Building your own Barbecue Pit

If you are planning to be truly adventurous with your barbecue parties this summer, one of the things you could do is build your own barbecue pit. Arguably one of the oldest forms of cooking, pit cooking needs you to simply dig a hole in the ground, fill it with fire, add a large animal, cover, and cook. Voila, your authentic pit barbecue is done!

The digging of the pit though, needs some expertise. To begin with, pick the right spot, not far from the house. Keep away from fences, electric lines or overhead trees. Keep wind directions in mind and try to protect the pit from rains. After all, you would want the pit to be secure for several years in the least.

The site selected, the size of the hole will depend on the animal you are cooking. In fact, it will need to be a foot larger that the animal in all directions. If you are planning to roast a hog that is four by two feet, your pit should safely be six by four feet. Keep to a depth of about three feet for your pit. Once you have the pit dug, you will need to line it. This is mostly done with stones or bricks. The reason for the lining is that it evens out and holds the heat.

You can line the pit with a bed of gravel; then mix dry mortar with water and spread a two inch thick circular layer all around the edge of the gravel. While the mortar is still wet, smooth the surface. Then place a roll of flat cinder blocks all along the perimeter, leveling them as you go along. As the mortar dries, fill the hole with dirt, and spread fresh mortar and smooth again. Scrape off any spare mortar. Add another layer of bricks, changing the pattern. Build the inner wall, following the same method.

Finally, insert metal braces for the grill in the mortar, and build a final layer of bricks on top. Leave to dry. When hard, place the grill on top of the metal braces.

Building your own barbecue pit may sound like a tedious project, but remember, a DIY barbecue pit will make you the envy of the neighborhood. What’s more building the pit yourself will give you the satisfaction no store bought pit will fetch. So are you feeling up to the enterprise? The results will be unmatched, for sure!

Delicious Recipes for Use with Your Barbecue Pit