Dutch Oven Cooking Instructions
Dutch oven cooking may seem mysterious if you have never cooked in one outdoors. In reality, Dutch oven cooking is simple and easy if you remember the basic rule of "four up/four down" to keep the oven at 325 degrees Fahrenheit. This ratio will provide the heat you need to cook anything from bread to meat, and the rule applies for any size Dutch oven. When cooking simple foods, such as soups and stews, coals beneath the Dutch oven are all you need. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Determine the size of your Dutch oven. It should be printed on either the lid or the bottom of the oven. To determine how many coals you will need, add the size of the oven plus four coals for the top and minus four for the bottom. For example, for a 12-inch Dutch oven, you will need 16 coals for the top and eight coals for the bottom.
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Start the charcoal briquettes in a charcoal chimney. The briquettes are ready when they begin to turn ashen white.
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Dump the briquettes in a fire ring or other safe area.
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4
Use the camp shovel to distribute the coals in the "four up/four down" ratio.
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5
Add an additional coal to both the top and bottom of the Dutch oven for every extra 25 degrees Fahrenheit you wish to add to the oven.
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Continue to add coals at the "four up/four down" ratio as the coals lose heat. In most cases, this will not be necessary, unless the recipe calls for more than one or two hours of cooking time.
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Tips & Warnings
For the beginning Dutch oven cook, briquettes are the best way to learn.
The USDA recommends that any dish containing meat be cooked at no less than 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
For most dishes, a thin coating of oil in the Dutch oven will keep food from sticking. For baked goods, such as breads or cakes, coat the Dutch oven with flour before adding the dough or batter.
Always use a well seasoned Dutch oven for cooking. If your Dutch oven needs seasoning, coat the inside of both the lid and the oven with a thick layer of oil or lard and bake in a 350 degree oven for one hour before using.
