Fireplace and Campfire Dutch Oven

Campfire Dutch ovens are a great way of expanding your "cooking with flame" repertoire. You can use a dutch oven in the fireplace, campfire, or grill. You can use them for cooking, baking, sauteing, and stewing, just like on an oven, but right over your open flame!

What's a Dutch Oven?

There are many types of campfire dutch cookers. A large cast-iron pot with a tight-fitting lid is the most popular type. These can be used to hang over a campfire or fire pit from a campfire tripod or crane if they have a metal handle. They can also be hung above a fireplace crane.

Legs are a special feature on some dutch ovens or skillets. These legs can be used with any open fire, even without a tripod. They usually come with a concave lid. You heat your pot with hot embers or charcoals. This is why the lid and legs are necessary. With a shovel, make a small pile with hot embers. Next, you can place the fireplace skillet or dutch oven on top. Once your food has been placed in the pot, close the lid and add more hot coals to the lid. This will heat the pot from the top and bottom. To keep the heat up throughout the cooking process, you can continue to add hot coals.

What's the Benefit of Dutch Oven Cooking

Cast-iron ovens are great for heat distribution and retention. This makes it easy to slow cook a variety of foods that are difficult to cook over an open fire. You can make soups, stews, and braised meats in your big pot or fireplace skillet. You can cook the same way on a stovetop or in an oven by using a large pot.

Where can you buy a campfire Dutch oven or fireplace skillet?

1. Lodge(r), Cast Iron offers a wide range of cast iron cookware. A large selection of campfire ovens is available with metal handles and feet for hanging.

2.  SpitJack.com was a great online retailer that carried a large selection of outdoor and fireplace cooking equipment. You can find the cool fireplace skillet above at their online store.

3. Look for specialty cooking shops and camping supply shops in your area. Many stores will stock heavy-duty cast iron cookware, including skillets and campfire ovens.