Last updated on September 21st, 2022
When cooking outdoors with a dutch oven, there are multiple ways to turn up the heat. The dutch oven can be placed directly over campfire embers or a bed of glowing charcoal. It can also be hung from a tripod over the fire or placed over coals on a dutch oven cooking table.
If you’re using a cast iron camp dutch oven and using charcoal as the heat source, a dutch oven charcoal temperature chart is helpful for estimating the number of coals needed to reach your desired cooking temperature. Note that the charcoal requirements for aluminum dutch ovens will be different. Aluminum conducts heat very differently than cast iron.
Dutch Oven Charcoal Placement
Charcoal placement will also vary for frying, boiling, simmering, and roasting. The chart below is designed specifically for baking, as it requires the most heat precision. The following guidelines will help with other cooking methods:
- Frying / Boiling: Place all coals under the dutch oven.
- Roasting: Divide coals evenly between the top and bottom of the dutch oven in a 1:1 ratio.
- Simmering: Divide coals into a 4:1 ratio with most coals on bottom.
In the temperature chart below, “top” and “bottom” indicate the number of coals to be placed underneath the dutch oven and on top of the lid. Make sure your dutch oven is a camping version. It should have a flat lid with a raised rim for keeping charcoal in place.
I always find it helpful to prepare a few extra briquettes of charcoal beyond the “total” recommendation in case some are very small or disintegrate during preparation. (Not sure how to use a charcoal chimney to quickly and easily prepare your charcoal briquettes for cooking? Check out my helpful “How To Use A Charcoal Chimney Starter” article with step-by-step photos!)
Feel free to use this handy dutch oven charcoal temperature chart and download the printable version to reference when cooking:
Keep in mind that dutch oven cooking is just as much an art as it is a science. Factors like temperature, wind, elevation, sunlight, and the material your dutch oven is made from all play a role in how quickly the oven heats, cools, and cooks.
For more detailed information about dutch ovens and how to choose the best one for camping, see this helpful article.
Also, be sure to check out the Recipes section of the blog for plenty of delicious camping recipes!
This post may contain affiliate links. This means if you click on a link and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission, at no cost to you, that makes it possible for me to keep the Campfires and Cast Iron site up and running. Please see our disclosure policy for details.
