Basecamp camp cooking

Dutch Oven Calculator

Choose how you are cooking, the oven size, and the temperature.

1. What are you cooking?

Know the Rule of 3?

2. What size Dutch oven?

3. How hot?

350°F
325°F350°F375°F400°F425°F450°F
12″ Dutch Oven · Bake · 350°F

ON THE LID

18 briquettes

UNDERNEATH

7 briquettes
25TOTAL BRIQUETTES
Why this setup?

Baking needs more heat above the food than underneath. This setup puts most of your heat on the lid.

Learn the Rule of 3

A useful field shortcut when you do not have the chart handy.

Charcoal isn’t a thermostat.

Wind, cold, elevation, charcoal type, and how completely the briquettes are lit can change the heat. Use this as a starting point and keep an eye on your food.

Using a deep Dutch oven?

Add 2–4 briquettes to the lid as a starting adjustment.

Calculated for standard charcoal briquettes.

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