Can you cook on a gas fire pit? For real cooking, no. Most gas fire pit makers whose manuals and help pages we opened say their products are not built or tested for cooking, and several print “Do not use for cooking” right in the safety warnings. Toasting a marshmallow on a long stick is a different matter: some makers allow it, as long as nothing falls onto the burner or the media. If you want burgers, steaks or a wok over open flame, a wood burning fire pit with a cook grate or a dedicated fire pit grill is the right tool.
Can you cook on a gas fire pit? What the manuals say
Here is what the manuals and support pages we opened say:
- Outdoor GreatRoom Company says its gas fire pit tables are UL Listed as a decorative appliance, not a cooking appliance, and are not safety tested or designed for cooking food over. It does allow marshmallows over the flame, with clean glass gems and burner ports.
- Outland Living says on its support page about marshmallows and hot dogs that it cannot condone using its fire pits for cooking, and that the rich burn produces some soot that should not be consumed.
- Hearth Products Controls (HPC) states in its FPPK fire pit insert manual that the fire pit is not for cooking and that food material should be kept away from it.
- Crystal Fire says in its burner FAQ that you can roast marshmallows, but the appliance was not designed to cook food, and warns that combustible items on the burner top can clog the burner ports.
- Blue Rhino prints “Do Not Use For Cooking” in the safety warning of its GAD860SP fire pit manual, and the California Outdoor Concepts manual says the same for its decorative gas fire pit.
A gas fire pit is a decorative heating appliance. Your own manual is the final word.
Roasting marshmallows on a propane fire pit
Our fire pit buying guide answers yes to marshmallows over gas, with two conditions: cook over the flame, not the media stones, and keep sugar drips off the burner ports. The manuals add one more check: Outdoor GreatRoom and Crystal Fire allow marshmallows, while Outland Living, HPC and others say no cooking at all. Step one is your model’s manual.
If your manual allows it:
- Use a long roasting stick and hold the marshmallow in the flame above the media, never pressed into the glass or rocks.
- If a marshmallow falls or drips, turn the fire pit off, let it cool fully and pick the sugar out of the media before you light it again. Melted sugar on the burner is exactly the debris Crystal Fire warns can clog the ports.
- Do not toss sticks, wrappers or leftovers into the flame; HPC says to keep food material away from the fire pit.
- Watch kids closely. Our guide to fire pit safety with kids and pets covers hot surfaces and supervision.
Why grilling meat on a gas fire pit is a bad idea
Hot dogs, burgers and steaks are where gas fire pits fall down, because of what the food drops.
- Grease and drippings land on the media. Fat and juices fall straight into the fire glass or lava rock, which sits right on top of the burner. HPC tells owners to cover the burner with only enough glass to hide it, so drippings do not have far to travel.
- Burner ports clog. Crystal Fire warns that combustible items on the burner top will clog the ports, and HPC’s troubleshooting steps include checking for debris in the burner. A partly blocked burner can light unevenly or cause the kind of flame problems covered in our gas fire pit troubleshooting guide.
- No grate, no grease management. A decorative fire pit has no way to handle drippings, which is why Outdoor GreatRoom points people who want to cook toward an outdoor kitchen instead.
- Soot on your food. Outland Living notes that its rich burn produces some soot that should not be consumed.
Fire glass vs lava rock: does the media matter?
Not much for this question. Both sit over the burner, and both will catch grease and sugar that fall into them, which then sits right where the gas comes out. Neither belongs under raw meat. If food or drink does end up in your media, pull it out once the pit is cold, clean the media and let it dry fully before you light the pit again.
Fire pit cooking done right: wood pits with cook grates
For real fire pit cooking, choose a pit built for it. Prices are from our listings at the time of writing and can change.
- Ohioflame Liberty Fire Pit with Hollow Base (listed from $324.94). A wood burning pit in 3/16 inch American steel with a rain drain and, per our listing, Ohio Flame’s lifetime warranty.
- Ohioflame MARS Fire Pit System (listed from $234.94). The adapter ring that lets a Patriot or Liberty pit switch from fire pit to cook surface. Pick the size that matches your pit.
- Ohioflame MARS Steel Cook Grate ($224.94). A 3/16 inch thick steel cook top with 1/2 inch openings that you season like cast iron.
- Ohioflame MARS Steel Wok Grate ($244.94). The same steel grate with a removable 12 inch center for a wok or rounded pan.
- Sunstone StarBBQ 24 Inch Smokeless Fire Pit Grill ($1,071). A wood or charcoal pit with dual swing out grills and a diamond grid grate insert.
- Sunstone StarBBQ 36 Inch Smokeless Fire Pit Insert Package ($708). An insert for most DIY stacked stone pits, with dual post mount swivel grills.
- YardCraft Urban Fire Adjustable Swivel Grill ($149). A stainless steel cooking grate on a pole that adjusts up, down and sideways over a wood fire.
Browse the full Ohioflame lineup for pits, lids and log grates. For how smokeless pits work and how to cook on them, see our smokeless fire pit guide.
Keep your gas fire pit for warmth and atmosphere
Gas tables like the Direct Wicker Gray 40,000 BTU Gas Fire Pit Set ($599, glass rocks, tank holder and ice bucket included) and the Patio Resorts Bermuda 48 Inch Round Fire Table ($2,036.83, 56,000 BTU burner with electronic ignition, fire glass sold separately) are made for gathering around. Use them for heat and ambiance.
Gas fire pit vs wood pit for cooking
| Cooking task | Gas fire pit | Wood pit with cook grate or fire pit grill |
|---|---|---|
| Marshmallows on a stick | Only if your manual allows it; keep drips off the media | Yes |
| Hot dogs on a stick | Not recommended; drippings fall on the burner | Yes |
| Burgers, steaks, vegetables on a grate | No; not designed or tested for cooking | Yes, with a grate made for the pit |
| Wok or pan cooking | No | Yes, with a wok grate such as the Ohioflame MARS |
Gas work and your manual
Do not add an aftermarket grate or a grill over a gas burner unless the maker sells it for that model. A licensed gas professional and your local code have the final word on any gas connection, and your owner’s manual has the final word on how the appliance may be used.
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook on a gas fire pit?
Not for real cooking. Outdoor GreatRoom, Outland Living, HPC and Blue Rhino all say their gas fire pits are not for cooking, though some allow marshmallows. Check your manual.
Is roasting marshmallows on a propane fire pit safe?
It can be if your manual allows it. Roast above the media, keep sugar off the burner and supervise children.
Can I put a grill grate on my gas fire pit?
Only if the manufacturer sells one for your model. Grease falling onto the burner can clog its ports. A wood pit with a cook grate is the better choice for fire pit cooking.
What should I do if food falls into my fire glass?
Turn the gas off, let it cool, remove the food and clean the media. Dry it fully before relighting.
Not sure which fire pit fits the way you cook? Call our team at 866-777-2590, Monday to Friday, 9AM to 6PM PST. Orders of $999 or more ship free by freight, and smaller orders ship for a flat $200. See our return and refund policy for details.
