Whether you are roughing it in the wilderness for a few days or simply enjoying some time in your back yard, there’s nothing quite like fresh food prepared over a campfire. While many open-fire cooking methods exist, cooking with a dutch oven offers endless options that would be difficult or impossible any other way. Dutch ovens are versatile, hardy, and easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Choose Your Dutch Oven
There are several styles of dutch oven to choose from, but the best style for campfire cooking has three legs on the bottom to slightly elevate it off the coals, as well as a tightly fitted lid with a lip. Most dutch ovens are made from cast iron, which will need to be seasoned properly before use. Also, be sure that you select a size that will be adequate for the amount of people you will be serving regularly. If you typically cook for four, a 6-quart dutch oven should serve your needs plus a little extra when you’re cooking for more.
Preparing Your Campfire Coals
When cooking with a dutch oven, patience is key. Take the time to properly prepare your campfire and wait until you have a nice bed of hot coals before trying to cook. Hot coals will allow your dutch oven to do its job more effectively than if you try to cook over a roaring flame, and you’ll incur less risk of burning yourself and your food. Use this time to do any washing, chopping, or other food preparations that your recipe requires.
Cooking Your Food
Once you have all of your ingredients in your dutch oven and your coals are smoldering nicely, place the lid snugly on your cookware and set the entire thing directly on top of the coals. Use a small shovel or scoop to place a layer of coals on top of the lid. Be aware that food that you cook with a dutch oven will typically cook faster than an electric oven. Check your food’s progress every 10 minutes or so (with fireproof gloves or sturdy tongs) to ensure you don’t ruin all the hard work you’ve just done.
Featured Image from Ignat Kushanrev/Unsplash
