Advantages of fire pit cooking

Fire pit cooking is gaining popularity! While outdoor grilling used to be done only on a charcoal or propane grill or barbecue, more and more people are discovering the joy of building a wood fire and using your barbecue pit to grill delicious food while enjoying the warmth and aromas of a real wood fire.

There are several things that are great about an outdoor fire pit:

1. Barbecue pit and outdoor fire pit - One great thing about fire pit cooking is that your fire pit can double as an outdoor fire pit and a fire pit grill. In other words, on some days you can sit around the outdoor fire with friends and family to enjoy the warmth of a great fire. On others you can also use it as a barbecue pit to grill or roast delicious grilled foods. Better yet, do both on the same day! What other grill do you know of that can boast this dual functionality.



2. Cooking with firewood - There is nothing like the flavor of a fat juicy steak grilled over real firewood embers. The aromas that are infused in the food are nothing short of amazing. You can even vary it by finding different types of firewood which have different characteristics. Almond wood, apple wood, cherry wood, oak, and many other wood types are commonly available in most areas. You can also find hickory or mesquite chips to add stronger flavors.
3. Large size - Do you have a big appetite? Or many you just like to cook for a big group of friends before you watch the big game on your million inch flat screen TV. Fire pit cooking is for you because most outdoor fire pits are larger than most standard grills. This is a good thing for two reasons, you can gather a lot of people around the fire pit to enjoy the fire and you can cook a whole lot of steaks on there at the same time.



4. Versatility of recipes - Most any recipe you can cook on a grill can be cooked on a barbecue pit. If you find a lid for your fire pit you can roast large pieces of meat with indirect heat. You can sear steaks, burgers, hot dogs, sausages or game birds. You can even throw a frying pan over the fire and pan fry scallops or vegis. Many barbecue pits even have rotisserie attachments to allow you to rotisserie cook chickens, turkeys, suckling pigs or even a lamb if you have a big enough pit!
5. Versatility of fuels - As I said above, the fire pit and grilling guru loves to cook with real firewood. But with fire pit cooking you have the versatility to cook with any fuel you'd like to get your grill nice and hot. If you'd prefer to cook with charcoal, you can throw it in your fire pit grill just like a regular barbeque. Sometimes firewood is not available. Also charcoal is quicker to light and get ready to cook. The ability to use either keeps you ready for any fire pit cooking contingency.
6. Marshmallows and smores - Who can forget that one of the most fun things to cook over an open fire (especially if you've got young children!) is roasted marshmallows to make smores. Sure, you can do this on a grill or on your stove if you get really close. But isn't it much more fun to be able to relax around the toasty fire, sitting back with a beer or wine, and leisurely cook your marshmallows over a real wood fire? Its like camping with a campfire right in your back yard!

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