WHICH LID TO CHOOSE FOR MY FIRE PIT?

HOW TO PROTECT A PLANCHA BRAZIER?

To sustainably protect a plancha brazier, it is recommended to use a large lid to preserve the cooking plate from the elements, and then to add a protective cover when the brazier is not in use for an extended period. This combination limits the accumulation of water, dust, and dirt.

The most important protection remains regular maintenance of the plate. Applying a fatty substance, such as a thin layer of cooking oil, creates a barrier against moisture and limits the appearance of corrosion. This operation can be carried out approximately once a month, or more frequently in humid areas or by the sea.

For long-term maintenance, some users also apply beeswax on the clean and dry plate. It forms a natural protective film that helps preserve the steel between uses.

If rust appears on your fire pit, do not worry. Clean the affected area with a brush to remove traces of corrosion. Once the surface is clean and dry, apply a thin layer of cooking oil or another fatty substance to reform a protection against moisture. Regular maintenance helps to sustainably preserve the appearance and performance of the cooking plate. Discover here the tips for removing rust from your fire pit. 

WHY USE A LID ON A BRAZIER?

A lid is not just for covering your fire pit. It contributes to safety after cooking, protects surfaces exposed to the elements, and improves the lifespan of your equipment. By reducing moisture in the firebox and limiting the accumulation of leaves, dust, or plant debris, it helps keep your fire pit in the best condition throughout the year. [coeo-design.com]

The advantages of a fire pit snuffer lid

• Easier to extinguish the fire.
• Reduce maintenance of the fire pit.
• Prevent hot embers from flying away.

Snuffer lid: ideal for extinguishing embers

The snuffer lid is designed to stop the oxygen supply to the firebox to promote the natural extinguishing of embers. It is the ideal solution for users who want to quickly secure their fire pit after use while limiting the risks of projection or flying embers that are still hot. [coeo-design.com]

Why choose a snuffer lid?

• Faster extinguishing of embers.
• Securing the firebox after use.
• Limiting water infiltration.
• Protection of the cooking plate.
• Low footprint.
• Easier handling thanks to the mahogany wood handle 

The quality criteria of a good lid

To be effective, a snuffer lid must have spikes or holding systems to remain perfectly centred on the fire. Without this, air continues to circulate and the fire may have difficulty extinguishing completely. A mahogany wood handle also offers a higher level of comfort and safety than a metal handle that transmits more heat. 

GRAND LID: THE BEST PROTECTION FOR YOUR FIRE PIT

The large lid protects the entire cooking plate while providing an elegant finish to the fire pit. When installed, it transforms the equipment into a true side table and effectively protects surfaces from rain, fallen leaves, dust, and everyday dirt. [coeo-design.com]

The advantages of the large lid

• Complete coverage of the cooking plate.
• Protection against the elements.
• High-end aesthetic appearance.
• Use as a shelf or side table.
• Limiting water stagnation.
• Compatibility with a protective cover

How to recognise a quality large lid?

A high-performance lid must be equipped with a retaining edge and positioning wedges to ensure excellent stability on the cooking plate. These elements prevent the risks of slipping or being blown away during strong windy episodes. 

BASTING OR LARGE LID: WHICH ONE TO CHOOSE?

Choose a snuffer lid if:

• Your priority is safety.
• You want to quickly extinguish the embers.
• Vous recherchez une solution compacte et simple à manipuler. 

Choose a large lid if:

• You want to protect the entire cooking surface.
• You regularly leave your fire pit outside.
• Vous souhaitez utiliser votre brasero comme table d'appoint entre deux utilisations.

Our COEO advice

For optimal protection throughout the year, combine a large lid with a suitable protective cover. This combination helps to sustainably preserve the hearth, the cooking surface, and the entire structure of the fire pit against the elements and dirt. [coeo-design.com]

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A SMOTHERING LID AND A LARGE LID?

The smothering lid is placed in the centre of the fire to deprive the embers of oxygen and facilitate their extinguishing. The large lid covers the entire cooking plate to protect the brazier from rain, leaves, and dirt when not in use. One is used to extinguish the fire, the other to protect the brazier.

LID, SMOTHERING LID OR OVEN: THE THREE USES TO DISTINGUISH

A brazier lid should not be confused with an oven or a cooking dome. Its role is primarily to close the brazier: either to extinguish the embers by depriving the fire of oxygen in the case of a smothering lid, or to protect the cooking plate and the fire from the elements when it is a large lid.

In contrast, a brazier oven works by circulating hot air around the food. It has a cooking volume, an opening, and a space that allows heat to distribute effectively. It is this design that allows for cooking pizzas, grilled foods, or stews.

A lid closes the brazier; an oven creates a cooking space. Smothering lids and large lids are therefore not intended for cooking and do not allow a brazier to be transformed into an oven. For this purpose, it is necessary to use a dome or a brazier oven specifically designed for this.

TRANSFORMING YOUR BRAZIER INTO AN OVEN: THE COEO BRAZIER OVEN

If a lid or a snuffer does not allow for cooking, a brazier oven has been specially designed to create a true cooking space above the hearth. Thanks to its dome, heat circulates around the food and allows for cooking that is impossible with a simple protective lid.

The COEO brazier oven consists of a dome with a sliding door made of black lacquered stainless steel equipped with a built-in thermometer to monitor the temperature. It is accompanied by a steel tripod stand that ensures its stability above the hearth.

The set also includes a reversible cast iron plate with a striped grill side and a plancha side, allowing for the cooking surface to be adapted according to the preparations. A 2 cm thick black enamelled cordierite pizza stone promotes the cooking of pizzas, while an aluminium pizza peel facilitates their handling.

Installed on the brazier, the dome creates the necessary conditions for cooking under a cloche, grilling, plancha cooking, and pizza preparation. It thus constitutes equipment dedicated to cooking, where a lid only serves to extinguish the fire or protect the brazier from the elements.

WHAT COMPATIBILITY WITH YOUR BRAZIER?

Before purchasing a brazier oven, it is essential to check compatibility with your equipment. The determining criterion is not the outer diameter of the brazier, but its inner diameter, that is to say, the central opening that allows the passage of logs.

The COEO brazier oven is designed for braziers with an inner diameter between 39 and 50 cm. This dimension ensures a stable installation of the stand and optimal operation of the cooking dome.

If you own a COEO fire pit, the check is simple. If you are using a model from another brand, take the time to measure the central opening of the hearth before ordering.

In case of doubt about the dimensions or compatibility of your fire pit, it is recommended to seek advice before purchase. A prior check ensures that the fire pit oven will fit correctly with your equipment and will offer you the best cooking conditions.

WHAT CAN BE COOKED

Thanks to its 2 cm thick cordierite pizza stone, the fire pit oven allows for the preparation of pizzas by taking advantage of the heat produced by the embers. The stone stores heat and releases it evenly for cooking.

The reversible cast iron plate offers two complementary cooking surfaces: a ribbed grill side for grilling and a plancha side for cooking meats, fish, vegetables, or other preparations on the plate.

The closed dome combined with the built-in thermometer also allows for cooking under a cloche and slow cooking by monitoring the temperature inside the fire pit oven.

This combination of equipment thus allows for diversifying the uses of the fire pit while maintaining precise control over cooking conditions.

To remember: a snuffer is used to extinguish the embers, a large lid is used to protect the fire pit and its cooking plate, while a fire pit oven allows for cooking. A lid does not turn a fire pit into an oven: only a cooking dome creates a true space for the circulation of hot air around the food.