Cooking Grates For Fire Pits
About the Author: Hi! I'm Chris Hunt, and I wrote this article. The information presented is my opinion based on personal experience and online research. It doesn't constitute advice, professional or otherwise. Furthermore, I don't guarantee the quality or finish of any of the products showcased. According to the Disclaimer, Terms and Conditions, and Privacy Policy posted on the website, you acknowledge abiding by them when using the site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases (without additional cost or expense to you).
Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill
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Our pick for the best campfire grill grate for our circumstances is the Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill. It's a nice simple stake-and-swivel grill that has no bells and whistles.
When we decided to go camping this summer, we didn't think of bringing a portable grill.
Sometimes there was an included grate at the campground (see image below – me enjoying a beer after a long drive from Glacier National Park to Yellowstone).
But sometimes we set up our fire pit and … we ended up sitting there holding our sausages over the fire using sticks from the forest!
So we came home and started researching campfire grill grates. Here are the results of our research! We have complete buyers guide at the end of this article with some great tips.
But we know you want to know our pick for the top campfire grills!
So here's our list of the best campfire grill grates:
- Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill – Best Over Fire Grill
- Wolf Grizzly Compact Campfire Grill Grate – Best for Backpackers
- The Perfect CampfireGrill 18-Inch Round Grill Grate
- Stromberg Carlson GR-1522 Stake and Grille Grate
- RedSwing Folding Campfire Grill Grate – Best Portable Grill for Casual Campers
- Steven Raichlen "Best of Barbecue" Tuscan BBQ Grill
- Texsport Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Camping Rotisserie Grill and Spit
- Coleman Tripod Grill and Lantern Hanger
- Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill
Best Campfire Grill Grates – Top 3 Comparison Table
Campfire Grill Grates – Full Reviews
1. Texsport Heavy-Duty Swivel Grill
Quick Review: A nice simple stake-and-swivel grill that has no bells and whistles.
The thing we like about this grill is its simplicity and elegance. It doesn't have any additional 'bells and whistles. All you have is the 28″ stake and the grilling plate, which you attach to the stake.
You'll have about 17 inches of height to play with, and you can screw the grate at any size, which means you can get it to the perfect height for whatever you're cooking.
It also rotates 360 degrees, so when you want to cool your food, it acts as a cooling platform as well.
The grate connects to the stake with a simple clasp mechanism, which is nice but not as good as some others we've seen.
In terms of grate size, we're looking at 24″ L x 16″ W. We think that's a good size for a small group of campers. In addition, if the stake secures firmly into the ground, you should be able to place quite a few pots and pans on the grill itself.
So overall, if you want simplicity in your life, this is a good pick. We'd think it's best for car camping or backyard fire pits than pack-in, pack-out camping because it's not the lightest grill around.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Affordable:We appreciate that this is a sturdy and affordable product. Practical and straightforward: You're getting a no-nonsense product here. It does the job and doesn't have any added bells and whistles. Suitable Size for Small Group: 24 inches by 16 inches is enough for a few hamburgers and pots. | Minor: If you're cooking a feast for a large family, consider a larger model like the Adjust-A-Grill Camping Grill. Not many Additional Features: You may like its simplicity, but others may prefer a product designed to get the maximum bang for your buck. Better for Drive-in Campgrounds: You wouldn't want to be hiking with this thing. |
2. The Perfect CampfireGrill 18-Inch Round Grill Grate
Quick Review: This is a great overall package. It is significant, height-adjustable, and comes in a great carry bag.
The "Campfire Grill" is a brand dedicated just to creating a range of camping grills. They've managed to refine their product, so it's high quality and well-designed portable grill.
This particular grill from their campfire grill range is an 18 inch round grate. Think extra-large pizza size. So, it fits a lot of food on the grill surface. It could probably feed a small family easily.
The brand's defining feature is its patented raised edge that loops all around the rim. It essentially acts as a wall so that this grill prevents food from falling off the grill.
The Campfire Grill company has included a carry bag, hot pad, and glove in this kit, as well as wrenches for constructing and deconstructing the grill.
But it's pretty straightforward to construct. First, stab the stake into the ground right next to where you will have your fire. If it's soft ground, this shouldn't be a problem. But remember that if the land is more demanding, you might need a mallet to get the stake into the ground.
Then, adjust the height of the grill to your preferred size. We like this stake design because there is a lot of room for height adjustment.
The stake also has a 360-degree swivel – so once your food cooks, you can swivel it away from the fire to let time for the food to cool.
One quick thing to note is that it gets hot, so you might need a fireplace glove to adjust the height mid-fire.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Oversized: The 18-inch diameter means this one can hold and cook a small family's food all at once. A Lot of Height Options:We like stake-swivel grills like this because you have a lot of room to adjust the height. Packs into carrying Bags: It's not our favorite carry bag on the list, but it's nice that there's one included. Swivel: You can swivel the grate 360 degrees. Swivel it away from the fire when you finish cooking to let the food cool down. | They're often Sold Out:We have noticed that it can be hard to get a hold of one of these because they sell out so fast online. You'll need a Mallet: If the ground around your fire is hard, you'll need a mallet to get the stake to pierce it. Gets Hot: All grills get hot (obviously), but you're often tempted with height-adjustable stake grills like this one to adjust the height mid-fire. Unfortunately, this can burn your fingers! |
3. RedSwing Folding Campfire Grill – Best Portable Grill Grate
Quick Review: This is the best portable campfire grill grate for your casual camper.
The biggest drawing card of this grill is that it's portable. It comes with a great carry bag that you can throw in the back of your car next time you go camping. So, this is probably the best camping grill for people who do more remote backcountry camping.
The entire construction focuses on portability.
That includes the use of stainless steel rather than iron, which makes it significantly lighter than competitors.
On the flip side, it is also much thinner and less sturdy than iron grills designed to be installed and left in place above a fire pit for an extended period.
You get a choice of two sizes – medium (13.6″ x 9″ x 6.5″) and large (17″ x 12.6″ x 5.7″). Those heights drop to 1″ when folded. Unfortunately, both sizes are small compared to some larger competitors – but again, it's designed this way for portability.
Something else we liked about this one is that its smooth rounded corners mean you're less likely to snag on the edges or cut yourself. So while many may consider it a minor design feature, it adds to the overall value.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Portable: This is the most portable grate on the list. It's lightweight, and you can transport it in the carry bag included in the purchase. Versatile: You can use this over a disposable BBQ grill or a dedicated fire pit. Choose your Size:You can choose between medium and large sizes for this one – although both sizes are pretty small relative to other outdoor campfire grills. | It's Small: While it's nice and compact when it comes time for grilling, you'll be competing for space on this one. Best for just one or two campers max. It might also be too small for more giant fire pits. Not as Sturdy as Some: The materials are thinner than the grates that are less portable. Not height Adjustable:The stick models are much more height adjustable. |
4. Wolf Grizzly Compact Backpack Grill – Best for Backpackers
Quick Review: This is the best campfire grill for people who are backpacking in and out of their camping spot. It's minor, lightweight, and compact for backpackers.
This campfire grill grate is for the lightweight backpacker who packs in and out to their campground. As avid hikers, both Chris and I got very excited about this one. It folds down into a tiny package that you can slip into the corner of your backpack.
Furthermore, it's light enough to carry in your backpack without any worries. Its overall weight is just 2.2 pounds.
It's perfect for our summer multi-day hikes!
Our initial concern, though, was that this might not be exceptionally sturdy. And in a way, that concern does hold. It can only hold up to 30 pounds. That's probably about enough (it's a small grill grate, after all), but don't use and abuse this one – treat it lightly. As you can see from the images on Amazon, the skeleton support structure isn't particularly thick. But, on the other hand, it's got the thinnest design of all grates we've reviewed.
So overall, we love it for the purpose it serves, but it's not for everyone. It is too small for families, for example. It's best for lightweight pack-in, pack-out backpackers only.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Best for Backpackers: Get it if you need to carry your grilling grate in and out to your campground. Tiny and Lightweight: This grill grate is super light and packs into a bit of a bag so that it won't take up extra space. | Very Small: It only stretches out to 8 inches at its most extensive mode. Thin Structure: It's the lightest of all grates we have reviewed. Best for Singles or Couples: It's too small for cooking a large family dinner on it! |
5. Steven Raichlen "Best of Barbecue" Tuscan BBQ Grill – Best backyard fire pit grill
Quick Review: This would be the best grill grate for a backyard but not for carrying around. Our one concern is that the legs are pretty short.
We noticed that this grill is that it's not as big as it looks. While in the photos online, it seems enormous, actually is just 14 inches x 14 inches. So, the size makes it a grill for a small family.
The most significant benefit of this grill is also its biggest weakness: it's thick.
The thickness makes it a very sturdy grill. You could probably leave it outside (maybe under a fire pit cover) and have it as a permanent feature over your backyard fire pit.
But the thickness also adds to the weight and makes it not that comfortable to carry around. It comes in at 11 pounds – so not terrible, but nowhere near as light as others on this list.
The other downside here is that the legs are only 4 inches high. While this is not as much height as we'd like, it means you'll need to let the fire burn down to charcoals before cooking. Of course, this is good practice regardless, but we're impatient and love to start cooking right away like most people.
That's why we prefer campfire grill grates with a swivel stake – where the height is widely adjustable.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Best for backyard fire pit: It's not super portable but nice and sturdy, so it'd be an excellent permanent addition to your backyard campfire. Cast Iron: Most grills on this list are stainless steel, but this one is of excellent sturdy cast iron. It gives it a very sturdy feel. | Heavy: This one's best for your backyard, not for lugging around to public campgrounds. Not very Tall: It sits low to the ground, meaning you have to let the fire burn down to coals before using it. |
6. Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill
Quick Review: A study portable grill grate that's great for car camping.
This Texsport Heavy Duty Over Fire Camp Grill is a stainless steel camping grill that's great for a campout. It's small enough to carry around and throw in the back of your car to take from place to place.
But we were a little annoyed that it doesn't have the carry bag and handles like the 'RedSwing' or 'Perfect Campfire Grill' grills reviewed in this article. So we give them a little bit of a leg up over this one.
Another thing that bothered us a little about this grill is its height from the campfire. Unfortunately, you can't adjust the size much, and (for the medium), a height of 6 1/2 inches is a little close to the fire for us. It would be best if you let it burn down to charcoals before cooking (which is good practice anyway – but we get impatient).
We love that you can choose from a wide range of sizes with this one. The medium size comes in at 16″ x 12″ x 6 1/2″, while the extra-large comes in at 36″ x 18″ x 8″. When the legs fold in, it's about 1″ deep.
We think the larger model is a nice size for cooking breakfast for a few people, while the medium option is perhaps a little too small for us.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Portable: Throw it in the back of your car next time you go on a camping trip. Stable: The legs and skeleton are thick and sturdy. Size Choice:Choose from Medium, Large, and Extra Large. We like the extra-large size to use it on an open fire pit in a campground with ease. | Not height Adjustable:The stick models are much more height adjustable. No Carry Bag: We wish it'd come with a lovely gear bag like some other models. |
7. Texsport Heavy Duty Adjustable Outdoor Camping Rotisserie Grill and Spit
Quick Review: This is the campfire grill that does everything. It contains a grate, rotisserie, and hanging arms for pots. But it's not super portable.
Truly this model is the Swiss Army knife of campfire grills.
There are three main components of it:
- Grilling grate
- Rotisserie
- Hanging arm for boiling water
The grilling grate itself has a 24″ x 16″ surface area. That's medium-to-large in terms of grilling grates. You can easily adjust its height without tools. The lowest for the grate is about 6 inches, but it reaches up to well over 1-foot. That's a pretty acceptable range of heights.
The rotisserie can be locked into four evenly spaced positions (90 degrees apart), so you can rotate and grill meat on four sides. Of course, you must manually turn the position and remember to do this at even intervals, so it cooks evenly throughout. Nonetheless, it's a great idea to have a portable campfire rotisserie for great meals.
The two hanging arms can rotate out to hang pots over the fire for boiling water and cooking boiled foods. They also rotate 360 degrees to move them over the fire or out of the fire for cooling.
We also love that this grate can be assembled and deconstructed without tools. However, it is pretty bulky, so it's not the most portable campfire grill out of the list.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Wide Range of Heights: You can adjust the height from 6 inches to over 1 foot above the fire. Rotisserie: It's fantastic that this grill comes equipped with a manual one. Easy Assemble: We love that you don't have to use tools to construct and deconstruct this campfire grill grate. | Not Super Portable: There are a lot of parts on this grill, and while you can pack it flat, it's a bit bulky. |
8. Stromberg Carlson GR-1522 Stake and Grille
Quick Review: This is our pick as the best over fire grill for large families. It's got a large grilling area and a very sturdy stake.
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This model is a very nicely made stake and swivel style campfire grill. This feature is our favorite type due to the better control over height and position than most other styles.
Something we particularly like about this one is the stabilizing fins at the base of the stake. The fins add to the overall feel that it's a sturdy stake campfire grill. If you manage to hammer it in the entire length of the underground section into firm soil, the stake isn't going to fall, and the food falls off mid-fire.
But again, you'll need a mallet to hammer the stake into more complex soil. But, we'd recommend placing a piece of wood between the stake and the mallet as well to prevent damage to the top of the stake.
It's also got a considerable grilling area. At 15″ wide x 22″ long, it's large enough for a decent size family to cook their hamburgers all at once.
Comparable to the "CampfireGrill" grill above, this one also comes with a heavy-duty nylon bag for transportation. It also has an up-turned edge to prevent your sausages from rolling into the fire. And like the CampfireGrill, The handle can get hot if you adjust the height during the cooking.
But, unlike the CampfireGrill, this grill does not come with additional tools and mitts.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Great Height Adjustment Mechanism: The height adjuster seems sturdy, and we've heard excellent things about it. Sturdy Stake: We like that it has stabilizing fins to hold it firmly into the ground. Packs into carrying Bag: It's a decent enough carry bag. Nothing spectacular but good enough. | You'll need a Mallet: If the ground around your fire is hard, you'll need it to be able to dig the stake. Gets Hot: All grills get hot (obviously), but you're often tempted with height-adjustable stake grills like this one to adjust the height mid-fire. Unfortunately, this can burn your fingers! |
9. Coleman Tripod Grill and Lantern Hanger
Quick Review: An attractive design, but the tripod grills' flaws turn us off a little.
Tripod grills are less popular than stake-and-swivel and flatbed grills, but they serve their purpose.
The most significant benefit of them is just how easy it is to adjust the height of the grill. The pull cord at the top allows adjusting it manually to the perfect position for your fire.
The plate itself is an excellent 17-inch dia. Still, it does not have a lip around the edge to prevent sausages from rolling off. This missing feature can get frustrating given the propensity for tripod grills to sway and swing. This swinging may also happen when you're trying to flip your meats. So, it's best for placing pots rather than directly cook over them. Place the jars, then 'set and forget until your water has boiled and food has cooked.
The other thing that bothers us is that the three legs get in the way of working with the grate. So while it looks cool, it's not the most practical type of grate.
Nonetheless, the legs are pretty movable. You can make the base as wide or narrow as you want, which means it's adjustable for any fire pit.
And on top of that, the legs pack away small with tension bands, compact when packed.
| Why This Campfire Grate | Keep in Mind |
| Suitable Size: The 17-inch diameter grill grate is a decent size for placing a large pot or a fair bit of food on the grate. Folds away Well: It folds down with tension bands inside the legs, so it packs into a small package. Suitable for any Size Fire Pit: The legs can be as broad or as thin as you like. We also love that you can hang the grill horizontally, even if you place it on a slight slope. | Swings too Much: We don't like that it swings when you're trying to manipulate it. No Lip on Grate: We prefer grates with lips that prevent sausages from rolling off. |
Campfire Grill Grate Buyers Guide
Hot Tip: Do a Test Run
Many grates come with an external coating that burns and peels the first time you use it. We don't know why the manufacturers do this, but I'm sure there's a reason. So, before cooking on your grate grill, we'd recommend leaving it to burn over a fire for a few hours. Then, afterward, let it cool and finally wash it to get rid of the chemicals and fumes that'll burn off the first time it's in use.
Can I place a Cast Iron Pan or Dutch Oven on my Campfire Grate?
Most campfire grates state they don't intend to hold cast iron pans in their instruction manuals. That's probably a precaution they make, so they don't get complaints about the grate collapsing under the weight. However, in our experience, we do place some pots and pans on our grates so long as we secure them solidly into the ground.
What are Campfire Grill Grates made of?
Campfire grill grates are either cast iron or stainless steel.
The majority of these grill grates are stainless steel. Stainless steel has some significant advantages. It's usually more lightweight than cast iron which is great for backpacking and pack-in pack-out camping. It's also less likely to rust than many other metals. The downside of stainless steel is that it is usually thinner and less durable than cast iron.
For fireplace grates, the most common element is cast iron. The same goes for campfire grates. It's got the advantage of being thick, solid, and highly durable. This material is excellent for the longevity of your fireplace grill but also makes it harder to carry around. Therefore, a cast iron fireplace grill grate is best for being a permanent fixture in your backyard fire pit and not for packing in and out to campgrounds.
What are the Three Types of Campfire Grill Grates?
There are three types of campfire grills: tripod grills, swivel stake grills, and flatbed grills.
Tripods. Tripods are our most minor favorite types of campfire cooking equipment. They look nice, but we find them impractical. Our primary concern is that the grate tends to swing, meaning it's pretty useless for grilling. It works if you want to place a pot of water on to boil, though. The other worry we have about tripods is that the legs tend to get in the way. We prefer a grate where the legs are below the grate and don't cut off our access to the grate itself.
Swivel Stake Grills.These are probably our favorite types of campfire grill. They are held in the ground by a single stake which you usually hammer in with a mallet or piece of wood. Then, the grill attaches to the stake. A nice thing about these grills is that they can swivel. So when your food cooks, simply swivel so the grate is no longer above the fire to let it sit.
We also really like that swivel stake grills tend to have the most range for adjusting the height of the grate. They can usually move up and down the 20 inches or so of stake above ground.
Flat Bed Grills.These are the most traditional sort of grill. They simply sit on their legs and can be suspended above a fire. They're simple, and they often fold down very neatly. Our one main concern about flatbed grills is that they have fewer height options than swivel stake grills. So, sometimes you need to put some bricks under the legs to add a little height.
What Else Should I Lookout?
A significant concern for many of our readers is portability. They want a grate they can take to and from their next camping trip.
If you want a portable campfire grill, look for one where:
- The legs (or stake) fold down.
- It's small enough to fit in a backpack.
- It's lightweight – probably best made of stainless steel.
We recommend the Wolf Grizzly Compact Backpack Grill if you're a severe backpacker who wants to do multi-day hikes. It's specifically lightweight and packs into a small bag to fit in your backpack.
Final Thoughts
In our opinion, the best campfire grill grate is the CampfireGrill swivel grill. It's a well-packaged and well-designed portable grill that's probably best for car campers. However, if you're a backpacker, try the Wolf Grizzly Compact Backpack Grill instead.
When looking for a campfire grill, we recommend either swivel-stake grills or flatbed grills. And we suggest testing it out by placing it over the fire once and burning off any excess paints or chemicals before cooking on it.
You might also want to consider getting some heat-resistant gloves or campfire cooking tools to add to your camping kit.
Cooking Grates For Fire Pits
Source: https://firefightergarage.com/best-campfire-grill-grate/
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