Outdoor fireplaces can be the perfect centerpiece for many an evening gathering on your deck or back patio.  Outdoor cooking has been used throughout history and has become more of a social gathering to cook food for friends and family. Long summer days and evenings are an excellent time to cook outdoors while entertaining families, friends, neighbors, and/or acquaintances.

The summer is filled with holidays and time for family traditions, such as hosting an outdoor barbecue at the end of the school year to kick off summer celebrations or having a bonfire to roast s’mores as a favorite pastime from childhood. Having a bonfire or cookout can also be a great way to invite neighbors or coworkers over for a fun social gathering. Families often have traditions of barbecuing food for holidays such as Memorial Day, Independence Day, and Labor Day. 

Recently, outdoor cooking has surged with the COVID-19 pandemic since it is in open-air spaces and well ventilated.  During any gatherings, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has cautioned Americans to maintain social distance and to conduct social gatherings outdoors during the coronavirus pandemic to avoid disease transmission and the spread of viral particles. Cooking over an outdoor fireplace is a great alternative to hosting indoors during COVID-19. 

No matter your approach to outdoor cooking, Lawn & Leisure can meet all your outdoor entertaining needs. 

Fire Safety

There are several considerations to keep in mind when using fires for entertaining or cooking.  Protocol surrounding fire safety is important. Also, education about optimal weather conditions can help prevent wildfires.

Remember safety precautions when using flames to cook food. It is important to abide by all municipal codes, regulations, and rules, as well as be cognizant of any and all homeowner association rules. 

Flames should be at a safe distance from residential structures, cars, trees, and other flammable items to avoid a hazardous fire. Most recommendations are to be at least 10 feet from structures.  Cooking should always be done in a well-ventilated area where the smoke has room to clear. Cooking on an open flame on a porch can be done safely when there is open air to allow flames and smoke to disperse safely with no covering. Covered porches, screened-in porches, garages, carports, and other covered or enclosed outdoor spaces should not be used for cooking. They can damage the root and not allow the smoke to effectively clear. 

Dry grass and dry leaves are highly flammable, creating hazardous conditions for outdoor cooking or entertaining; therefore, keep them away from the fire. Never cook on a fireplace where the fire could spread to a house or residential building. Owning a fire extinguisher is helpful for emergencies to avoid house fires, and quickly extinguish flames. 

Wind and Weather when Cooking

Always be cognizant of weather conditions and basic fire safety to prevent hazardous conditions and property damage.  The weather is important to consider in order to avoid fire damage.  Ensure the wind is not harmful to your outdoor cooking plans which could make an outdoor fire turn hazardous quickly.

Winds over 5 miles an hour can lead to sparks blowing and wildfires if they are not monitored, contained, or blown out. High winds can lead to small sparks and embers being carried even further and dispersed. 

The United States Department of the Interior reports upwards of 90% of fires are initiated by humans due to a lack of fire safety, uncontrolled campfires, or house fires that get out of hand with a lack of diligence to fire safety (2022).

Forest fires can be caused by an errant campfire or careless disposal of cigarettes that lead to embers being dispersed through the air. Embers can land on dry leaves and quickly make for hazardous conditions that threaten residential areas and national public lands. 

Storing Wood

Wood for the outdoor fireplace should be kept in a safe, dry area. Wood that is wet due to rain accumulation cannot burn properly. It may decay and attract harmful mold or mildew that is unsafe for human food consumption. 

Cooking Safety

For wood, cooking outdoors often takes more time than cooking inside. The fire needs to be started ahead of the intended mealtime to ensure there is adequate time to heat the fireplace for cooking. Lighter fluid may be used cautiously to start the fire using the recommended label rate. Fires need to be continuously fed with firewood or charcoal to maintain their temperature and heat.

Have a plan B to reduce stress or inconvenience if the weather is not cooperative or amenable for outdoor cooking. A family that is expecting to cook hot dogs for the 4th of July may have to rearrange their plans if it rains or storms. There needs to be an alternative, such as using the stove or oven to cook the hot dogs through boiling, frying, or baking. 

Controlling Temperature

The fire needs to reach a certain temperature for optimal results and cooking. Outdoor fireplaces heat up to a higher temperature than typical indoor appliances, allowing food to cook quickly. Therefore, it is important to closely monitor the food while it is cooking to avoid it burning. The meat needs to reach a certain internal temperature to be safely consumed to avoid food-borne illnesses that can lead to food poisoning.

When cooking consult the USDA’s safe minimum internal temperature chart.  https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart  For example, chicken needs to reach at least 165°F, and beef and pork products need to reach at least 145°F. Failing to cook food properly can lead to sickness. 

Monitor the Fire

It is important to never walk away from an open flame. Fires need to be supervised to ensure safe practices. Pets and children should be kept away from fires to avoid burns. It is important to always monitor young children who are unaware of the dangers of fires to avoid injury. 

It can be a fun and entertaining process to learn to cook over an open flame.  Charbroiled hamburgers, grilled chicken and vegetables, roasted hot dogs or bratwursts, and wood-fired cooked pizza are tasty. Let us help you make these cooking events even more memorable. 

Check out Lawn & Leisure to meet your outdoor fireplace needs for the summer. 

Visit our Lawn & Leisure showroom today to find out more. We are located at 103 Douglas Court in Sterling, Virginia to meet your entertaining outdoor needs. Visit the showroom to shop for outdoor furniture, grills, and fireplaces. Customers can shop at Lawn & Leisure during business hours Monday through Saturday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, and Sunday, noon to 5:00 PM.

Customer service representatives and sales associates are available to answer your questions to create a space you love for entertaining and hosting. 3-D rendered planning software is available for configuring the space you have with our team to ensure your purchases at Lawn & Leisure fit the space you have.

Our showroom is over 16,000 square feet. We have a warehouse that allows customers to take their furniture, fireplaces or grills home the day they buy them, rather than waiting for inventory to be replenished in other shops.

Lawn & Leisure can help you plan the patio and outdoor space of your dreams to enjoy for years to come! Come check out our large showroom today to take your new patio furniture and grill home to start using immediately. We are located in Sterling, Virginia serving the DC area, including Maryland and Virginia.