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The Best Outdoor Cooking Pits For 2022

We chose 7 of our favorite outdoor cooking pits designed specifically for grilling and roasting your favorite foods outside over an open fire.

It doesn’t get more back to basics than this, so let’s jump in a take a look at some of the best outdoor cooking pits on the market today!

 

outdoor cooking pit
About as “Old School” as it gets.

Those fancy decorative gas fire pits are convenient if you are looking to warm up around a stylish conversation piece.

But you wouldn’t exactly want to drop a hot sticky marshmallow or greasy bratwurst into one of them.

If you want sausages, or even steaks, straight out of the fire, as our long ago ancestors did it, you may be in need of an outdoor cooking pit that is…well, made for cooking.

Given all the choices and types of fire pits on the market, buying the right outdoor cooking pit can turn out to be quite a daunting task.

But help is at hand! Here’s our pick of the best outdoor cooking pits out there.

In a Hurry? Check out our Top 7 Outdoor Cooking Pits for 2022 HERE:

Or skip below to read about each one individually.

 

The Top 7 Outdoor Cooking Pits In 2022

1. Landmann Northwoods Outdoor Cooking Pit

Measuring up to 35 inches, this portable fireplace/cooking pit is perfect for large outdoor gatherings.

It comes with a cooking grate and an easy access door for loading logs as well as grilling succulent chunks of meat.

It also features a high heat finish and a full-coverage spark guard for optimal safety.

Landmann USA 28305 Northwoods Outdoor Fireplace,Black,Large

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Pros

  • Lightweight and portable for camping or parties.
  • Large hinged access door enables easy loading of food and logs
  • Comes with multipurpose tools INCLUDED for tending and stoking the logs
  • Large, lightweight outdoor cooking pit at an affordable price

Cons

  • Cooking grate covers just a part of the firepit
  • Some users found its construction flimsy

Rating: 4.5/5

 

2. Volcano Grills 3-Fuel Camping Stove

Whether you are camping in the backyard or embarking on an all out survival trek through the mountains, nothing would serve you better than this three-fuel cooking pit from Volcano Grills.

Suppose you run out of propane, this versatile product switches to burning wood and charcoal.

Volcano Grills 3-Fuel Portable Camping Stove/Fire Pit, Charcoal, Collapses Down to 5 inches; for Convenient Portability and Storage (VL-20-300)

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Have too much to carry already? It collapses down to 5 inches for easy portability in its own storage bag.

Pros

  • 3-fuel capability makes cooking pit ideal for use in adverse circumstances
  • Switch between propane, charcoal, and wood in mere seconds
  • Collapses down to 5 inches for easy portability in its own backpack

Cons

  • Users complained of inadequate control over the flame in propane mode
  • Came with broken parts on a few occasions

Rating: 4.6/5

 

3. Martin Firepit From Pleasant Hearth

Attractively square in design, this extra deep cooking fire pit provides plenty of space for a raging fire that will not only warm you but also provide for your outdoor culinary needs.

While the product’s built-in CirculAir system provides for more airflow and a consistent fire, the chrome-plated cooking grid lets you barbecue to your heart’s content.

Pleasant Hearth Martin Extra Deep Wood Burning Fire Pit, 26-Inch

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Pros

  • 12-inch-deep bowl lets you set up logs however you like
  • Insert chrome cooking grid to turn bonfire into a barbecue
  • CirculAir system ensures optimum oxygen circulation for healthier flames
  • Removable mesh cover for efficient tending of the fire

Cons

  • Some users complained of flaking paint
  • May start rusting if not packed away when not in use

Rating: 4.5/5

 

4. Solo Stove Bonfire

A fire pit that’s as futuristic in looks as in its technology, the Solo Stove Bonfire is painstakingly engineered to push the limits of both combustion airflow efficiency and minimalistic outdoor design.

While its double-wall structure maximizes air supply for efficient burning, bottom vent holes allow oxygen to feed the fire from below — generating minimal smoke.

The result? An efficient fire pit that is just as good at warming you as roasting your marshmallows.

Solo Stove Bonfire Fire Pit - Smokeless Large 19.5 Inch Stainless Steel Outdoor Firepit | Portable Backyard Natural Wood Burning Firebowl | No Gas or Propane Required

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Pros

  • Singular construction does away with any need for parts or assembly
  • Efficient combustion technology minimizes smoke emission
  • Near-complete combustion of logs reduces the need for cleaning
  • Comes with a heavy-duty case for easy portability

Cons

  • Some complained of silver polish fading with continued use
  • Users faced difficulty in removing the ash
  • No grill grates, but works well for roasting marshmallows

Rating: 4.5/5

 

5. Landmann Patio Lights Firewave

Another sturdy product from Landmann, this black firepit has a classic round design with flame-shaped cutouts that come to life in the dark.

Besides a spark screen and a poker, the set includes a porcelain cooking grate for grilling anything from steaks to burgers.

However, its sturdy construction does not come at the cost of portability.

The Patio Lights Firewave is lightweight and has a handy safety ring with which to carry it around.

Landmann USA 23172 Patio Lights Firewave Firepit, Black

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Pros

  • Comes with a mesh guard to prevent sparks from flying around
  • Attractive “firewave” cutouts help with airflow, ensuring better combustion
  • With a diameter of 23 inches, it doesn’t demand much space
  • Accessories include porcelain cooking grate with handles

Cons

  • Some found assembling the firepit difficult

Rating: 4.6/5

 

6. Square Marble Tile Fire Pit by Pure Garden

An attractive blend of marble accents and contemporary design, the Pure Garden Square Marble Tile Firepit is just as good at creating lasting memories with family and friends as it is at roasting sausages.

Made of powder-coated steel to resist rust, the firepit is both lightweight and weatherproof for years of outdoor use.

Comes with a tile tabletop cover, safety log poker, spark screen, assembly hardware, and a protective cover of weather-resistant PVC.

Fire Pit Set, Wood Burning Pit - Includes Screen, Cover and Log Poker - Great for Outdoor and Patio, 30 inch Square Marble Tile Firepit by Pure Garden

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Pros

  • Designer fire pit with grilling capabilities at an attractive price
  • Made of powder-coated steel for maximum rust resistance
  • Easy installation with very little upkeep over the years

Cons

  • A few users complained of marble tiles not locking in place
  • Does not come with a cooking grate

Rating: 4.4/5

 

7. Bali Outdoors Fire Pit With Cooking Grill

Equipped with a cooking grill that props itself daintily over red hot coals, the Bali Outdoors Fire Pit is everything Tarzan would have asked for if he was a chef.

While a circular ring fixed to the four legs provides added stability to the fire pit, the highly-adjustable cooking grill moves 360 degrees, allowing you to move your food in and out of the fire as needed.

BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit Backyard with Cooking Grill, 32in, Black, 24in

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Pros

  • FDA-compliant barbecue grill provides an adequate cooking area
  • Four legs attached to a circular ring for stability
  • Collapsible triangle frame rack affords better ventilation

Cons

  • Some users complained of paint peeling off
  • May rust if left exposed to the elements

Rating: 4.6/5

 

How to Choose a Great Outdoor Cooking Pit

Design

Regardless of how often you plan to use the cooking pit, it will contribute to the overall look of your patio or backyard.

Make sure you strike the perfect balance between beauty and performance while choosing one.

 

Fuel Source

Every kind of fuel, ranging from wood to a propane tank, comes with its own advantages and disadvantages.

While wood can give your food the smoky flavor that every chef harps on about, be sure you understand how to light and control your fire/coals before offering to cook for a large gathering.

Propane cooking pits are eco-friendly and easier to clean and control than wood-fired ones, but they can prove expensive in the long run.

 

Material

Steel is hardy and reliable but prone to rusting over time unless powder-coated.

Tile and slate are pretty to look at but high on maintenance.

Cast iron, being both lightweight and durable, is the best option of the lot.

 

Size

Buy a cooking pit suited to your needs. If you have a large family or friends who number by the horde, go for the Landmann Northwoods Outdoor Cooking Pit.

If it’s just you and a friend, the Solo Stove Bonfire should suffice.

 

The Best Outdoor Cooking Pits – Our Favorite

Like everything else out there, outdoor cooking pits come in all shapes and sizes with widely varying features.

However, if we had to pick the best of the lot, we would go with the Bali Outdoors Fire Pit with Cooking Grill not only because of its aesthetics and the emphasis it places on cooking.

BALI OUTDOORS Wood Burning Fire Pit Backyard with Cooking Grill, 32in, Black, 24inCheck Price on Amazon

Equipped with an FDA-compliant barbecue grill, it provides enough room for grilling everything from meat to burgers.

To top it all, it’s a compact cooking pit that can look pretty on any patio without trying too hard.

 

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