Dutch Oven Cooking Tips

Dutch oven camp cooking is the ultimate fun and flexibility! Keep reading here to understand the different types of Dutch Ovens, the number of coals to use for heating, and some other tips.

It's not difficult to use a Dutch oven, but they are heavy, so it's probably not the best option for a canoe trip or a hike.

For campfire cooking, the best way to heat your Dutch oven is to use hot coals. A 12 or 14 inch cast iron Dutch oven with a flat top is your best option (see photo below) where you can put coals on the top and bottom. The chart below will tell you how many hot coals to use to keep your Dutch oven at the right temperature. Simply heat the coals in the campfire and place them on or under your Dutch oven with tongues.

The Dutch oven creates an oven environment at camp where you can bake cookies, cakes, rolls, etc. In some cases you will want to create an air gap between your cooking pan and the bottom of the Dutch oven, especially when baking cookies. To create an air gap, simply put small pebbles under the pan.

You can also cook Dutch oven recipes at home in a standard oven by just putting it in the oven. In this case, a ceramic coated Dutch oven may work better, but almost any will work.

Here are some different types of Dutch ovens: