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Sean McKay, 3, awaits a hot dog grilled in Nordic Ware's handheld Campfire Griller.
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Fresh find: Nordic Ware's Campfire Griller offers efficiency and safety while adventuring

Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette

Fresh find: Nordic Ware's Campfire Griller offers efficiency and safety while adventuring

Similar to a pie iron, only with vents to release drippings, the portable cooker locks in up to five hot dogs at a time

With fall’s cooler weather on the horizon, some of us are looking forward to one of the season’s greatest pleasures: cooking over an open fire. 

Just about anything prepared over a campfire just tastes better, and making memorable meals under the stars is the ultimate family activity so long as everyone plays it safe with the right equipment.  

When it comes to every kid’s favorite cookout food — the humble hot dog — the new Campfire Griller from Nordic Ware ($50) is a trusted tool.

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Remember skewering hot dogs on a stick when you were a kid, and praying you wouldn’t trip and poke your eye out? Or getting burned while cooking the wieners to a fatty crisp over the open flames or hot coals? 

This griller does away with those worries. 

The handheld Campfire Griller.The handheld Campfire Griller is easy to use over a campfire, whether you're cooking hot dogs or steaks or toasting a sandwich.(Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette)

Made from durable (and easy-to-clean) premium cast aluminum, it keeps whatever you’re cooking comfortably at arm’s length.

Similar to a pie iron, only with vents to release drippings, the portable cooker locks in up to five hot dogs at a time. Or, depending on their size, it can take on one or two juicy steaks.  

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A 19-inch stainless-steel handle keeps even the smallest helping hands safely away from flames (oven mitts or protective gloves are recommended) while also ensuring a steady grip that makes turning its contents easy.

I used the cooker several times on a recent trip in the woods with my 3-year-old grandson Sean. He loved that he was (safely) helping, and the rest of us appreciated the fact that the rest of us got to eat at the same time as the kids. 

In addition to hot dogs, the handheld cooker can grill delicate pieces of seafood, heartier vegetables, grilled cheese or the perfect hamburger. It’s also ideal for one of the simplest of all campfire snacks: sweet or savory mountain pies.

After dinner, wait until it’s completely cooled off and cleanup is easy. A break-apart hinge allows the griller to separate into two pieces that can be washed in warm, soapy water, patted dry and hung on the wall until next time.

First Published: September 1, 2024, 9:00 a.m.
Updated: September 1, 2024, 4:30 p.m.

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Sean McKay, 3, awaits a hot dog grilled in Nordic Ware's handheld Campfire Griller.  (Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette)
The Campfire Griller is easy to use over a campfire, whether you're cooking hot dogs, steaks or toasting a sandwich.  (Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette)
The handheld Campfire Griller is easy to use over a campfire, whether you're cooking hot dogs, steaks or toasting a sandwich.  (Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette)
Gretchen McKay/Post-Gazette
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