How to Cook Over a Fire Pit

Gathering friends and family members around a fire pit to cook a great meal and share conversation is a fantastic experience. 

Of course, nobody will have fun if the food isn't top-notch, and there are a few tips and tricks you can use to make the most out of your fire pit.

Here are a few tips for making sure your fire pit food is full of flavor. 

Season Your Firepit

When you season your meat, you use salt or pepper. When you season your fire pit, you use peanut oil or canola oil on both sides of the grate. Brush the oil lightly over the grate. You only want a thin layer of oil. 

Then, light the fire and watch the grate smoke until the color changes. Your food will be evenly cooked and far more flavorful.

Choose Good Firewood

Firepits don't use charcoal or pellets; they use firewood. The higher the quality of the wood, the better the meat and vegetable flavor profile. Mesquite wood has a different flavor from cherry wood. Some wood is better for pork, some for red meat, and some for fish.

Here is an excellent guide that you can reference. Of course, nothing says you can't experiment to find the combinations you like best. In fact, we encourage it! It's a great excuse to get even more use out of your new firepit! 

Keep the Heat Low

You don't want flames licking up and over the surface of your food. That's a good path to a charred exterior and a raw interior.

You want a low, slow cook that keeps the grate hot and the temperature as even as possible. It's better to have a low, small fire or even white hot coals than to have a raging bonfire.

If you want to keep the lighting warm, add a few porchlights overhead. As for keeping your guests warm, don't worry. A grill hot enough to cook is hot enough to make everyone feel toasty and welcome.

Have fun!

If you're not having fun, then what's the point? Try out different recipes, invite friends for no reason at all, and pour a glass of wine. You deserve to relax and enjoy the beauty and the luxury of a custom-created fire pit.

Have you ordered your fire pit yet? We custom-build our grills and firepits, so you can order one even if they aren't in stock right now. Our fully tooled fabrication shop will create one for you!