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/
