If you've ever been along a camping trip and became tired of the typical hot dog and hamburger dinners, then you need to get yourself a Dutch Oven. Anything you bake at home in the oven can be cooked in a Dutch Oven.
For campfire cooking you need to make sure you buy one with legs, often referred to as a spider Dutch oven. Check out this one from our affiliate partner Amazon Lodge Logic 8-Quart Pre-Seasoned Cast-Iron Camp Dutch Oven
The pioneers did all of their cooking on an open fire. The heroine in my book is a chuck wagon cook and I love experiencing the olden day art of cooking outdoors. In fact, when we lose power, I simply pull out my Dutch oven.
When we're camping with our extended family, every Saturday night is Dutch oven cook-off competition night. Everything has to be prepared in a Dutch oven and we vote on the best dish.
To start, you need a chimney to start your coals in. Most stores carry these or here's one from our affiliate partner Amazon Weber 7416 Rapidfire Chimney Starter
Light your coals and let them heat up. It doesn't take very long, about 7 minutes. You'll know they're ready to begin cooking when they look like this. We prefer ours to be about half grey, if you wait until fully grey, you lose some of the cooking time. You just want to make sure they are fully lit.
When cooking outdoors, especially at a campground, you want to put down a piece of tin foil so you don't burn the ground. Due to heat rising, you'll put less coals on the bottom, seven is perfect for most dishes.
Now set your Dutch oven top of the coals. Make sure your lid is firmly in place and pile coals on top. You'll find tongs are your best friend when dealing with hot coals.
It takes about twenty minutes for your cast iron to heat up to full temperature. Think of it as preheating. The more coals, the hotter the temperature, for this dish, I needed it to be about 375 degrees, so we used twenty one coals. Wind and outside temperature will affect your cooking time, luckily, we had some sunshine and only a light breeze. Always a gamble in the Pacific Northwest.
Check your food after a half hour and if it isn't cooking fast enough, add more coals to the top. If it's too fast, simply pull some off. Caring for your cast iron properly is very important.
You'll be surprised at how good food tastes when cooked in cast iron and out doors. We ended up purchasing three Dutch ovens of different sizes so we could cook an entire meal, main dish, dessert, and appetizer.
I'll share our favorite Dutch oven recipe next week. Be sure to sign up so you don't miss out.
What's your favorite food to eat when camping? Do you enjoy cooking outdoors? What's your favorite memory of camping?
Awsome , helpful tips . Can’t wait to see more.
We are first time full time RVers and have experienced our first real outdoor RVing in Yellowstone National Park. Lover the cast iron skillet but want more, types of pans, recipes, care & use tips. Suggestions?
Hi Melissa
Always used the camp ovens and the bedourie oven when out in the bush. Best cook book i ever got was outback cooking in the camp oven by Jack Absalom
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Why do you post something as cooking over an open fire and then show how to cook with charcoal? Very irritating.
Tom,
That’s the terminology used in Dutch oven cooking. It is an open fire, it’s not contained in anything. You can use wood coals if you prefer, but the technique and the terminology is the same. You can’t cook over a huge open bonfire flame with a Dutch oven as the temperature isn’t consistent and too hot.
Can’t wait to read the recipes!
I can’t wait to have your try them! Thanks for coming.
There was a book by Dian Thomas that I got the ideas.Anyway.i made chicken and dumplings,Stacked enchiladas,and the best was from scratch pineapple upside down cake.
The food tasted so wonderful .The campground was surprised what was made.and smelled so good too.
I love the idea of enchiladas, Diane. I’ve done blackberries and dumplings last summer and it was really good. I think my homemade rolls impressed everyone the most. It’s hard to imagine baking bread when you’re camping. I’ll have to check out the book!
[…] home or out camping. Here’s my recipe from our Saturday night Dutch oven cooking competition. (tutorial on how to cook with a Dutch Oven over an open fire) It was a tie in case you’re wondering who won. Ready to […]
I love how realistic you are, practicing what you are writing about and writing what you practiced.
Looking forward to the recipes!
I love how realistic you are, practicing what you are writing about and writing what you practiced.
Looking forward to the recipes!
[…] the original here: How to cook with a Dutch Oven over an open fire | Melissa K. Norris ← The Campsite Barbecue: 5 Perfect Burgers Inspired Camping Summer Camp for Kids and […]
I’ll have to share this with my husband. He loves grilling and cooking outdoors. I think he would get a real kick out of this. Plus, it would add extra cooking space when we’re eating outside– the grill isn’t big enough for a group.
Share away, Vanessa. My husband loves Dutch oven cooking. I do the food prep and he handles all the coals and baking times. Even the kids get a kick and they love to deem the winner of our competitions. 🙂
That sounds like us when it comes to the grill. He was surprised when I handed him a plate of pineapple rings coated in cinnamon sugar the other day. It was the best thing to ever come off of our grill though– absolutely amazing. Even better with fresh mint from the garden.
Turns out he’s been wanting a dutch oven for a while but is a little intimidated by the price. I have a feeling he’ll be buying one soon though.
They seem pricey at first, but it’s worth it to buy the more expensive model, the cast iron is better quality and if seasoned and cared for properly, they’ll last a lifetime. I try to remember this, a dinner out can be $60, but a Dutch oven will provide meals forever at that price. 🙂
The pineapple and sugar sounds awesome. Thanks for sharing!