How Many Coals to use with a Camp Dutch oven?
The most common question and error for new users of Dutch oven Cooking is how many charcoal briquettes to use and where to place them. Using a very simple formula we calculate how many you will need, where to place them on your Dutch oven so you'll never have to guess at how Many Coals to use with a Camp Dutch oven.
There are several ways to figure this out but I have found that this simple formula sits in peoples minds easier. Truthfully after doing this 5 or 6 times with your Dutch oven, you'll be able to judge how many coals you'll need without any calculations.
The weather, of course, will play an important roll in how many coals to use. As an example, if it is really cold out you might need several additional coals on the top and a couple of more on the bottom. Dutch oven cooking is more instinctual than mathematical, you will learn by practicing in different conditions over time.
Remember that Dutch ovens cook from the top down as opposed to the bottom up.
(Closed Captioning available on this video)
Video Transcription:
Dutch oven Cooking:
How Many Coals to Use?
Do you have some of these lying around?
Want to know how to use them, even to make simple dishes like this or perhaps, some true gourmet world-class foods?
Well, that’s pretty simple if you know how many coals you need.
The first question to ask is: How big is your Dutch oven?
Do you have a 10”, 12”, or 14” Dutch oven?
It almost always has one of these numbers stamped on the lid.
We’re going to be using a 12” Dutch oven for this example.
We’re going to generate 350 degrees for approximately 1 hour in a 12” Dutch oven.
To figure out how many coals you’ll need, you’ll take the size of the lid and multiply that times 2, that’s 24 charcoal briquettes.
Now, we’re going to divide the coals in half, 12 coals for the top and 12 for the bottom.
Take 3 coals away from the bottom so you have 9 and those get placed around the legs in a Dutch oven, kind of looks like that.
Then place 15 coals on the top.
Here’s the secret formula: Size of a DO x 2 ÷ 2, subtract 3 from the bottom and place them on the top and that is how you get that temperature.
This formula works very well for 10”, 12”, and 14” Dutch ovens.
Hey, that’s it.
Thanks for watching.
This is Gary House with Cooking Everything Outdoors show.
We’ll have new tips, tricks or technique for you every Tuesday.
Here’s a question for you Gary.
While out and about going to garage and yard sales, I seldom see cast iron, anything but occasionally I do find some. I have been looking for years and only found 2 dutch ovens. One with legs like in this vid and one with a flat bottom. I didn’t get them because I thought they were asking too much for old rusty iron. New pots are priced out of my budget but now I’m thinking the price I was given years ago for the ones I had seen at the sales, I should have got them. Oh well! My question is. What is a good price to pay for old crusty, rusty cast iron pots and pans? If I’m not mistaken you have a vid on cleaning or someone else on the tubes does…lol. Any way I had me an old 8 incher and it turned out well after cleaning. So I’m not afraid to get old used stuff but I don’t want to get ripped off. I want to pay at least, a fair price….Ya know what I mean…? And I don’t want to insult the seller either.
Fab
Fab,
That is tougher to answer than you imagine! I have seen antique skillets go for a buck and others for a hundred times that. If you are going around to garage sales and such I would be looking at $5.00 – $10.00 for a brand named skillet in good condition. The secret is to find an antique and get that for 5 bucks, but that is easier said than done. Here is a pretty good source on collecting antiques that you could use a reference when your out hunting for your next bargain: http://www.castironcollector.com from there you would be able to offer a fair price.
Gary
OMG! Too, much, info….lol. Thanks for the link. I just want to fry some eggs without them sticking in the pan….lol. Just kidd’n. Summer’s here and I’ll be looking. I want to get two dutch ovens and at least one muffin pan.
Any way, thanks again for the link.
Fab