Welcome back to Flare Fires! Today, I’m sharing my top 10 tips for lighting and managing your outdoor fire. Let’s dive in!
Tip #1: Use Dry Firewood
Using dry firewood might seem obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Suppliers sometimes deliver wet firewood. When I went camping this summer, someone mistakenly used green wood from a tree, thinking it was dry because it hadn’t been rained on. Dry firewood should be well-seasoned and free of moisture. You can tell by its light weight and the dry sound it makes when struck. Green firewood will smoke excessively and won’t burn well.
Tip #2: Use Small Pieces of Firewood
Small pieces of firewood reduce smoke and make it easier to start your fire. Today, I’m using particularly small pieces because of the wind. Smaller wood catches light quicker and produces less smoke. If you’re in a residential area, chop your wood smaller to minimize smoke.
Tip #3: Start with Softwood
Start your fire with softwood, like pine, which lights quickly but doesn’t produce much energy. It’s easy to light but burns out fast. Use hardwood like oak or cherry for cooking, as it provides a consistent, high heat and less smoky flavor.
Tip #4: Use Hardwood for Cooking
Once your fire is going, switch to hardwood for cooking. Pine and other softwoods can be too resinous, affecting the taste of your food. Hardwoods burn cleaner and longer, making them ideal for cooking.
Tip #5: Use the Jenga Style
Build your fire like a Jenga tower. Stack wood to create a structure with air gaps. This method allows fire starters or newspaper to ignite the wood easily, and as it burns, the structure will naturally collapse, maintaining the fire.
Tip #6: Warm Up Your Fire with Flame
Before cooking, warm up your fire with flames. This helps heat up the thermal mass of your outdoor fireplace. Enjoy the process, grab a drink, and relax while your fire gets up to temperature.
Tip #7: Cook Over Embers
Wait for the flames to die down and cook over the hot embers. This provides even heat for cooking and avoids the smoky flavor from burning wood. Keep your fire going on one side for warmth while using the embers for cooking.
Tip #8: Spread Out the Fire
For a long-lasting fire, spread out the embers. This creates an even bed of heat and looks impressive. Add more wood as needed to keep the fire going and entertain your guests.
Tip #9: Manage Your Embers
Drag the embers to one side for cooking and keep the fire burning on the other. Use a hardwood to add smoke flavor and control the cooking temperature by adding water if needed.
Tip #10: Keep Your Wood Boxes Stacked
Organize your wood to keep it looking nice and accessible. Use a wheelbarrow to transport wood for cooking without disturbing the neatly stacked firewood.
Bonus Tip: Enjoy the Moment
Pour yourself a glass of wine, relax, and enjoy the outdoor fire experience with your family. Slow down, breathe, and appreciate the time spent together around the fire.
I hope these tips help you light and manage your outdoor fire. See you next time!