Lodge Fire & Cook Stand Review

If you like outdoor cooking over a fire, you will probably like this Fire & Cook Stand.

It has many benefits, which we will discuss below. We’ll also talk about any questions or problems people have with it.

So, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

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Brand: Lodge
Price: See Amazon
Material: Either alloy steel or cast iron base rings and wrought iron legs
Assembly required: Yes
Assembled Vertical Dimensions: 9L x 9W x 12.5 H inches
Weight: 5.29 lbs.
Use: Vertically or Horizontally
Made in: Cambodia
Great for: Outdoor cooking: making a higher cooking surface and creating airflow under the pan

What is a Fire & Cook Stand?

The Fire & Cook Stand is a tool that will raise your cast iron cookware off the ground when you’re cooking outdoors over a fire. It also allows air to flow underneath for more even cooking. And the bottom of your food will be less likely to burn. It can be placed in the fire horizontally or upright, depending on the size of your cookware. You build a fire around the cook stand by placing twigs in the center and logs around the outside. Then light the twigs (or paper or fire starter). Or you can use charcoal.

A Little About Lodge

Lodge Cast Iron is a family-owned business in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.

Joseph Lodge founded this company in 1896 and originally called it Blacklock Foundry.

However, after the building burned down in 1910, Joseph rebuilt and renamed the company Lodge Cast Iron.

Over the years, Lodge survived several economic downturns and even thrived when other foundries were closing down.

And as business continued to grow, they built another foundry. The new foundry enabled Lodge to increase its manufacturing production by seventy-five percent.

Lodge makes cast iron and carbon steel cookware, though cast iron remains their primary production.

They offer a large variety of cast iron, including classic, enamel, chef, and Blacklock.

Additionally, Lodge carries bakeware, and several series, all of which are cast iron.

They also have many accessories and a line of cast iron grilling cookware.

Lodge continues to be a leading manufacturer worldwide and makes close to 2 million cast iron pans every month.

Answering Your Questions

Does this stand hold all sizes of cookware?

Lodge says it will fit most sizes of Lodge cookware such as skillets, Dutch ovens, griddles, woks, and the Cook-It-All. However, you’ll want to use the cook stand horizontally for larger pieces such as a griddle.

How durable is the Cook Stand?

The cook stand is sturdy if assembled correctly. Lodge makes it with solid steel (or iron), so it should last a long time. Of course, it will last longer if you take care of it. For example, don’t leave it outside where it can get wet and rust when you’re not using it.

Do you assemble and disassemble it each time?

Some people take it apart for storage purposes, but it’s not necessary. However, you may want to replace the nuts with wingnuts if you disassemble the stand each time.

How well does the black finish hold up in the fire?

The fire will not affect the black finish. It will get sooty, but that’s to be expected.

What will happen if I leave my cook stand outside all the time?

It will most likely rust if you leave your cook stand out and it rains. But that doesn’t mean you ruined it or can no longer use it. Since no food comes in contact with the stand, the rust is not the worst thing. However, store it in a dry place if you don’t want any rust.

Are there any other ways to use the cook stand besides outdoor cooking?

Yes, you can use it to get a fire going at your firepit even if you aren’t cooking anything. The center keeps twigs contained for easier lighting, and you can rest logs up against the outside to quickly get a fire going.

Do I need a Fire & Cook stand for outdoor cooking?

No, many people place their Dutch oven or skillet directly on hot coals. However, the cook stand makes things much more manageable, and the bottom of your food is less likely to burn.

Is the Fire & Cook stand easy to assemble?

Lodge says “easy assembly,” and many agree. And the box comes with instructions. On the other hand, some people thought it was difficult to put together, or were disappointed that the bolts broke or were always coming loose.

Can you recommend a Lodge pan that will go with this stand?

Yes, I recommend the Cook-It-All. The Cook-It-All is a 5-piece set (skillet/wok pan, reversible grill/griddle lid, two hooks, and a guide booklet) that will be all you need for outdoor cooking. You can read more about the Cook-It-All or other outdoor cooking accessories by clicking on the link below.

What Others Are Saying

The Fire & Cook Stand got a lot of great reviews. It looks like it would be an excellent addition for anyone who likes camping or outdoor cooking over a fire. People said things like:

This product is one of our better buys at a great price
It’s a fantastic way to use your cast iron cookware outdoors
Excellent quality and very sturdy
It’s exactly what I wanted
Very easy to assemble, but make sure to tighten the bolts securely
Perfect addition to our outdoor cooking
Starting a fire is so much easier now, especially when you add a firestarter with the kindling
It’s just the right weight, not too heavy and not too light as to seem flimsy
This product is very sturdy and keeps the skillet just the right height above the fire
No more burnt food on the bottom
A must-have for camping
You can also use it for cooking indoors if you have a brick fireplace
The Lodge name was a huge selling point
Wish I had gotten one sooner

However, not everyone was happy. The biggest complaint was the nuts. Either they broke when assembling, or they often came loose while using. Others were disappointed because they thought the quality was beneath Lodge. They expressed their disappointment by saying things such as:

This product is cheaply made and not very stable
It’s annoying because you always have to retighten the screws after using
The nuts broke when I was putting the stand together
It was hard to assemble
Why can’t they make a collapsable cook stand instead
I wish it had a case for transporting
It takes up too much room in the car when going camping
The black coating flaked while assembling
The pictures make it look bigger than it is

What Do I Think?

Since I don’t have a Fire & Cook Stand, what I think is based on my research and what others say.

I used to do a lot of camping and having a cook stand would have been wonderful. But now that I don’t camp and rarely cook outdoors, I don’t need one.

That being said, what I like best is that it raises the cooking surface and keeps your pan out of the coals or fire. I also like that Lodge made it easy to start the fire and gave it plenty of airflow for more even cooking.

Since several people have issues with the nuts, I think it’s a problem you should consider. And if they made a collapsable cook stand, it would take care of almost all the troubles people had.

I’m not sure if I think a storage case is necessary, but if they offered one, I’m sure people would buy it.

It seems like the cook stand holds up well in the fire, but you should expect rust if you leave it outdoors permanently. Is it possible to make one that won’t rust?

Either way, I agree that rust won’t ruin the cook stand.

Overall, I like the Lodge Fire & Cook Stand. And I recommend it for those who camp or cook outdoors over a fire.

Click here to see on Amazon

How to Use a Lodge Fire & Cook Stand

Pros

High reviews
Reputable company
Solid construction
Easy to assemble
Raises the cooking surface
Allows plenty of airflow for even cooking
Food won’t burn on the bottom
Excellent camping or firepit tool
Reasonably priced
Withstands fire
Lodge will replace if faulty
Can return to Amazon in its original condition for a full refund or replacement within 30 days of receipt

Cons

May have issues with the nuts coming loose or breaking
Will most likely rust if left outside when not using
Doesn’t come with a case
Must be assembled
It’s smaller than the picture makes it look (not really a con)

Final Thoughts

Thank you for reading my Lodge Fire & Cook Stand Review.

This cooking stand will make a fantastic addition to outdoor cooking.

How?

It makes it easy to start a fire and raises the cooking surface. Additionally, you’ll get plenty of airflow underneath the pan for more even cooking.

It does require assembly, and not everyone found it easy. Some people had one or more of the nuts break when putting the stand together or become loose after using.

However, I do not see these as reasons not to get one. Plenty of people were exceedingly satisfied with theirs. The benefits far outweighed any difficulties for most.

Therefore, I highly recommend the Fire & Cook Stand for anyone who camps or cooks outdoors over a fire.

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