Best Fire Pit Grill Grate For Cooking

Grill grates are an essential component for cooking on fire pits.

Not only do they add some safety by preventing a flame from getting out of hand, the thin bars and material making up the grate evens out the flames and directs them towards the food which heats them up very quickly and saves you having to hold some meat over the flame manually.

Depending on your particular fire pit, a certain type of grill grate will be needed in order to get the most effective heating mechanism.

The material, shape and design all significantly change how a grill grate works, and you will want to make sure you have an effective one otherwise it could cook much slower or even worse, not cook at all if it’s the wrong size.

There are quite a few things to keep in mind when buying a decent grill grate so to make this process easier, below we have compiled some of the best grates on the market today so you can find one that will be the perfect choice for your specific fire pit.

Why Use A Grill Grate?

Grill grates are crucially important for fire cooking because they essentially eliminate charring but accentuate searing.

Grill grates allow the juices to steam and boil which produces a huge kick of flavor that you just can’t always get with a traditional and more unreliable grill.

Because of the way they are designed, grill grates also allow for excellent heat transfer ensuring your food is cooked quickly and thoroughly.

Many of the designs are also non-stick making them easy to place on and detach and are incredibly sturdy being efficient and effective for the long term.

Grill grates are also getting better with time with a variety of styles and designs now on the market.

This has made it far easier to find a grate for your particular fire whether you need something large and expansive or a grate that’s portable and can be taken on the go to be quick and easy to use.

There is always debate surrounding the very best material, design and shape that will produce the best results, so we have therefore listed a few variations below so you can freely choose one you feel would work best for a fire pit.

Walden Tough BBQ Cooking Fire Pit Grilling Grate 

One of the most popular and efficient heavy duty steel grates on the market, the Walden Grilling Grate is an impressive option that you can ensure will last you at least a few years.

The grates high carbon steel is incredibly tough allowing for high temperatures and a resistance to rusting, and can support both wood and charcoal grilling.

The round circular design of the grate means it can easily slip and sit on top of a fire pit being easy to place on and off, and with sizes ranging from 30 to 36 inches, there is quite a bit of room for variety.

One of the best options currently for circular fire pits, the Walden Tough Grilling Grate is a great choice to quickly cook up your favorite meat and veg in no time.

Pros

• Sturdy carbon steel
• Very durable lasting for years
• Variety of sizes
• Non stick makes it easy to apply
• Supports both wood and charcoal grilling

Cons

• Only comes in circular design

Hikeman Folding Campfire Grill 

Maybe you want a grilling grate that you can take on the go to quickly heat up a meal if you’re a regular traveler but can’t get enough of barbecue food.

If so the Hikeman has got you covered, made of cold rolled steel which is very effective with high temperatures and resistant to rusting, it is an extremely reliable option which can guide heat effectively while still remaining sturdy after prolonged use.

It also stands at 60 cm high with two pairs of legs at each end.

This is incredible for when you are traveling and don’t really know what kind of fire pits you could stumble across.

An easy to set up grilling grate such as this will be able to bridge across any ditch of heat and still cook thoroughly.

As an added bonus, the legs are also foldable making it extremely easy to carry around in a backpack, and as an easy to get out and set up option, the Hikeman is the best grilling grate on the market when it comes to portability.

Pros

• Very durable cold rolled steel
• Foldable and easy to take on the go
• Good height
• Perfect reliable option for traveling

Cons

• No variety of sizes or colors

GasSaf Cast Iron Cooking Grate 

For an iron option, the GasSaf is an incredibly sturdy choice with plenty of variation.

The grate is not only made of an extremely durable iron material, the bars are also separated distinctly to allow a good amount of heat conversion that will direct the flames towards your food so it can cook them in no time.

A huge bonus to this product is no matter what fire pit you have or are using, the GasSaf will be able to fit having an original 18 inch circular grate that can be split in half to a half moon grate as is the same shape with a lot of fire pits.

This is an excellent option as an added grate layer or as a brand new one which will resist heat and rusting very well and will be a utensil you will be sure to pull out again down the line.

Pros

• Durable iron material
• Fully circular and half moon sizes
• Long lasting
• Good price for material quality

Cons

• Very heavy grill grate

Uniflasy Grill Cooking Grates 

Maybe you can’t choose between a material or just want to experiment with several to see which works the most effectively for your fire.

The Uniflasy grill grate grants you this choice, coming with two 17 inch bars that you can purchase in either cast iron or stainless steel.

Both these materials will work well, the stainless steel is very rust resistant and can manage heat to a great level, however heavy duty cast iron does tend to do this a little better being extremely resistant to heat and damage.

Stainless steel is a good option to consider if you want to spend a little less, but have a grilling grate a lot lighter and potentially easier to clean.

However for the most durable option that you can be sure will last you for months down the line, cast iron would be the most optimal choice.

Both materials are non-stick and can be cleaned in just a few minutes and neither of them are considered bad when it comes to grill cooking, so don’t worry about getting the wrong option and having to replace it soon after.

Pros

• Both iron and steel designs
• Comes with two grates
• Very durable whichever option you choose
• Very heat resistant

Cons

• Lack of extra sizes

QKDS BBQ Grill 

If it is size you are worried about and want to make sure you have something that will always fit and never be too small, this is the primary purpose of the QKDS.

With sizes ranging up to 38 - 50 cm, this grill grate is very long but also flat and can be easily slipped on top of any fire pit regardless of size, making it extremely reliable and long lasting.

The stainless steel material is very resistant to rusting and the square shaped tiles allow for good heat conversion ensuring your food will not be undercooked.

These spaces are also not too thick meaning you won’t have to worry about smaller pieces of food slipping through the grate.

Despite its size, the QKDS Grill Grate is also very portable and is easy to use over essentially any fire pits you find while traveling, just make sure to put the grill in the back of the car so it doesn’t get in the way.

Pros

• Much size variation
• Stainless steel still very effective and durable
• Good sized square grill shapes

Cons

• Can be cumbersome to carry around

Vicool Porcelain Enameled Cooking Grill 

An extremely thick and durable grill grate, the Vicool Cooking Grill is made of high quality porcelain coated cast iron.

This gives the grate an extremely thick design so that it will stay strong for an extremely long time.

The long thin bars on the grill will let a fire pass through easily and it is extremely easy to clean.

The actual design of the Vicool is also striking due to the porcelain-enamel coating giving it a very glossy finish so that you can cook in style.

With a great price point and thick and reliable material, the Vicool grill grate is perfect as a reliable option that will have you cooking in style.

Pros

• Reliable steel material
• Porcelain gives grill grate glossy finish
• Thick design makes it heavy use
• Very cheap considering the materials

Cons

• Occasional porcelain bubbles appear on design

Walden Backyard Fire Pit Grate 

With a high end state of the art design that does most of the cleaning up for you, the Walden Fire Pit Grate is made of a powerful alloy steel remaining very resistant to high temperatures and suitable for cooking any foods.

The most striking thing about this grill is the miniature looking circle around the middle.

This is actually a mesh design and works to catch embers, making for a better burn and an easy clean up, keeping a fire red hot for hours.

Because the grate also stands on a circular stand, it allows for better airflow coming from underneath the fire which both maximizes the flame while at the same time creating a less smoky fire that could otherwise grow out of control or become too obnoxious.

With a lack of ash being left behind, cleaning this grill is also easier than ever and almost not required at all, making for a product you can set up at any time ready for use, and not have to worry about the lengthy cleanup period after you’ve eaten.

A perfect choice if you want the most out of your flames with the added bonus of remaining very clean even after prolonged use.

Pros

• Steel and mesh design directs flames
• Mesh resists ash and leftover mess
• Built on a miniature stand
• Can be portable

Cons

• Only 2 similar sizes

GameMaker Open Fire Cooking Grill And Skillet 

This is an incredible multipack option for when you need a few things at once for a back garden or if you just want to upgrade what you already have.

The GameMaker is a grill and skillet combo with both being centered on a singular stand with a ‘lift and set’ process allowing one to move up and the other to go down with the power of gravity.

Both trays can move 360 degrees making it an incredibly easy and handy way to cook multiple foods at once while switching between heating up the grill and skillet, or even heating up both at the same time, it’s made very easy with the GameMaker.

All that is required to set this up is driving the stand into the ground next to your fire or maybe two of them, and simply raise, lower and pivot either the skillet or grill over the fire to heat it up.

The material of the grill itself is stainless steel meaning even though it comes as a secondary option, it is still made of top quality material and will be incredibly durable ensuring you won’t have to buy a new grill grate right after.

Pros

• Skillet and grill grate in one
• Easy to set up and use
• Stainless steel is very effective and durable
• Compact design makes it easy to put away

Cons

• Slightly more expensive

REDCAMP Swivel Campfire Grill 

Perhaps the most versatile and unique looking options on this list for those looking for something with an intriguing function and design, the REDCAMP grill is part of a ‘triangle’ stand which is placed in the ground with the grill then poking out from the side.

This can sound unreliable but it’s actually incredibly efficient, the stand itself being extremely durable and heavy making for a good amount of balance, and the grill grate being made of cold rolled steel making it a great choice for cooking that you can ensure won’t let you down for years to come.

The grill can be adjusted either lower or higher meaning no matter the height of your personal fire pit or one you have stumbled across in the wild, the REDCAMP makes cooking from these doable and easy.

The diamond shaped slits in the grill also allows the heat to cook with precision, and the product even comes with a small carrier bag which is extremely handy for carrying around the grill as it is actually also very portable, all that needs to be removed is the stand and the grill will be ready to take with you for any journey.

Pros

• Unique mounted design
• Effective cold rolled steel
• Adjustable height
• Comes with carry bag
• Very portable

Cons

• Lack of sizes

Summary

Cooking food from a fire is a fun way to heat up our tastiest treats in what feels like no time, it’s perfect for a summer's day and can make for a perfect occasion to get the friends and family over.

If you are planning to cook over a fire pit or have been doing it for some time and want that extra bit of safety and ease of use, a grill grate is a must buy.

In such a large variation of sizes, designs and materials, it all comes down to your particular fire and what you intend to cook with the grill.

While most materials will cook very thoroughly and remain resistant, the size of the grill is incredibly important as one too small or big can cause problems such as food falling through and being under or overcooked.

While keeping these factors in mind, have fun looking at and trying out some of these different grilling grates to find one that is the perfect choice for you.