Graduate from Grilling: Fire Pits for Your Grown-Up Outdoor Entertaining

Feb. 26, 2013 - PRLog -- Entertaining outdoors has moved from the picnic table and the circular, charcoal or gas grill to designated outdoor entertainment areas with outdoor kitchens, built-in seating and even portable heaters for those chilly evenings. One of the easiest--and affordable--ways to ramp up your outdoor cooking game while adding a cozy and sophisticated element to your outdoor entertainment area is to add a fire pit.

What is a Fire Pit?

A fire pit is a freestanding fire circle/stove. Some fire pits are made of stainless steel, others of cast iron. Still others are built of brick or even burnished copper. Fire pits can be moveable or built into your outdoor hardscape. Fire pits can be designed to burn wood or propane, natural gas, charcoal or gel fuels. Though most fire pits are round, they can be found in a variety of shapes, from rectangular to oval to star-shaped. There's a fire pit to match every back yard and every personality.

Why You Need a Fire Pit for your Outdoor Entertaining

A fire pit brings more to your outdoor kitchen and entertainment area than just a cooking surface. A fire pit will soon become the go-to gathering place for your friends and family. You can warm your hands on a chilly evening, get all nostalgic over childhood songs for a family gathering, or cuddle up to that special someone by the romantic fire light.

A fire pit is also versatile. You can use it to cook traditional camping favorites, such as s'mores or toasted marshmallows, or venture into slightly more sophisticated territory and add a grill or a grate atop the fire for grilled vegetables, meats, and more. You can even add a attachment to most fire pits that will support a hanging kettle. (Chili, anyone?) Some fire pits also have optional spits that you can use to roast a pig, chicken or Thanksgiving turkey. Remember, also: many fire pits can burn wood, not just charcoal or gas. As a result, your food will have that delicious, cooked-over-a-campfire taste.

Other advantages to cooking over a fire pit include the large grilling area. Most fire pits can accommodate many more steaks or pieces of chicken or burgers than the average charcoal or gas grill. Plus, you can include your guests in the cooking process when you have a fire pit. No longer does the cook have to leave the party to go man the grill. With a fire pit, the grill area IS the party.

So, when you start making plans for your warm weather entertaining, make sure that you include a fire pit. Your friends will thank you for your hospitality and the food will be delicious.

About the Author: Adam works with Tony’s Tree Plantation—Oklahoma City’s favorite garden center , nursery & landscaping contractor. Adam enjoys writing about outdoor design and gardening. For more information, visit: http://tonystreeplantation.com.