How to Heat a Camp Cast Iron Dutch Oven

[@diannejeffers4731]

I’m a newbie to Dutch oven outdoor cooking. This was an excellent lesson! Thank you so much. Please keep them coming!,

[@beerandiron]

Thank you so much! I have fun making these videos. Working on the license plate video. Now I’m planning on having a lemon chicken and a meatball recipe coming out soon!

[@diannejeffers4731]

@@beerandiron awesome! I’ll be anxiously waiting for them 😃

[@ln3291]

Thank you sir! I’ve had a camp Dutch oven for a year now, your videos are teaching and inspiring me to start using it.

[@beerandiron]

Hey! Look at you!! Thanks for the message - got my day started off great. Get that Dutch out and get some cooking done. I’m thinking I’ll do more this weekend.

[@cillaloves2fish688]

This dish looks so good! But I'm eating low carb now, so no rice for me. Maybe I can substitute cabbage instead!

[@beerandiron]

Cabbage may work...it may work A-OK. What about cauliflower rice? There are to likely outcomes: 1) It will be a bit soft and less-rice-like. I dare say "mush" but maybe. Or 2) It turns out perfectly. This one would be an easy recipe to try in the kitchen to see if the cauliflower rice is doable. I've made many paellas with cauliflower rice and they have been wonderful. Let me know how it turns out if you try it; I'd love to know.

[@sic-n-tiredtired4273]

Thank you sir learned a bunch from you're video as well as a great idea for dinner

[@beerandiron]

Most excellent! Let me know how that dinner turns out.

[@indygal6552]

Thank you so much for the detailed yet simple formula for calculating the coals! I'm also gonna try out that recipe, most definitely with the chicken thighs! Thanks again and keep em' coming! Edit: Well, I can't seem to find the recipe.

[@beerandiron]

Hey friend! Look at you! Thank you for the comment. Chicken and Rice! It is an easy yet delicious recipe in deed. Let’s make a plan…I am working on a Cream & Butter Biscuit recipe Video right now. I’ll make this Chicken & Rice one Next! And, I’ll make it only with thighs. Stay tuned…it’s in the works. If you need the recipe before the video is out, let me know…I’ll get it to you.

[@indygal6552]

@@beerandiron Thanks so much! No big rush!! Can’t wait to see it!

[@Insaniac99]

I'm curious, have you tried the Dinwiddie Ring Method for figuring out the coals? I've not been dutch oven cooking for that long, but I find both the counting method you use and the Ring Method useful at different times. The Ring is great for when you start using coals from the fire or random lump coals

[@beerandiron]

Yes. The ring method. If I’m not mistaken, this is where you keep a solid ring of briquettes at the diameter of the bottom and the top. As the briquettes burn down, the chef fills in the spaces with fresh briquettes (yeah?). This would be a great way to teach how to develop an eye for top and bottom heat. I like using coals from my camp fire but it’s hard to teach folks how to “get a feel” for the heat with odd sizes of campfire coals. My hope is that what ever the method, folks get an idea of what the heat “looks” like regardless if they are using the 3x guideline, the ring method, or just piling up some campfire coals. I think a video on the ring method would be a good idea. Yeah!

[@Insaniac99]

@@beerandiron Yes, there are a few different ring methods. The Dinwiddie one uses one ring of coals on the bottom at all times, and then half (which get evenly spread around) or full rings on top for different temperature estimates, you just keep pulling coals as needed to keep the ring intact. On a 12" Dutch Oven, 1 ring is ~300F, 1.5 rings is ~350F, 2 rings is ~400F, and 2.5 rings is ~450F. But I also know many have other styles, and seeing yours would probably make for a good video. I'll be honest, I often use an Infrared thermometer to check no matter what method I use 🤣

[@Insaniac99]

@@beerandiron You know, it occurs to me that when you are doing your video on how to get a feel for heat and/or the ring method, the old hand method would be good to mention to people. You know, where you hold your hand a hand span away and use how quick that's uncomfortable to gauge heat.

[@beerandiron]

You know…this would be a good bit of information and technique to mention. Many viewers comment on the little tips they get during the video and recipe demonstrations. Thanks for the tip (pun intended).