When it comes to cooking outdoors, the traditional BBQ has long been a go-to favorite for good reason. It’s – well, you know the score – familiar, straightforward and perfect for knocking out everything from burgers to sausages to grilled vegetables. But then there are BBQ firepits, which have a way of offering a different vibe to outdoor cooking, marrying the practicality of a grill with the warmth and atmosphere of an open fire. So the question is, does that make a BBQ firepit a better choice than a traditional BBQ?
Well, both have their pros, so the best option ultimately depends on how you plan to cook and make the most of your outdoor space. Let’s take a look at the key differences to help you figure out which one is the right one for you.
Cooking Versatility
A traditional BBQ is basically built for grilling, so it’s a solid choice for chucking on a few burgers, sausages, steaks and veggies. But while that works a treat for simple BBQ meals, BBQ firepits can be a lot more flexible. With the right accessories, you can dial in how and where the food is cooked, which means you can try out different cooking methods all in one outdoor setup.
Swing arm BBQ racks are a game-changer, allowing you to nudge the grill over or back away from the fire as needed – or even just get it up higher or lower as you see fit. Adjustable up-down swing arms take it a step further by letting you change the height of the cooking surface, which makes it easier to manage the heat without having to keep moving the food around.
For bigger meals or longer gatherings, warming racks can keep cooked food warm while others are still cooking away. You can also chuck in a rotisserie for slow roasting meat, while BBQ rings give you another handy cooking surface. To really get that authentic open-fire vibe going, you can hang pans and cooking pots from hooks to cook up a storm right over the flames.
Heat Control
Getting to grips with heat control is a vital part of cooking outdoors, and this is where traditional BBQs and fire pit grills show a pretty marked difference. You’ve probably got a good feel for how to manage the temperature on a traditional BBQ, but cooking over an open flame is a different ball game altogether – you need to keep a close eye on the flames and embers to get it just right.
With a fire pit grill, though, you get the added flexibility to fine-tune the heat levels by adjusting the cooking surface. If you’ve got a Swing Arm BBQ Rack, you can easily move it closer to or further away from the fire, depending on what you’re cooking.
Alternatively, an Up-Down Swing Arm lets you raise or lower the grill to find the perfect temperature for your food. It’s not always as straightforward as a traditional BBQ, but for many outdoor cooks that’s part of the fun – you get a much greater sense of involvement in the cooking process, and you can react to any changes in the fire by adjusting the grill as you go.
Cooking Capacity
When you’re cooking for family and friends, the amount of space on the grill can be really crucial. Traditional BBQs come in all sorts of sizes, but their cooking area is generally fixed, so you’re stuck with whatever space is available on the grill.
Fire pit grills, on the other hand, can offer a lot more flexibility, especially if you’re using multiple cooking racks. With a Swing Arm BBQ Rack, for example, you can position different foods around the fire without having to cram everything onto one grill, and then you can move individual racks closer to or further from the heat depending on what’s cooking. That can be a real lifesaver when you’re catering for a big group. You can use different areas of the firepit for different dishes, so you can get everything cooked on time without resorting to cooking things in batches.
Ease of Use
If you want an easy and super-familiar way to cook outdoors, a traditional BBQ might be your best bet. Once you’ve got it lit and up to the right temperature, you can just pop your food on the grill and start chomping away, with little to no fuss.
A BBQ firepit, on the other hand, may require a bit more time and effort, especially when it comes to building the fire and waiting for those embers to get hot enough to cook on. But the good thing is that this hands-on approach can also be part of the fun. Features like Swing Arm BBQ Racks help make it easier to shift the cooking surface out of the direct heat or get a snuggle up close to the fire when you need to add some more fuel.
For those people who genuinely enjoy the process of cooking over an open flame, a bit more involvement can be a total bonus, rather than a pain in the neck. You get the chance to fiddle with the fire, move the cooking around, and basically take a more active role in cooking up your masterpiece.
Appearance and Garden Style
It’s not just about getting a meal cooked, is it? The way your BBQ looks can have a real impact on the overall look and vibe of your garden. Traditional BBQ’s are pretty much designed just for cooking, so they can get tucked away or covered up when they’re not being used.
A BBQ firepit, on the other hand, is a whole different story. The large open design can make it a natural focal point in an outdoor space, adding loads of character even when you’re not actually cooking. Once the meal is done, it can go on to be used as a fire pit, creating a warm and inviting setting for just unwinding or hanging out with friends.
And the best bit? There are loads of styles to choose from, so you can find a fire pit that fits right in with your outdoor space, from the very simple and totally unflashy Plain Jane to the bigger, more showstopping models. Fire pit grills have the ability to merge cooking functionality with a design that fits right in with the garden.
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