Can you roast marshmallows over a propane fire pit?
Children love this simple activity. Memories are made this way. Whether it’s a wood-burning fire, or on propane fire pits, roasting marshmallows is simple fun for all. A wood-burning fire pit, a gas firepit, or even a gel fueled one are all safe to roast marshmallows.
Table of Contents
Propane
Propane is an alkane, saturated hydrocarbon that consists of hydrogen and carbon atoms. It is a byproduct of the petroleum refining process and is frequently used as fuel for industrial and domestic purposes.
Since propane gas is odorless, leaks are hard to detect. For this reason, ethanethiol is mixed with propane so that leaks can be detected quickly. Ethanethiol is another byproduct of oil refineries. It is used in minimal concentrations to produce a recognizable smell in odorless gasses, and it is harmless.
When burned, propane produces carbon dioxide, water, carbon monoxide, and soot. Propane is used to fuel vehicles and for heating stoves, gas barbecues and fire pits.
Carbon Monoxide is a deadly toxic gas undetectable by the smell that can harm or kill animals, plants, and people. Carbon Monoxide is produced during the incomplete combustion of propane. Incomplete combustion is higher or lower than the ideal ratio of 4 parts propane 96 parts air. Incomplete propane combustion can occur in one of two ways: Propane Lean Burn – A lean burn can be recognized when flames appear to lift away from the burner and can potentially go out. Propane Rich Burn – In a rich burn, the flames are much larger than they are supposed to be and are yellow. The bottom line is that your propane fire pit is outside, and if it is functioning correctly, there is no danger of being affected.
Fire Pits
Fire Pits have been around for a long time. Since humankind worked out how to light fires, they also worked out how destructive fire can be. Surrounding the fire pit with stones and other non-flammable materials is an efficient way to control the fire and manage it.
In the same way, as people are fascinated by dangerous animals and wild storms, fire is dangerous and must be controlled. Flames that burn softly are calming when it is a candle or a nice safe fire; they are a dangerous beast when out of control.
It has become increasingly popular in the modern world to have some form of outdoor heating for parties and family gatherings. There are many types of devices available for purchase at relatively little cost. There are chimineas and fireplaces that are wood-burning and propane patio heaters and fires that run on propane gas.
There are lots of awesome designs for backyard heaters. There is even a portable version of a propane fire pit for camping trips. Safely toast marshmallows while camping! These can be as fancy and stylish as you want or be super functional. Just a reminder, never put plastics or anything that will burn with a toxic fume near the gas fire pit. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding fire pit usage.
There are some towns and cities where regulations state that a fire pit must be located at least 20 feet from the nearest wall of the house, so be aware of local laws.
You can put a gas fire pit on a deck, but there are safety rules. Is the deck strong enough to safely take the weight of your fire pit? Propane gas fire pits come in a range of weights, and you will need to ensure the deck is strong enough.
At least 5,300 injuries related to fire pits or outdoor heaters were treated at emergency rooms in the U.S. in 2017, according to the Consumer Products Safety Commission.
Many of these victims are children. It’s very common to hear a parent saying, “it happened so fast” when talking about accidents with children. It takes short seconds for children to drown, burn, and break. Situate the propane fire pit in an area that isn’t crowded and away from other flammable parts of the house. Don’t use the fire pit undercover. Ensure that everybody can move comfortably and safely around the propane fire pit and safely when roasting marshmallows. Crowding and jostling around a burning fire pit is a recipe for disaster.
Marshmallows
Marshmallow is named after a product made from the sap of the marshmallow plant in Ancient Egypt. It was used as a remedy for sore throats. Marshmallow is a handy herb used in modern herbal supplements for the treatment of conditions of the gut. How to roast marshmallows is a matter of personal preference. Some like it cooked a lot, while others prefer it barely cooked at all. The marshmallow you buy in the supermarket is simply a sweet confection made of sugar and gelatin.
Heating the sweet causes two reactions. Caramelization occurs at high temperatures, and it is the sugars starting to burn. The Maillard reaction is a browning caused by the interaction of the sugars and proteins. This occurs at lower temperatures and is the reaction that you want to see when you are roasting marshmallows. Slowly roasting the treat is what causes the change in taste that everybody craves. Try not to set the marshmallows on fire and cook them slowly.
Best results are achieved when burner pans and media are cleaned regularly, kept free of food particles, dirt, and other debris that could alter the flavor of marshmallows being roasted.
