Can you Roast Marshmallows on a Propane Fire Pit?

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in this post may be "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase an item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Disclosure in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. This site is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.

Disclosure of Material Connection: Some of the links in the post above are "affiliate links." This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive an affiliate commission. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will add value to my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Lighting up the fire pit is easily one of the best things about summer! Whether it’s to roast a marshmallow, dinner under the stars, or just a place to gather with friends and loved ones, summer just wouldn’t be the same without one. While you’re planning your warm weekend evenings by the fire, you might ask yourself, can you roast marshmallows on a propane fire pit? Here we’ll answer that question, as well as any others you might have about your propane burning fire pit. 

Can you Roast Marshmallows on a Propane Fire Pit?

Can you Roast Marshmallows on a Propane Fire Pit?

There are a few things you should be aware of before attempting to use a propane fire pit for cooking purposes, but let’s just take a moment to understand why it could be many people’s first pick! 

Simply put, propane gas is used by millions each summer specifically for cooking purposes. On top of that, small portable propane fire pits have slowly started to replace their wood burning counterparts. Their much lighter overall weight, and lack of need for any solid fuel that takes up quite a bit of space, (or weight on the road), is replaced by a simple propane tank like the one used by your BBQ. 

In short, you are able to roast marshmallows on a propane fire pit. Provided you’re practicing the same safety precautions of cooking over any other gas cooking method, you will find that it can also yield delicious results without some of the hassle that comes with maintaining a wood burning fire pit.  

For the purpose of this topic, we’re classifying a propane fire pit as one of those that are suitable for use on a deck, patio or in your background. Much like the kind people sit around, these are similar to traditional fire pits save for the fact that they’re supplied with propane as a fuel source. This does not include fire pit tables, pedestals, etc. Due to their design, those are generally not practical for roasting marshmallows in the first place. 

Why do People Cook Over Propane Fire Pits?

It may seem intriguing to some that people choose to use their propane fire pits this way, especially with the prevalence of gas BBQ’s outside as well. It seems that the primary factor is portability and convenience. 

It isn’t always possible for people to light up a wood burning fire pit in the same amount of time they’d otherwise use a gas or propane fired one. Totally understandable right? For my money, nothing beats that wood-burning taste and smell for roasting up some marshmallows with the family. That being said, not everyone has the backyard space or even the time for it. 

Especially for those with smaller patios or limited backyard space, propane fire pits make for a much safer and more efficient way to get a fire pit going in the evening. So, can you roast marshmallows on a propane fire pit?

While it may be surprising for some to learn, they absolutely do use them for roasting marshmallows. Here’s how. 

Cooking Over Propane Fire Pits is Entirely Safe 

As far as health matters are concerned though, it’s completely safe to roast marshmallows on a propane fire pit. The bottom line here is that you’re using the same fuel that’s already widely studied as being safe for use on propane grills and BBQ’s, and the same is true for propane fire pits. 

Cooking or roasting marshmallows over a propane fire pit will not impart any chemical taste or smell, since it’s the same method you use to cook food on a propane gas grill. The biggest concern you should have using this is that it may cause a mess on the grill itself, which could affect the lifespan of the gas delivery mechanism, faux rocks/wood and prove rather annoying to clean. Otherwise, there is nothing unhealthy about cooking over a propane fire pit. 

Why you Might Not Want to Roast Marshmallows on a Propane Fire Pit

The biggest concerns for those looking to use a propane or gas fire pit for roasting marshmallows come primarily from possible health implications and of course flavor. 

A lot of the flavor that comes from a perfectly roasted marshmallow comes from the singeing, or slight burning caused by the sugar on the marshmallow being exposed to the high-heat of a direct flame. 

Anyone who’s ever toasted a marshmallow knows this doesn’t take long at all, but how does the fuel source you’re using come into play? Well, a lot of it has to do with sheer practicality. 

Propane fire pits often have faux logs, firestones or artificial pebbles that act as a base from which the small gas supply ignites with flame. While these aren’t especially fragile, any small piece of molten marshmallow that decides to drip onto its surface would be a huge mess. 

Besides being incredibly inconvenient to clean marshmallow off of, the same is true for the holes that supply the propane fuel. For safety and efficiency reasons, getting food particles on these can be a huge pain. Anyone who’s ever owned a barbecue and had to deal with dirty or clogged up propane gas supply tubes knows exactly what I’m talking about. 

What Type of Fire Pits are Best for Roasting Marshmallows? 

Can you roast marshmallows on a propane fire pit? At the end of the day, I’m going to have to seriously recommend using a wood burning fire pit for roasting marshmallows. While the alternative, propane gas fire pits are completely safe and do a perfectly fine job in their own right, there’s nothing quite like the experience, taste and ease of cooking them over a propane flame. 

Some people are inhibited by their circumstances, though. Not everyone has the space or even ability to burn an open wood flame on their property, and there are a wide variety of alternatives ranging from small portable propane fire pits, to gas propane fire tables that can also be used for this purpose. Either way, you’re in for a delicious treat! 

Scroll to Top