If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best outdoor prep table is then we’d recommend the Origami Folding Kitchen Cart on Wheels, as the best one:
If you have a backyard barbecue place or garden area with a grill or where you cook over the fire, you will need a place to put on your pots, pans, or prepare the food. Here is where an outdoor prep table comes into place. Since you are going to use it outside or even store it out in a garage, it should be large enough, sturdy, heat, and weather-resistant.
When I make my bbq, I usually have lots of stuff and am in urgent need of a sturdy and big prep table. As you can see in the picture, I put everything on a bench which means everybody is standing around the bbq and waiting with a plate; just joking :).
So we went on a quest to find the best outdoor prep table. Below, we’re going to review the following outdoor preparation tables:
- Origami Folding Kitchen Cart on Wheels
- Cuisinart CFGS-222 Take Along Grill Stand
- Rockpoint with Backsplash Kitchen Table
- Seville Classics Stainless-Steel NSF-Certified Professional Kitchen Work Table
- Giantex Kitchen Prep Table with Adjustable Shelf
There are few critical qualities in prep stations or bbq carts. When you keep in mind what you will be cooking, for how many people, and where you will be storing it, you’ll have a better idea of what to buy.
Best outdoor prep tables for outdoor cooking and bbq
Origami Folding Kitchen Cart on Wheels (Winner!)
This one is our favorite and also the best outdoor prep table, in our opinion. Here is why:
This table is not your average kitchen island butcher block. It’s sturdy like the butcher block but yet elegant. The body of the table is powder-coated steel that prevents corrosion when using outside. The two shelves under the wooden top are perfect to set your food and hot pots and pans on.
People are saying that they assembled the table effortlessly. They also like the fact that the table is very sturdy and robust. Some mention that the wooden top is hollow, but in a good way, which makes the table much lighter and lower in cost.
Most say that they can use this prep table as an outdoor prep table, additional countertop in their kitchen, or even on a camping trip.
Size:
Folded: 6 W x 20″ D x 36. 25” H,
Unfolded: 25. 5” W x 20” D x 36. 25” H
PROS
- Wooden cutting board
- Wheels
- Folding table
- Sturdy
- Easy to assemble
CONS
- Cutting board not removable for cleaning
Cuisinart CFGS-222 Take Along Grill Stand
This outdoor prep table or you could also say camping folding table can be folded flat very quickly and includes a carrying handle for easy transport.
The table can extend horizontally with two flip-up side tables. Users mention that the table is perfect for car camping, folds up quickly, and stows nicely taking little room. People also find this unit sits solidly on level ground and does not rock or tip easily. The table has hooks for utensils and cup holders, which most find very handy. It is mostly used for small portable grills.
Size: 54W”, 20″D, 30.5″H
Some users mentioned that if you use it outside, in a few months, the black color will turn to white-grey, and soon after that, holes will appear.
PROS
- No tools required for assembling
- Folds flat
- Easy to carry around
- Perfect for camping
- Perfect for portable grills
- Additional cup holders
CONS
- if you use it outside the color of the table can change
Rockpoint with Backsplash Kitchen Table
Rockpoint table is made out of food-safe stainless steel. People mention that this heavy-duty table is very sturdy and easy to assemble.
The table can hold up a lot of weight. Some were saying they put slicer, air fryer, and KitchenAid mixer on the table at the same time, and they had no problems. Users also say there are no problems with putting very hot pans or heavy kitchen appliances on the table.
Size: from 30″ to 60″L, 24″W, 34.7″H
PROS
- Easy assembly
- No tools required
- Stainless steel
- Adjustable legs
- Additional shelf for storage
CONS
- Some mention the countertop was scratched on arrival
Seville Classics Stainless-Steel NSF-Certified Professional Kitchen Work Table
Seville prep table is made of a very high-quality bullnose stainless steel top, which is 1.5-inch thick. It features two wired baskets.
Size: 20″W, 24″L, 26″H
PROS
- Adjustable basket
- Wheels
- High-quality stainless steel
CONS
- It is a bit hard to adjust the middle basket
Giantex Kitchen Prep Table with Adjustable Shelf
Giantex prep table is a simple product. It is reasonably sturdy. The height of the bottom shelf can be adjusted according to actual needs effortlessly through removing the screw. It is equipped with four universal wheels.
Size: 36 “L×24” W
PROS
- Adjustable height
- Wheels
CONS
- It rocks a bit when chopping
- The whole table is not stainless steel
What are the most important things to look for when deciding to buy an outdoor prep table
Quantity of food
The amount of food when making a bbq for a family of four is usually not very large. A small garden preparation table would do just fine. But if you are inviting friends and you are making food for ten or more people then you should consider a larger table. There is also a question of the preparation of ingredients and the quantity of food you need.
If you prepare the food, veggies, and meat in your indoor kitchen, then you won’t need a large prep table. In this case, the size of the table will only depend on the amount and size of pots and pans.
But if you want to impress your friends and show them your julienne cutting skills, and how to mix the right marinade for the brisket, then you will need a larger table. Preparing most of your food on a prep table will take a lot of space. But there are still a few cooking essentials that will always take some space on the countertop: cups and bowls for the mise en place, a cutting board, and a knife.
What are you usually cooking?
Let’s take a look at two different examples to show you how what you are cooking, will make a difference in the size of the prep table you need.
Prep table for barbecue, grill or smoking
If you use your prep table mostly for barbecue, grill, or smoking, then you don’t need a large table. Usually, the things you need are tongs, cloth, knife, cutting board, and bowl for marinade or sauce.
Prep table for stir fry
If you want to make delicious Thai fried rice or noodles, then you will need a bit larger table. Stir fry dishes are made very fast. That is why you won’t have time to go to your kitchen and pick up every single ingredient separately. You need the ingredients on hand; otherwise, you will burn everything. It is crucial to have miese en place when making stir fry, and for that, you need much more space than when making bbq, smoke, or grill.
Here are the ingredients for miese en place to make Thai fried rice, just to show the difference: cooked rice, carrots, tomatoes, (other veggies), onions, eggs, soy sauce, oyster sauce, chili sauce, sugar, and oil. If you put all these ingredients on the prep table, you will have problems with space if you buy a smaller table.
Do you use prep tables for food preparation, or will you also set on hot pots and pans?
You can prepare the ingredients in an indoor kitchen, or you can prepare them on the prep table outside. Preparing ingredients on an outdoor prep table can be challenging if you don’t have the right table. That is why you should consider getting a large enough table and one that already has a built-in wooden cutting board. The wooden cutting board can also be beneficial for putting on hot pots and pans.
But if you will use the table only to put hot pots and pans on it, then you don’t need a huge table. A small stainless steel countertop table will do just fine.
Storage
Here is where the folding and non-folding tables come into play. We found out in this review and also by owning a folding outdoor prep table that folding tables tend to be less firm, lower in quality, and cheaper. But from the storage point of view, they are perfect. You just fold them together and put them somewhere in the corner.
On the other hand, non-folding tables tend to be very robust, higher in quality, but also a bit higher in price. Since they can’t be folded, you will need a place where you will put them after use. If you get a table with a built-in wooden cutting board and not whole stainless steel, then you will also need to consider the storage with a roof over the table.
To Wrap It Up, Our Recommendation
Naturally, whatever prep table you decide on will depend on your particular situation, what and how you cook, and how much space you have in your garden or outdoor kitchen. However, if we had to pick an overall, general-purpose favorite among these, we would say the best prep table for outdoor cooking is Origami Folding Kitchen Cart on Wheels.
The sheer number of outstanding ratings on this table, and also the table we would pick for our woking dishes, we can generally recommend with confidence.
Regardless of the table you select, make sure you check out some of our recommendations for the best cookware to bring use when cooking. It can be easy to forget an essential item when making your favorite grilled steak, smoked ribs, or fried noodles for your friends. Do your research, choose wisely, and you will fall in even deeper love with the beauty of cooking outside.
Last update on 2020-06-15 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
