The Dutch Oven Charcoal Cooking Calculator
How much charcoal do I need with my camp stove?
The first time I used my cast iron camp stove, I made biscuits. Okay, I cheated and used a mix. That
was the easy part. How much charcoal would I need? And what is all this abut putting some on top and
some on the bottom of my camp store.
Well, thanks to the Dutch Oven Dude, there is no more guessing. Here's a little tool to figure out the
correct charcoal briquette placement for your outdoor cooking.
Want to know more?
The normal formula is to use twice the number of briquettes as the diameter of the oven. For a 12 inch oven,
you would use 24 briquettes. Depending on the type of cooking you are doing, you need to make the heat come
more from the top or bottom of the oven.
For example, too much heat on the bottom will burn bread. So instead, you place more or less of
the briquettes on the lid. Here is a simple chart:
| Baking |
More heat from top so bottom does not burn.
Place 3/4 coals on top and 1/4 underneath.
|
| Roasting |
Heat comes equally from top and bottom.
Place 1/2 coals on top and 1/2 underneath. |
| Stewing, Simmering |
Most heat from bottom.
Place 1/4 coals on top and 3/4 underneath. |
| Frying, Boiling |
All
head from bottom.
Place all coals underneath. |
For more information and tips on Cast Iron Cooking visit Backdoor Survival.
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