How to Cook on a Fire Pit Without Burning Dinner
Written by Matt W on 13th Jul 2026.
You can cook on a fire pit once the flames die down to a bed of glowing embers. Rest a steel grill over the bowl and cook as you would on a barbecue. A Kadai bowl arrives with its own grill, so it does both jobs. Cook over embers, not flames, bank the coals into hot and cool zones, and keep long tongs to hand.
By Matt W | Garden Ornaments Specialist
Key takeaways
- Cook over embers, not flames. Let the wood burn 30 to 45 minutes until it glows white-grey
- A grill 10 to 15cm above the embers cooks like a barbecue. Kadai bowls include one
- Bank the embers to one side for a two-zone fire: hot to sear, cooler to cook through
- Cook steak, sausages, corn, foil-wrapped potatoes, skewers, flatbreads and marshmallows
- Use a cast iron pan or foil parcels for small food that would fall through the bars
- A 60cm Kadai set costs £105 and grills for five or six people
Shop the garden fire pit range →
Matt's note
The single most common mistake is cooking too soon. People see flames and want to get the food on. Flames scorch the outside and leave the middle raw, and they coat everything in soot. A fire pit cooks best once the fire has burned down and the wood glows. That takes about half an hour. Light it early, pour a drink, and let the fire do the waiting for you.
Can you cook on a fire pit?
Yes, you can cook on almost any wood-burning fire pit. A fire pit burns the same fuel as a barbecue and reaches the same cooking heat. The trick is to cook over embers rather than flames. Let the fire burn down for 30 to 45 minutes until the logs collapse into a glowing bed. Those embers give a steady, even heat that flames never can.
A bowl-shaped fire pit works best because it holds the embers in a deep layer. A Kadai bowl is made for the job. It comes with a grill that sits straight over the coals. Any solid steel or cast iron bowl can cook once you add a grill on top. New to it? Our guide to lighting a fire pit without the smoke covers the first half of the job.
Shop the 40cm Kadai Fire Pit Bowl →
How do you cook on a fire pit?
Cook on a fire pit in four steps: build the fire, wait for embers, set the grill, then control the heat. Light seasoned hardwood and let it burn until the flames drop and the wood glows white-grey. This is your cooking bed. Rake the embers into an even layer, then set your grill 10 to 15cm above them. Give the bars two minutes to heat before the food goes on.
Build a two-zone fire for control. Bank most of the embers to one side for a hot searing zone. Leave a thinner layer on the other for gentle cooking. Sear sausages or steak over the hot side, then move them across to finish through. This stops the outside charring before the middle is done. Charcoal added to the embers gives an even steadier heat for longer cooks.
Matt's pick for cooking on a fire pit
Best for: One bowl that grills dinner for a group, then warms the evening
Why I recommend it: The 60cm Kadai is the set I point most cooks to. The deep hand-finished bowl holds a big bed of embers, and the stainless steel grill drops straight on. Grill over the coals, lift the grill off, and you have a fire pit for the rest of the night. It feeds five or six and needs no assembly.
Price: £105
What can you cook on a fire pit?
You can cook almost anything on a fire pit that you would cook on a barbecue. Steak, burgers, sausages, chicken thighs, chops and skewers all grill well straight over the embers. Corn on the cob, halloumi, peppers and mushrooms take a few minutes each side. Flatbreads and pizza cook fast on a hot grill or a cast iron plate. Marshmallows on a long stick finish the night.
For anything that would fall through the bars, use foil or cast iron. Wrap potatoes, whole onions or fish in foil and nestle them in the embers for 30 to 40 minutes. A cast iron pan or skillet on the grill handles eggs, beans, prawns and one-pan meals. Foil parcels also steam vegetables in their own juice. This is the indirect method, and it is where a fire pit beats a flat barbecue.
Shop the Happy Cocoon 76cm Square Fire Pit →
Food safety first
Only cook over clean wood or charcoal. Never grill food over painted, treated or reclaimed timber. Never cook over firelighters or accelerants, as the fumes taint the food. Wait until the flames are gone before the food goes on, so soot does not coat it. Cook chicken, pork and burgers right through: a £10 meat thermometer should read 75C in the centre. Keep raw and cooked food on separate plates.
What is the best fire pit for cooking?
The best fire pit for cooking is a deep steel bowl with a grill that fits it. A Kadai set is the clearest example. The Kadai bowls arrive with a matching stainless steel grill, so there is nothing else to buy. A deep bowl concentrates the embers under the food, which a shallow tray cannot do. Plain fire pit bowls also cook well once you add a grill or a cast iron pan.
Gas fire pits are the exception. They give clean flame with no smoke. The burner and lava rock are not built for cooking, so treat them as warmth only. For a full breakdown of bodies, our fire pit buying guide comparing steel, cast iron and Corten covers which suits your patio. The table below sets the cooking options side by side.
Shop the Happy Cocoon 91cm Bowl Fire Pit →
| Fire pit | Fuel | Cooking setup | Feeds | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40cm Kadai Bowl Set | Wood or charcoal | Grill included | 2 to 3 | £75 |
| 60cm Kadai Bowl Set | Wood or charcoal | Grill included | 5 to 6 | £105 |
| Happy Cocoon 76cm Square | Wood | Add a grill or pan | 6 to 8 | £439 |
| Happy Cocoon 91cm Bowl | Wood | Add a grill or pan | 8 plus | £549 |
| Happy Cocooning 60cm Gas | Gas | Warmth only, not cooking | n/a | £579 |
Do you cook over flames or embers?
Always cook over embers, never over open flames. Flames are hotter at the tips but wildly uneven, and they leave soot on the food and the pan. Embers give a steady radiant heat you can judge and control. A good ember bed reads about 200 to 250C at grill height, close to a barbecue. Hold your hand 12cm above the grill: three to four seconds before it is too hot is roughly right.
Keep a small feeder fire to one side of a large bowl for a long cook. Rake a few glowing pieces across to top up the cooking zone. This keeps the heat even without flaring the fire back up under the food. On a smaller bowl, a handful of charcoal added to the embers holds the temperature steady.
Shop the Happy Cocoon 61cm Round Fire Pit →
What equipment do you need to cook on a fire pit?
You need a grill, long tongs and a way to handle the heat. A grill that fits your bowl is the main item, and a Kadai set includes one. Add tongs at least 30cm long, heatproof gloves and a cast iron pan or skillet. A meat thermometer, a roll of foil and a stiff wire brush for cleaning the bars finish the kit. That is enough to cook a full meal.
A gas fire pit is the one type to leave out of your cooking plans. The burner sits under decorative lava rock, and dripping fat is a fire risk. It is designed for flame and warmth only. If cooking matters to you, choose a wood-burning bowl. Always check the UK smoke control area rules before you burn wood in town.
Shop the Happy Cocooning 60cm Gas Fire Pit →
How do you clean a fire pit after cooking?
Brush the grill while it is still warm, then let the fire pit cool fully before you clear it. A stiff wire brush lifts burnt-on food from the bars in seconds while the heat is still in them. Wipe the grill with an oiled cloth to stop it rusting before the next cook. Leave the embers to die down and cool for a full 24 hours before you empty the ash.
Empty cold ash into a metal bin, never a plastic one. Hidden embers stay hot far longer than they look. A little cold wood ash can go on the compost heap. Wipe out a Kadai or steel bowl and store it dry or under a cover. The next fire then lights clean. A quick brush after every cook keeps a grill going for years.
Shop the Happy Cocoon 60cm Small Square Fire Pit →
We stock the Kadai sets because they answer the question this article asks. A fire pit that also cooks earns its space in a garden. The deep bowl holds embers, the grill drops on, and one fire does dinner and the evening after it. We pick bowls that draw air, cook evenly and last for years. Get the embers right and the food follows. Browse our full range of garden ornaments and outdoor living to finish your space.
- Matt W, Garden Ornaments
Frequently asked questions
Can you cook food directly on a fire pit?
Yes, once the fire burns down to embers. Set a grill over the glowing coals and cook as you would on a barbecue. Never cook over open flames, as they scorch the food and leave soot.
How long does a fire pit take to be ready for cooking?
Allow 30 to 45 minutes for a good ember bed. The flames need to drop and the wood needs to glow white-grey. Light the fire early so the embers are ready when you want to cook.
What can you cook on a fire pit?
Anything you would grill on a barbecue. Steak, sausages, chicken, corn, halloumi and skewers grill over the embers. Wrap potatoes or fish in foil for the coals, or use a cast iron pan.
Do you need a special fire pit to cook on?
No, any deep wood-burning bowl works with a grill. A Kadai set includes its own grill, so nothing else is needed. Gas fire pits are for warmth only, not cooking.
Can you use charcoal to cook on a fire pit?
Yes, charcoal gives a steady, long cooking heat. Burn it alone or add it to wood embers to hold the temperature for a longer cook. Both Kadai bowls take wood or charcoal.
Is it safe to cook over a wood fire pit?
Yes, over clean seasoned wood or charcoal only. Never cook over treated timber, firelighters or accelerants. Cook meat right through and check it reads 75C in the centre.