Outdoor Toast Maker

It's enjoyable sitting around a small smokeless fire on your patio or while camping. But wouldn't you also like to cook on it. Here's how...

To cook on your smokeless fire, make a grill which will sit over the flame.

You will need:

1. Two empty beverage cans - with their lids removes
2. Two sturdy magnetic picker uppers
3. Two less sturdy magnetic picker uppers
4. Mesh
5. Toast holder
6. Small smokeless fireplace
7. Wood pellets
8. Candle

Remove the top from two empty beverage cans by filling off with a stone or using a can opener.

Measure out two and a half tins of wood pellets into the mini fire pit. Then fill up the two tins with pellets. Insert a magnetic picker-upper into each can and extend it to about 50 cm in length.

You can also try placing some coins into the cans, I found this made the supports a bit sturdier.

Set the metal mesh on top of the four magnetic pick-up tools to create a grill, then position the grill over the fire pit to ensure everything functions properly and the platform is stable.

Insert a small length of cut off candle into the fire pit and light it, this will make it easier to light the wood pellets.

Move the cooking platform over the fire and adjust the grills height by pressing down on it with the base of a beverage can to a cooking level. You want to be cooking just above the flames.

Here’s where the magic happens. Place a piece of bread onto the toaster rack and set it on top of the metal grill. The toaster rack is essential, as its fine mesh keeps the flame from reaching and burning the bread above. After a couple of minutes, flip the bread over. Use the toasting grill movable handle to take it off — top tip: don’t leave the handle attached over the fire to avoid burning your hand when you remove it.

Once the bread has been transformed into golden brown toast, reattach the handle and remove the toast maker from the grill. Spread butter and vegemite (or some alternative spread) onto the toast and enjoy.

You may be wondering (like I was) if sausages can also be cooked using this method. I found it was a bit problematic. Maybe I tried cooking them down too low - amongst the flames going for more heat while they did get cooked the fire smoked and I didn't like the look of the cooked sausages, so didn't eat them. Next time I will try cooking them higher up or just stick to toast making.