Tips for Dutch Oven Cooking

Dutch ovens are about as quintessential to camping as s’mores. Here are some tips from Gail Kearns of Gourmet Girls On Fire.

1. Build a campfire to one side of the firepit.
2. When the fire is going fast and furious, add some charcoal to the center of the fire.
3. Once the coals have a white ash coating, move some of them, using extra-long metal tongs, to the center. Don’t forget to wear some thick fireproof mitts.
4. Place a cast iron tripod over the firepit, keeping the tripod legs inside the firepit, if possible.
5. Hang the Dutch oven from the tripod chain so it is level and centered over the coals.
6. Place more coals around the bottom, if needed, and adjust the cooking temperature by raising and lowering the oven.
7. To saute ingredients prior to cooking, keep the oven close to the coals. Add remaining ingredients and place the lid on the Dutch oven with a cast iron lid lifter.
8. Add coals to the lid accordingly.

Photos by Sara Schumacher.