Campfire Cooking

[rlm2007x]

I need some advice on cooking over the fire with cast iron.  Robert

[jlchucker]

Besides good oven mitts, the two most handy things I'd recommend are a lid lifter for that dutch oven and a lid stand.  Lodge sells both, and they don't take up much space.  Go on their website and check out accessories.  I've never bought their gloves--I use regular old dollar store oven mitts.  I think welding gloves, if maybe you have them already, would come in handy.

[spruce]

+1 on a lidlifter and gloves - big channel locks will work for taking the lid off if you have a pair and don't want to spend the money for a lidlifter.

Dutch oven cooking is fun, but it does take a little practice to get really good at it (I'm not!).  One of the nice things in my opinion is that you can bake stuff while camping (biscuits are my favorite).

I always carry my old Coleman stove also because it's real handy to have a way to brew coffee and cook a quick meal.  I mean, if it's raining it's no fun to have to go out gathering/cutting firewood, building and tending a fire, and waiting to get a nice bed of hot coals before you have your breakfast!  Some sticks and twigs and a few pieces of pine or poplar just don't cut it - you need a good supply of hardwood to get good cooking coals.

The quality and variety of food cooked in a Dutch oven can't be matched though!

[Arier Blut]

I don't use a grate, just rocks. I like to let the fire burn to coals which heats the rocks. The cast iron stays on the rocks when the fire is going to heat it up. When the flame is done the pan is removed and food set up in it. It has cooled a little in that time and placed back on the rocks at the edge of the fire. This method allows me not to burn the food. I do the same with the oven but use an army shovel to put coals on the lid for the broiler.
At home I have the whole setup, but out and about I don't like to carry that much weight so I use the rocks. Below is a pretty good show for info, you can watch the videos for free.

http://www.campfirecafe.com/

Some dutch oven recipes,
http://www.legendsofamerica.com/WE-DORecipes.html

[rlm2007x]

The areas I camp, I usually have the choice between pine and aspen.  Robert

[rio grande]

Svea 123, white gas (coleman fuel).  All brass, lightweight classic.
In the mountains, yeehaw!
Seems like you always need a fire when it's dark, cold and wet.  Not the best time to gather up yer old firesteel, tinder, and chop some wood.
A stove is a godsend.

[lakota]

I would get a Dutch Oven cook book.

I do most of my DO cooking with charcoal briquettes.Pretty easy to estimate temperature with the number of briquettes being used. I also use a galvanized feed pain to contain the coals and set the oven in.

If you decide to use charcoal I would also get one of those chimney charcoal starter things.

[bigjeepman]

A long set of tongs are helpful in placing coals or briquettes in position. Depending on how many you cook for, I would choose either the 12" or 14" as a first oven. Here are a few pictures of what I use and what I have made in my DO's. I use them at home in the backyard too. Some tools for the hobby ...

bread and pineapple upside down cake ...

mountain man breakfest ...

apple crisp ...


bjm

[Blue Duck]

Bigjeepman... that sure looks good.    I cook with Dutch Ovens pretty often.   One thing I found handy was an old kettle style BBQ on 3 foot long legs.  I found mine cheap at a yard sale.   It works great as a stand to cook on, so you don't have to bend over all the time.  If I need to go light and protable I use an old trash can lid.  Just set it down with the rim up and you have a fire pit.   I usually use charcoal.  I try to use Kingsford brand.  I have run out before and bought what was handy.  All charcoal is not the same.  Some lasts longer and some it hotter than others.   To keep things uniform its nice to stay with what you know (the same brand each time). 

[bigjeepman]

Bigjeepman... that sure looks good.    I cook with Dutch Ovens pretty often.   One thing I found handy was an old kettle style BBQ on 3 foot long legs.  I found mine cheap at a yard sale.   It works great as a stand to cook on, so you don't have to bend over all the time.  If I need to go light and protable I use an old trash can lid.  Just set it down with the rim up and you have a fire pit.   I usually use charcoal.  I try to use Kingsford brand.  I have run out before and bought what was handy.  All charcoal is not the same.  Some lasts longer and some it hotter than others.   To keep things uniform its nice to stay with what you know (the same brand each time). 

Here is how I usually set up when cooking at home ...




bjm

[jlchucker]

Good-looking eats, Bigjeepman.  Nice setup with the grill, too. I use Kingsford coals mostly for the same reasons you stated.  One thing you never hear mentioned is a rig to keep charcoal going slowly until you need to refresh the coals that are under and in the top of the DO.  I myself use an old charcoal grill with a top, and close the drafts down most of the way to store lit coals until I need them for replacement.  What do you use?

[bigjeepman]

Good-looking eats, Bigjeepman.  Nice setup with the grill, too. I use Kingsford coals mostly for the same reasons you stated.  One thing you never hear mentioned is a rig to keep charcoal going slowly until you need to refresh the coals that are under and in the top of the DO.  I myself use an old charcoal grill with a top, and close the drafts down most of the way to store lit coals until I need them for replacement.  What do you use?

Sorry it took so long to answer. Thanks ... I love using the DO to cook. I use the chimney starter in one of my pictures to start new charcoal to keep my ovens going. I start a new batch about 10 minutes before I think I'll need it.

bjm

[Reverend Recoil]

I use a military folding shovel to handle firewood coals for my Dutch oven.  There are a number of Dutch oven societies and scout troop web sites with good information on camp cooking.

http://www.lodgemfg.com/
http://www.dutchovendude.com/
http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/
http://www.cooking-outdoors.com/
http://www.gspiglet.org/dutch.htm
http://www.nwdos.org/

[The Hermit]

I love DO cooking. If you can cook indoors, you can cook outdoors with dutch ovens. I have 6 of various sizes, but usually use 12". I like to use a fire ring and tripod as sometimes I am off doing something while supper cooks. I lower the oven to brown the meat, then add veggies etc and raise for slow cooking. Give it a try.
 
  The Hermit