furniture boxes, which will no longer function as intended.
As plastic melts when exposed to heat, built-in grills on your plastic outdoor kitchen should be fitted with a stainless steel combustion chamber.
Impact of Temperature on HDPE
As we’ve already mentioned, plastic is affected by temperature and deforms very easily. If your furniture has doors and drawers and these are damaged, replacing them may mean changing the entire frame.
Since slides and hinges are usually attached to the furniture frame by screws which are themselves screwed directly onto the furniture, when you unscrew and screw again, the frame is often broken and unusable. This is why this type of furniture is a consumer product.
The fit of your doors is generally quite poor, so the exterior finish of your summer kitchen won’t live up to your expectations, as you’ll find that your furniture won’t line up. Your plastic doors warp under the effect of the sun’s heat and gradually start to curve, so the fit between your doors and drawers is very poor and the aesthetic aspect will no longer be at all satisfactory.
As we’ve already mentioned, plastic is affected by temperature and deforms very easily. If your furniture has doors and drawers and these are damaged, replacing them may mean changing the entire frame.
Since slides and hinges are usually attached to the furniture frame by screws which are themselves screwed directly onto the furniture, when you unscrew and screw again, the frame is often broken and unusable. This is why this type of furniture is a consumer product.
Advice from the PROS
Based on our 20 years of experience, buying your outdoor kitchen with plastic (polypropylene or HDPE) furniture is not a good idea. Plastic is attacked by UV rays, which considerably degrades the material and greatly reduces its durability.
In addition, color changes occur. White becomes more yellowish and other colors lose their strength and intensity, becoming matte. You’ll see your furniture with a much less attractive design as it ages
Stainless Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
Stainless steel is a high class material commonly used in the manufacture of professional restaurant kitchens and outdoor kitchens due to its high weather resistance, mechanical strength, durability, low maintenance and phytosanitary characteristics.
Your stainless steel furniture is the best solution for your outdoor kitchen design, as it is highly resistant to wear and tear and retains its aesthetic characteristics over time regardless of the various weather conditions.
If a stainless steel shelf is scratched, the basic material is still stainless steel, so nothing will happen. It will retain all its mechanical strength and durability and will always be a plant-friendly material.
Iron and Aluminium Outdoor Furniture
These materials oxidize themselves, and iron oxide or aluminum oxide are toxic if mixed with food. This is why, if a company sells iron or aluminum furniture, it is obliged to paint your furniture, shelves and drawers so that they don’t rust.
The problem arises when the casings of painted iron or aluminum furniture, shelves or drawers are scratched by use or wear in your summer kitchen, due to the rubbing of trays, plates, glasses, cutlery, and so on.
In this case, the part of the furniture where the paint has flaked begins to rust, posing a major maintenance problem and making the furniture unsightly.
Don't Buy Cheap Furniture!
So why sell indoor or outdoor kitchen furniture in painted iron or aluminum? Because they’re much cheaper and quicker to manufacture. That’s why we don’t recommend buying a piece of furniture that you know will cause plant health and maintenance problems in the medium term.
Iron and Aluminium Outdoor Furniture
These materials oxidize themselves, and iron oxide or aluminum oxide are toxic if mixed with food. This is why, if a company sells iron or aluminum furniture, it is obliged to paint your furniture, shelves and drawers so that they don’t rust.
The problem arises when the casings of painted iron or aluminum furniture, shelves or drawers are scratched by use or wear in your summer kitchen, due to the rubbing of trays, plates, glasses, cutlery, and so on.
In this case, the part of the furniture where the paint has flaked begins to rust, posing a major maintenance problem and making the furniture unsightly.
Don't Buy Cheap Furniture!
So why sell indoor or outdoor kitchen furniture in painted iron or aluminum? Because they’re much cheaper and quicker to manufacture. That’s why we don’t recommend buying a piece of furniture that you know will cause plant health and maintenance problems in the medium term.
Stainless Steel Cabinets for Outdoor Kitchen
Advantages of Stainless Steel
Outdoor kitchen furniture with a stainless steel frame is the key to long-term durability, thanks to its high mechanical strength and resistance to outdoor conditions.
There are many types of stainless steel. Those used specifically for outdoor kitchen furniture, as at Fesfoc, are AISI 304 and AISI 316 stainless steel. If you live near the sea, 316 stainless steel is the best choice.
Best Stainless Steel Outdoor Kitchen Cabinets
At Fesfoc, we specialize in using AISI 316 and 304 marine stainless steel to design your luxury outdoor furniture. We also manufacture garden kitchens entirely in stainless steel, 100% customizable with everything you need.
The purity of design and the high quality of our handcrafted finishes that we give to our top-quality summer kitchens will exceed all your expectations, adding value and dream design to your home.
What is the Best Choice?
Plastic vs Stainless Steel
By comparing plastic and stainless steel, you can easily determine which material is preferable for your outdoor kitchen furniture.
Stainless steel furniture is durable, offering you the best return on investment and the chance to share many wonderful moments outdoors with your family or guests.
Although plastic is relatively cheap, the need to replace it outdoors means that costs add up over time. In contrast, our FESFOC stainless steel furniture will maintain its structural integrity outdoors for the life of your outdoor kitchen.
Plastic = Not a Good Material
Imagine if the door fronts of your plastic kitchen started to warp and curl when you looked at your kitchen from the outside, you wouldn’t like it.
That’s why we don’t recommend buying this type of inexpensive kitchen, because they’ll look good on the first day even if you don’t use them much.
In a place where you’re sure to get a lot of rubbing from the use of your cooking itself, it wouldn’t be right to have your summer kitchen surface made of these materials.
Design the Kitchen of your Dreams
Choosing stainless steel furniture over plastic will give you the freedom to enjoy your outdoor living space, sharing wonderful convivial moments with your loved ones without worry for many, many years to come, if not your whole life.
