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What Materials Can You Burn in a Fire Pit?

Nothing beats building a roaring bonfire on a crisp winter evening. There is something very nostalgic and comforting about the rich smell of smoke from the wood, the gentle crackle of the popping embers, and, of course, the delicious taste of freshly roasted marshmallows. Nights like these are truly the stuff that great memories are made of. But does the fun have to be over once the log pile dwindles? It is very tempting to look around for alternative materials to keep the fire burning, but there are some materials that should never be used as fuel in your backyard fire pit. Read on below and we will tell you which materials to avoid and which materials you can burn safely in your SS fire pit in a pinch.

Pile of Dry Firewood Logs

Materials You Should Never Burn in Your Wood-Burning Fire Pit

  1. Plastic: Plastic is everywhere and has a tendency to collect in our homes. Burning it may seem like a convenient way to get rid of those old containers that have been piling up in your recycling bin. However, when burned, plastic can release a variety of chemical fumes that are toxic to humans. Not only are these fumes harmful for your health, they are also bad for the environment. Plus, melted plastic is difficult to remove and may damage your fire pit in the process. Instead of burning them, find new ways to repurpose your plastic bottles and containers or take them to your local recycling center.
  1. Treated/Painted Wood: Why is burning treated or painted wood so bad, you might ask? It is wood, after all. This may be true, but treated and painted wood products are covered with a variety of chemicals to prevent the wood from rotting or to color the material. Like plastic, burning these items can release toxic fumes into the air. Depending on how old the wooden item is, it might even contain arsenic. If you are confident that the lumber left over from your latest woodworking project is untreated, go ahead and toss it on the fire, but if there is any doubt whether the wood might have been treated or painted, toss it onto the scrap heap instead.
  1. Trash: It can be quite tempting to simply get rid of your trash by starting a fire, but burning trash is actually quite dangerous. Not only is burning trash illegal in many areas, burning trash can also release toxic chemicals into the air as well as large amounts of black smoke and a nasty smell. Plus, throwing a bag of trash onto the fire without checking what is inside first can lead to dangerous scenarios if it contains something combustible.
  1. Cardboard and Paper: At first glance, cardboard and paper may seem fairly safe to burn, but you may not realize that burning them can create huge flakes of smoldering ash and release them into the air. If one of these flakes were to land in the wrong place, it could lead to injuries or potentially light other objects on fire. Brightly colored paper goods, such magazines or wrapping paper, also contain a lot of ink, which can release harmful chemicals into the air when burned. It is better to simply recycle or discard these materials.
  1. Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, or Sumac: If you spend a lot of time outdoors, you may be all too familiar with these pesky plants. These species contain oils that can cause an irritating rash when they come in contact with your skin. Burning these plants also releases those same oils into the air, which can lead to respiratory problems, lung irritation, and other allergic reactions. If you are unsure of what to look out for when considering burning the local foliage, poisonous plants can be identified by glossy green leaves (typically coming in groups of three), white or yellow berries, or a milky sap substance. Try to avoid any plants that match this description, both in the woods and in your fire pit.
  1. Accelerants: Products, such as lighter fluid or gasoline, may seem convenient, as they allow you to light up a fire quickly, but using these materials can be extremely dangerous. Accelerants are unpredictable and can cause a fire to quickly flare up beyond your control. Additionally, they can lead to explosions. You are better off starting a fire the old-fashioned way with firewood and kindling. It may take a little extra time and effort, but your work will be rewarded by a safe and pleasantly-scented fire.
  1. Green or Soft Wood: Unlike the other items on this list, burning green or soft wood is actually not dangerous or damaging to your health. However, it does have a tendency to produce large amounts of smoke that will make it very unpleasant to sit around the fire. It also often does not burn well or evenly and can be difficult to catch or ignite.

Things You Can Burn in Your Backyard Fire Pit Other Than Wood

Now that you know which materials to avoid, there are also several alternatives to wood that you can safely use in your fire pit.

  1. Wood Bricks: Wood bricks are made from recycled sawdust and woodchips that have been compacted into a brick shape and dried in a kiln. These bricks are easy to store and burn cleanly, making them a great option for roasting marshmallows and hot dogs or other cooking.
  1. Wood Pellets: Similar to wood bricks, wood pellets are also created from recycled sawdust and are rolled into small pellets. These pellets can also be easily stored in a bag and create less char than firewood. Unless you have a fire pit that is designed to accommodate wood pellets, such as ours, you will need to use a metal basket to store the pellets inside the fire pit as they burn.
  1. Switchgrass and Soy Logs: Another non-wood option is switchgrass and soy logs. These logs are a 50% blend of soybeans and switchgrass, using natural wax as a binder. These logs are safe to burn and do not leave any residue in your fire pit. Plus, it leaves a sweet scent as it burns.
  1. Recycled Coffee Grounds: A surprising fuel option for your fire pit is old coffee grounds. Burning these coffee grounds will mix things up by giving your fire a faint coffee scent, as well as help keep materials out of landfills.

 

Whether you choose traditional firewood or one of the recommended alternatives, safety is the most important thing when building a fire. In addition to choosing the correct materials to fuel your fire pit, being aware of a few simple safety tips will ensure that everyone enjoys their time spent around the fire. Using appropriate fire materials will also help ensure your S&S fire pit and the rest of your backyard or patio space stays in good condition for many years to come. With so many options available, you are sure to find the optimal materials for you to fuel your fire pit and keep the fun going for hours.

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How to Build a Wood Fire in Your Fire Pit

If you spent your childhood taking camping trips every weekend with your family or you spent time in the Scouts, you may already be a skilled pro at building a fire. However, if you are not the outdoorsy type, you may never have learned the proper techniques for building a quality fire. Even though this skill can seem intimidating for a newbie, it is actually quite manageable once you get the hang of it! 

With a wood-burning fire pit in your backyard, you do not even need to venture out into the wilderness to achieve a cozy, roaring fire. You can enjoy such luxuries from the comfort of your own home. If you want to learn how to develop this easy and straightforward skill, or if you just want to improve on the knowledge you already have, read on for our tips on how to start the perfect (or most efficient!) fire in your backyard fire pit. 

 

Fire Safety 

Before you ever light your fire, make sure that safety is your top priority. Fire pit safety is incredibly important, and if you follow the best practices, you can avoid costly mistakes. Here are some safety guidelines to keep in mind when using your fire pit: 

  • To prevent flames or embers from escaping the pit, start your fire on an even surface. 
  • Make sure your fire pit is at least 10 feet away from any trees, houses, fences, or other flammable things. 
  • If the weather is very windy, choose a different night to light a fire. 
  • Keep a safe distance from the fire pit, and pay attention to any children and pets nearby. 
  • Avoid use of propellants or other potentially hazardous or toxic substances.
  • Never leave your fire unattended. 

 

How to Build a Fire with Wood in a Fire Pit 

1. Preparation 

After you’ve chosen a safe site for your fire, it is time to collect the appropriate supplies to prepare your fire. But do not worry; the list of things you will need is not excessively long, and everything is easy to acquire. Here is everything you will need to get your fire going: 

  • Fire Starter: You can choose from a variety of various fire starters. Kitchen lighters and matches are the most common household items you could use. These will get the job done, but this can be a time-consuming choice. You can also use a butane torch lighter or an electric arc. Most people do not have one of these on hand, but they are far more effective at starting a fire in a fire pit and are fairly inexpensive to purchase. 
  • Tinder: To ignite your fire, you will need to use tinder. Leaves, pine cones, newspaper, or tree bark can all be used as tinder, as they catch fire easily. As long as the material is dry and non-toxic, it can be used to light a fire. If you need ideas, a quick Google search will show you many types of DIY fire starters you could use for starting a fire in a fire pit. Different options have different advantages, but there are so many options to choose from. 
  • Kindling: Kindling pieces are dry sticks that will keep your fire going for long enough for the bigger logs to ignite after the tinder has burnt up. Softwoods, such as pine, cedar, poplar, and spruce, are usually the most effective sticks and twigs for kindling. 
  • Firewood: The base of your fire will be made up of logs, which will keep it going all night long. Hardwoods, such as maple, oak, ash, and birch, make the best firewood. Before using your logs, make sure they are properly seasoned and stacked.  

Next, it is time to start your fire, now that you have gathered all of the necessary supplies. 

2. Starting Your Fire 

This is the bit you have been waiting for: lighting a fire in a fire pit without the use of lighter fluid or hazardous chemicals. Let’s go over each stage of how to build a fire in your fire pit: 

  • To begin, construct a tinder pile in the bottom middle of your fire pit. This pile should be around the size of your palm. 
  • Next, take your kindling and lay it at a 35-degree angle right above your tinder, forming a pyramid or tee-pee shape. Make sure the kindling structure is dense and close enough together, but not so tightly constructed that it will not still allow for air flow through small gaps. 
  • After you have set up your kindling, light your tinder pile using the fire starter. It is time to start placing your firewood once the kindling has started to burn.
  • Finally, begin to stack the seasoned timber in the fire pit. The formation of the firewood should be identical to that of the kindling, either forming a pyramid or a tee-pee shape. Keep the firewood close together to keep the fire concentrated, but leave small gaps to allow for maximized air flow. 

If you follow these steps correctly, you should soon have a roaring fire before you.  

3. Maintaining Your Fire 

Keeping the fire in your fire pit properly maintained is necessary if you want the flame to burn brightly all night. If your firewood is not catching fire or the flame is dying out too quickly, try adding more tinder and kindling to the mix. You may want to check out the state of your firewood, as well. Switch more new firewood into the fire if the logs start to turn completely black and are disintegrating, or if the flame is dying. Keep in mind that you always should keep an eye on your fire, adding more dry tinder, kindling, or logs as needed, and avoiding suffocating the flame. 

4. Extinguishing You Fire Pit 

After successfully starting and sustaining a fire in your fire pit, the party is winding down, and you are ready to call it a night. It is now time to put out the flame in a safe manner. You would not want any stray sparks or embers still hanging around that could reignite. When putting out a fire in your fire pit, you should follow these simple steps: 

  • Take a hose or a pail of water and gently trickle water on the flames. Make sure you do not just dump or pour the water into the fire pit, since this can damage it. 
  • After you have finished sprinkling water and the flames have withered into embers, grab a shovel and mix the ash and embers around until you can’t hear any hissing anymore. 
  • Finally, lightly touch the ash and, if it is cool, dispose of it properly.

 

Now that you know what you need to do in order to get that billowing backyard blaze going, you do not have to narrow down your options to only gas fire pits or automatic starts. You can feel confident that you can accommodate everyone’s comfort the next time the family wants to spend the evening outside but it is a bit too chilly or you are having guests over and need an activity after dinner. A wood fire pit can provide you with a cozy, rustic feel in your own backyard and create the ambiance you are looking for.

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Cooking Over a Fire Pit

One of the best benefits of owning a fire pit is that you can cook on it outside. Instead of having a separate grill for food, you can recreate those campfire memories in your own backyard. There is something really spectacular about cooking over a fire that makes you feel connected to nature, while being incredibly comforting and cozy, with the sounds of crackling embers and delicious smells rising up around you. Cooking over a fire pit is actually a lot easier than many people think. If you would like to learn how to get started, read on for more. 

Grilled Meat on Charcoal Grill

What Fuel to Choose 

If you want to experiment with smokey flavors when cooking in a fire pit, you may use wood, charcoal, or a combination of both. Charcoal has the advantages of being relatively easy to light and burning at a high temperature. It is ideal for beginners or foods that have already been marinated or seasoned. Charcoal will not give your dish with a strong smokey flavor, so the flavors will not be overpowered. If you want to enjoy sitting around the joyful blaze of a wood fire after you cook with charcoal, simply toss some logs on the hot coals after you are done. 

Wood is a more traditional fire pit material that is rather straightforward to light as long as you choose the right wood and know how to set it up. The most dependable options for a steady fire seem to be the teepee or log cabin methods. To build your fire, start with tinder, work your way up to kindling, and then lay down the firewood. 

Small, quarter-inch thick dry sticks, straw, pine needles, or bark can all be used as tinder. We do not recommend using leaves or paper, since they can quickly produce fly ash, which can start a fire outside of your fire pit or cause burns. Sticks or twigs that are somewhat larger should be used as kindling. If you’re using charcoal, this would be a good time to light it. 

After your kindling, add some logs of a reasonable size. A dry, seasoned hardwood is the preferred choice. Oak and other similar hardwoods will burn strong and cleanly. Green woods and softwoods should be avoided, as they will spoil your meals. Softwoods, like as pine, may emit an unpleasant toxic resin that will ruin the taste of your food, while green wood will sputter too much. 

 

How to Set Up 

The location of your fire pit is critical for having a safe fire cooking experience. Make sure the fire is not under an overhang or overhanging foliage, on a flammable surface, such as a wood deck, or surrounded by plants if it is in the ground. After you’ve safely placed your fire pit, you will need a fire pit grill to cook on. These come in a number of styles and sizes, but they are really just a cooking grill that stands over a fire. To make cooking over hot coals easier, some of them include adjustable heights and angles. A different kind of grill will sit above your fire. 

Next, you will need something to cook with! You should stock your outdoor cooking set up with some basic barbecuing utensils, including a pair of tongs, a spatula, and a grill brush. Make sure these utensils have lengthy handles so you do not have to worry about scorching your fingers while you are cooking. 

Digital and surface thermometers are useful instruments to keep on hand, particularly if you are a newbie. A surface thermometer can tell you how hot your grill is, and an instant read digital thermometer can tell you if your meat is cooked properly. A lid is also a handy item to have on hand for your fire pit grilling activities, since it expands your cooking options. You can use indirect heat to grill bigger chunks of meat and make baked dishes if you use a cover to keep the heat in. 

Make sure you set up you fire pit in such a way that you can avoid cooking directly over the flames, using too much heat, or letting your food cook over too much smoke. Creating a two-zone system is the simplest approach to achieve this. The fire will burn down logs into embers on one side of the fire pit, and then the embers can be pushed to the other side, where you may cook over and around them. If you use this method, your food will not be burned by the flames, and if your embers start to die, you have plenty more you can quickly add from the fire zone. 

 

Heat Management 

To manage the heat you are cooking over, you will likely require some experience, but it is not difficult to master. It is best to begin with cooking smaller chunks of meat if you are just learning how to cook over a flame. Starting with one-inch chunks will help you understand how to how things cook on a grill and how to moderate the smoke levels of your meal. 

There are the two basic ways to manage how much heat your food is cooking over. Be aware of how close your food is to the embers and how many embers there are. If the fire is too hot, you may either shift the embers away from the food or move the food away from the embers and closer to the grill’s borders. You can also vary the angle or elevate the cooking surface on certain fire pit grills. 

If your food isn’t getting enough heat, simply reverse the process. More hot embers should be placed under the meal, or the food should be moved closer to the embers by moving it to a more central position on the grill or by moving the grill itself. To obtain the desired amount of smokiness, follow the same steps. 

 

Cooking with Direct Vs. Indirect Heat 

Starting with the slowest-cooking foods ensures that everything is ready at the same time. Keep in mind that thicker cuts of meat will need to rest for a few minutes after being pulled from the grill, and that they will continue to cook for a few more minutes after being removed. This means you’ll want to remove them from the grill just before they’re done, or else they will be overdone. A thermometer is a great tool for nailing down the proper time and temperatures. 

Smaller slices of meat and cuts that don’t need to be cooked all the way through, such as steaks, can be cooked over direct heat from the coals or embers. It is perfect for getting a nice sear or cooking small portions of meat, like kebabs. Hot dogs, hamburgers, and similar foods can also be cooked over direct heat. 

Larger cuts, like roasts, will sear and char on the outside before cooking on the inside. Therefore, they will benefit from indirect heat. You’ll need a lid for this procedure. Place the meat around the embers rather than right over them, then cover the fire pit with the lid. This will trap the heat, and the hot air and smoke convection will slowly cook your food through without scorching the outside and leaving the inside uncooked. A surface thermometer is a useful tool for monitoring the temperature beneath the lid.

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Charcoal Grill vs Wood-Burning Fire Pit: Which Cooking Accessory Is Right for Me?

Nothing compares to the smokey, char-grilled flavor of food cooked over an open flame. From steaks and pork chips to chicken and ribs, an open flame will naturally seal the outside of meats while locking in its juices in the process. This means the outside of your meat will have a crispy or semi-crispy texture, yet the inside will remain juicy and delicious.

There are different accessories with which you can cook food over an open flame, however, the two most popular of which include charcoal grills and fire pits. Using either of these accessories, you can cook delicious meats and vegetables over an open flame. But charcoal grills aren’t the same as fire pits, and it’s important to understand the differences between them when choosing a cooking accessory for your outdoor living space.

Aesthetics

In terms of appearance, fire pits are the clear winner. While charcoal grills are available in a dozens of styles, most lack the attention to detail and overall aesthetics of high-quality fire pits, such as those offered here at S&S Fire Pits. If you’re trying to design an attractive outdoor living space, there’s no substitution for a high-quality fire pit. Along with its practical purposes — cooking, creating warmth, relation, etc. — it will add a unique visual element to your outdoor living space that compliments or even enhances the decor.

Health

Cooking over a wood-burning fire pit could be better for your health than cooking over a charcoal grill. According to an article published by Men’sHealth, charcoal fires release high concentrations of carcinogenic compounds known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). When you cook meat over a charcoal grill, the fat from the meat will melt and drip down onto the charcoal, causing the charcoal to release smoke. Unfortunately, this smoke is typically high in PAHs, which according to Men’sHealth, could pose health risks.

Cooking over a wood-burning fire pit, however, minimizes harmful emissions such as this. You can use a fire pit to cook meats, vegetables and even some fruits without worrying about exposing yourself to high concentrations of PAHs or other harmful compounds. Firewood has a different composition than charcoal, consisting entirely of natural, untreated wood.

Heat

Both a charcoal grill and a wood-burning fire pit can warm your outdoor living space during the cold late fall and winter months. Fire pits, however, generally offer a superior level of heat when compared to grills. This is because grills — whether gas or charcoal — are used primarily for cooking, whereas fire pits are designed for a variety of purposes, including cooking as well as producing heat. With its open design, a wood-burning fire pit will produce a substantial amount of warmth that’s felt throughout your outdoor living space.

Maintenance

Charcoal grills and wood-burning fire pits require similar maintenance. After using either of these accessories, for example, you’ll need to shovel and dispose of ash (wait until it’s cool, of course). It’s also recommended that you can your charcoal grill or wood-burning fire pit with soap and water on a regular basis — but that’s about it! Neither a charcoal grill nor fire pit is a “maintenance-free” accessory. Assuming you dispose of the ash and clean it regularly, though, these accessories can last for years or even generations.

Portability

Wood-burning fire pits are usually more portable and charcoal grills. They feature a compact design, allowing you to easily transport them to different areas of your outdoor living space or property. In comparison, most charcoal grills are large, heavy and difficult to move. Even if a charcoal grill has wheels affixed to the bottom, you may struggle to roll it across your property, especially if the ground is bumpy or uneven. To move a fire pit, all you have to do it list and carry it to your desired location. You can even transport your fire pit in a vehicle if you want to go camping or host a barbecue at a local public park. This isn’t possible with most charcoal grills.

Cooking

You can cook delicious foods using a charcoal grill or a wood-burning fire pit. Many backyard chefs will agree, however, that fire pits are superior in their ability to create mouthwatering dishes. The problem with charcoal grills is that they use charcoal, which unfortunately doesn’t offer the same delicious flavor or aroma as a wood-burning flame. Regardless of what type of food you’re cooking, it will have better flavor if you cooked it over a wood-burning flame instead of charcoal.

The results are clear: A fire pit is a smarter choice than a charcoal grill that offers greater utility. Fire pits are more stylish, better for your health, create more heat, are easier to maintain, easier to transport and better for cooking than grills.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/

 

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How to Prevent Flare-Ups When Grilling

Flare-ups are a common problem when grilling food, especially meats. Whether it’s beef, pork, lamb, chicken or fish, meat has a tendency to flare up when grilled. When this occurs, the red-hot coals turn into a tall flame, essentially charring the meat. While a single, small flare-up shouldn’t hurt your food, consistent flare ups can burn the exterior while also making it dry and less juicy. So, how can you can prevent flare-ups when grilling?

Choose Lean Meats

Normally, flare-ups are triggered by excess animal fat dripping down onto the hot coals. When the fat reaches the hot coals, it ignites; thus, causing a tall but short-lived flame known as a flare-up. You can often prevent flare-ups, however, by choosing lean meats. If you’re making hamburgers, for instance, choose ground beef that’s 90% lean and 10% fat. Or if you’re grilling steaks, stick with lean cuts like filet mignon and sirloin instead of a New York strip or ribeye.

Cut Back on the Oil

In addition to choosing lean meats, you can also reduce the risk of flare-ups when grilling by using less oil. Cooking oil is often applied either to the meat being grilled or the grill itself. When applied to the meat, it helps the seasoning stick while also creating a non-stick surface. When applied to the grill grate, it further prevents the meat from sticking. Unfortunately, however, oil has a similar effect as animal fat when exposed to hot coals. As the oil drips down onto the coals, it triggers a flare-up. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to stop using oil when grilling. Rather, try using less oil.

When it comes to oiling a grill grate or meat, follow the “less is more” approach. Use a brush to apply a small, thin layer of oil on the surface of your grill grate or meat. As long as there’s no excess oil that’s dripping, it shouldn’t cause a flare-up.

Trim the Fat

A third tip for preventing flare-ups is to trim fat from your meat before grilling it. Even if you choose lean cuts, it probably still has some fat — and that’s okay. Rather than allowing this fat to burn on the grill — and cause a flareup — consider trimming it. Using a sharp knife and cutting board, slice away the excess fat.

Open the Lid

Should you grill with the lid open or closed? Grilling with the lid closed creates more heat, whereas grilling with the lid open creates less heat. The latter, also known as “grill roasting,” reduces the risk of flare-ups by exposing your food to lower temperatures and less direct heat. With that said, however, grilling with the lid open doesn’t cook food as thoroughly and evenly as grilling with the lid closed, so you really need to consider what you are grilling. As long as it’s not too thick and doesn’t require significant heat, an open-lid grill should suffice.

Clean Your Grill

Don’t underestimate the importance of cleaning your grill, either before or after every use. Failure to clean your grill will result in the accumulation of fat and oil drippings, which can flare up the next time you use it. Additionally, it contributes to rust and corrosion by holding moisture. These problems are easily prevented by using a wire brush and paper towels to clean this debris. So, try to get into the habit of cleaning your grill before or every after use. Even if you only use it to grill a couple burgers, you should still clean it to prevent flare-ups and protect against rusting.

Grill Away from the Wind

Another contributing factor to flare-ups when grilling is wind. Going back to the basics of firemaking 101, wind intensifies flames by fueling it with oxygen. As wind pushes through the flame, the additional oxygen causes it to flare up. While you can’t necessarily control mother nature, you can choose an area to grill that’s protected from the wind. Before lighting your grill, find an area with a wind break. Grilling on your front porch instead of back — or vise-versa — is another idea that can protect your grill from the wind.

Don’t Extinguish with Water!

If a flare-up occurs when you are grilling, don’t attempt to extinguish it with water. Conventional wisdom may lead you to believe that spraying the grill with a water bottle with extinguish the flare-up. Like a grease fire in the kitchen, however, water is ineffective for this purpose. Furthermore, spraying your grill may cause wet ash to reach your food. If you notice your grill flaring up, open the lid and wait for it to burn out. Because flare-ups are caused by excess fat or oil, they usually burn out after just a few seconds.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/

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Should I Grill with Charcoal or Hardwood?

abstract-219735_960_720If you plan on cooking food over fire, you’ll need some type of fuel. The most common fuel sources used for this purpose include hardwood and charcoal. While you can use both to cook everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to smores and vegetables we prefer real hardwood when it makes sense, but there are some stark differences between the two that you should be aware of. So, should you grill with charcoal or real hardwood?

Smoke

One of the biggest difference between charcoal and wood — when used for cooking — is the amount of smoke produced. Because wood contains more moisture than its charcoal counterpart, it naturally produces more smoke when burning. Some people actually prefer the rich smokey flavor of charcoal-grilled food, but others prefer the more traditional flavor of smoke-grilled food.

Heat

With an average energy value of 29 MJ/kg, charcoal tends to burn hotter than wood. So, if you want to cook food in the shortest amount of time possible, it’s best to stick with charcoal. With that said, insufficient airflow and/or the absence of flames may cause inefficient heat transfer; thus, making cooking difficult. You can overcome this problem by ensuring your coals are exposed to air (grills and fire pits often have vents that you can open and close).

Transport

While there are certain exceptions, charcoal is usually easier to transport than wood. If you’re going camping with some friends, you may want to carry charcoal for this reason. Of course, you can always scavenge native firewood at your campsite, but bringing charcoal ensures you have the necessary fuel supply for cooking, but once again we like the real wood when feasible.

Cost

There’s also the issue of cost. Natural, locally sourced firewood is typically free, whereas charcoal often costs up to $10 per bag.

The bottom line is that there’s no clear winner in the battle between wood and charcoal. Wood burns more slowly while releasing a distinct smokey flavor, but charcoal cooks food more quickly and easier to transport. Think about when and how you’ll be cooking and choose the fuel that’s best suited for the job.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/

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How to Safely Extinguish and Cool a Campfire

campfire-1031162_960_720More than 100,000 wildfires burn 4-5 million acres of land every year in the United States, according to an article published by National Geographic. While lightning strikes are a common cause of wildfires, extinguished campfires are also responsible for many wildfires. So, if you’re planning to camp in the near future, you’ll want to fully extinguish and cool your campfire before leaving.

Beware of Hot Embers Underneath Ash

Just because you see a pile of ashes left at the bottom of your fire ring doesn’t necessarily mean that your campfire has been extinguished. Ash is an excellent insulator of thermal energy, meaning it can keep embers hot enough to ignite a fire for up to 24 hours.

Some people assume that their campfire is out because they see ash at the bottom, but you really need to take additional steps to ensure it’s extinguished. Hot embers buried under the ash could reignite the following day to create a wildfire. So, how do you prevent this from happening?

Drown with Water

The only “sure-fire” way to extinguish a campfire is to drown it with water. While keeping a safe distance, slowly pour water over the campfire and its embers, even if those embers are not bright red. You’ll probably hear a hissing noise when doing so, which occurs from the water’s reaction to the heat. You’ll know the fire is extinguished when the hissing noise stops.

Stir with a Stick

In addition to drowning your campfire with water, you should also stir it with a stick (after drowning it with water). The purpose of this is to ensure the water has penetrated all layers of the fire. If there’s still a hot later, you may hear the hissing noise again when stirring the fire with a stick.

Here are some other safety tips to follow when building campfires in the wilderness:

  • When possible, use an existing fire ring to build your campfire instead of creating a new one.
  • Only burn wood in your campfire, not trash or debris.
  • Keep water nearby in case your campfire burns uncontrollably.
  • Consider the direction in which the wind is blowing when choosing a location for your campfire.
  • When camping in parks, check to see if there’s a fire ban in place or other restrictions for creating campfires.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/

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How to Prevent Your Firewood from Rotting

axe-1705787_960_720With prices upwards of $100 to $200 for a full cord (depending on where you live), firewood isn’t cheap. If you burn it on a regular basis — for warmth, fire pits, campfires, cooking, etc — you can spend quite a fortune. But even cutting and harvesting your own firewood is no easy task, which is why it’s important to protect your firewood from rotting.

Whether you buy it or harvest it yourself, it’s frustrating when you discover a pile of rotten firewood. It doesn’t burn as well (if at all), and it’s likely harboring colonies of insects and pests.

The 4 Elements Needed for Rot

In order for wood to rot, it needs four things: moisture, wood, oxygen and warmth. Being that moisture, oxygen and warmth are all around us, it’s easy to see why rot is such a problem. There’s practically no way to prevent natural, unprocessed wood from the rotting. Thankfully, though, there are a few steps you can take to slow down the process and prolong the life of your firewood.

Store it Off the Ground

One of the most common mistakes made when storing firewood is placing it directly on the ground. Why is this a problem? Well, there’s lots of moisture sitting in the soil. And when you place firewood directly on the ground, some of that moisture seeps up and into the wood. Furthermore, storing firewood directly on the ground increases the risk of termites, which can be equally as destructive.

How do you keep firewood off the ground? There are several solutions, one of which is to build a square-shaped perimeter using some pressure-treated 4×4 lumber. Another idea is to place a wooden pallet underneath your firewood stack. As long as it’s not sitting directly on the ground, it shouldn’t absorb moisture from the soil.

Increase Airflow

You can also prolong the life of your firewood and discourage rotting by storing it in a well-ventilated area. If you have a shed, for instance, crack a window so air doesn’t become stagnant. The increased airflow helps to dry firewood, protecting it from rot.

Cover it with a Tarp

In addition to storing it off the ground and in a ventilated area, cover your firewood with a tarp. Something as simple as a cheap fiberglass tarp can make a world of difference in prolonging the life of your firewood.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/

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Choosing the Right Area to Build a Campfire

fire-1633352_960_720No camping experience is complete without a fire. Campfires bring people together, promote a social environment, provide warmth, and they offer a means of cooking food. However, you should carefully choose the right location to build a campfire, which is something we’re going to discuss in today’s blog post.

Overhanging Limbs and Brush

When choosing a location to build a campfire, make sure there are no overhanging tree limbs, branches or brush. Even if the flame doesn’t reach the height of an overhanging tree limb, it may produce enough heat to ignite it — or a stray ember could float into the air and reach the overhanging branch.

Check Fire Restrictions

It’s always a good idea to research the local and state fire restrictions before camping. Even if it’s legal to build a fire in your backyard, perhaps the park or forest where you intend to camp prohibits campfires due to the risk of a wildfire. Some parks allow campfires, but only in designated camping areas. Failure to follow these rules could cost you big bucks in fines, so find out if there are any fire restrictions beforehand.

Existing Fire Rings

Depending on where exactly you are camping, there may be existing fire rings around. Other campers often build and leave circular-shaped arrangements of rocks in which to build campfires. If you discover one of these fire rings, consider building your campfire here.

Don’t Build at Base of Hills

You should also avoid building campfires at the base of a hill. If your campfire grows out of control, it can travel uphill fast. This is because heat rises, so fires naturally gravitate upwards. Ideally, you should build your fire either on top of a hill or on a flat and even surface, either of which is a safer solution than building it at the bottom of a hill.

Beware of Duff

What is duff and why should you avoid when building a campfire? Duff is the layer of rotting, decomposing material between the ground soil and pine needles. To an unsuspecting camper, duff may appear to be nothing more than dirt. However, it often contains dry wood and plant material, providing enough fuel to turn a small ember into a smoldering brush fire. Choose a location for your campfire that’s away from duff.

If you have any questions regarding how an S&S Fire Pit can enhance your outdoor living space; We can help.  https://ssfirepits.com/contact/