Many gas fire pits have lava rocks to help spread out the flame and make the fire look more beautiful. But you might wonder if you can roast marshmallows over them if you’re thinking of investing in one.
You can roast marshmallows over lava rocks because lava rock fire pits use propane, bioethanol or natural gas for power which actually burns cleaner than regular firewood and doesn’t leave any toxic residue or alter the taste of the marshmallow.
However, you should be careful that your marshmallow doesn’t drip onto the lava rocks while it’s roasting because the gooey mess can be difficult to clean.
As long as you roast your marshmallows carefully your lava rocks should remain free of sticky residue and you can enjoy a tasty sweet treat.
What To Consider When Roasting Marshmallows Over Lava Rocks
I’ve roasted marshmallows over my propane fire pit and I find that lava rocks retain heat very well, similar to coals in a way and this tends to make them perfect for roasting marshmallows.
However, they are also incredibly porous and liquids and gases can easily travel through the tiny crevices.
This means that if you accidentally spill melted marshmallow over your fire pit’s lava rocks, you’ll need to give them a thorough clean so they still work effectively.
The melted marshmallow could also seep into the burner ports, causing the fire pit to work inefficiently or not at all.
Any marshmallow remnants in the lava rocks’ crevices could also attract ants, other insects or rodents. After detecting the smell of sugar some creatures may chew through your fire pit’s wiring and damage this expensive item.
It’s also worth remembering that most gas fire pits (including ones that work with lava rocks) aren’t intended for using to cook food and are mainly to provide warmth and a decorative effect for your backyard or patio.
So if you still have a warranty in place, roast marshmallows over your lava rock fire pit and something goes wrong, the warranty will likely be voided.
How To Roast Marshmallows Over Lava Rocks
Here’s how I usually roast marshmallows over my lava rock fire pit:
1. Gather the necessary items: marshmallows (jumbo ones are fantastic for roasting) and roasting sticks.
If you’re making s’mores over your gas fire pit, you’ll need Graham crackers and chocolate chunks.
2. Place a marshmallow on your roasting stick (or 2 if yours has dual prongs) ensuring that it’s secure and that the prong pierces the entire marshmallow. This helps prevent it from slipping off the roasting stick and falling onto your lava rocks.
3. Hold your roasting stick a few inches over the lava rocks and slowly and gently rotate it so the whole marshmallow gets brown and roasted.
It’s normal for the marshmallow to swell but if it looks like it will start dripping remove it immediately so it doesn’t drip onto the lava rocks. I find that slow and consistent turning helps prevent this.
4. Once your marshmallow is browned to your liking remove it and give it a minute or two to cool down before eating it so it doesn’t burn your mouth.
