I live in the country and this would not be an idea for a patio, deck or enclosed area...
BUT.....I wanted to grill, on charcoal, last week, after yard cleanup where I was burning a pile of sticks and brush. Keep all the mess outside, I reasoned!
I planned on using my charcoal weber kettle type grill, to which I would add the charcoal after getting it started in a chimney-type thing. I planned to use my cast iron frying pan to sear the steak and cook it on the grill..
I started the chimney with the coals in it, and when it was hot hot, I said..."Hmmmmm why not just put the cast iron pan on top of the chimney and use it to heat the pan and cook dinner?""
Which is what I did. I put the 10" pan on the chimney and of course it heated up almost immediately. I added a large piece of butter, melted it, and threw on the steak - a nice juicy, fatty rib-eye. After I turned it first time, I added some asparagus spears to the pan, and finished cooking up the meal!
I ate it directly out of the pan. DEE-LICIOUS!!! stayed hot, butter nicely browned for the asparagus, and easy clean up!!!
I'm single so this works well for one person. Quick, easy, and about 20.00 bucks for the chimney. I figure IF it "ruins" the chimney by doing this several times over the summer, won't matter, will just buy another one next year!
The instructions on the chimney say NOT to put a grill grate or pan onto the chimney. I can't see why not. I had my chimney on level ground ( actually, I positioned it over a little 3" diameter stump stub that I keep hitting with my mower). It was gone when I was done!
I have a propane infrared grill, but I like the flavor of meat cooked over real charcoal. Plus it was fun using the cast iron pan!
I love the primitive smell of roasting meat! ESPECIALLY after I've toiled all day beside a fire, outdoors, and after walking all over the property bending down a hundred times to pick up stick fallen in the recent winds.....Perfect!
Warning!!!! Do NOT forget a good pot holder to grab the handle of the cast iron pan!!! One would burn all the skin off thier palm in seconds if they grabbed that handle without protection!!!