JustBeginning
Beginner's guide

So you're getting into open fire cooking

Fire cooking is as old as humanity, and the basics haven't changed: hardwood coals, cast iron, and patience. A Dutch oven over campfire coals is one of the most satisfying meals you'll ever cook. Here's the gear you actually need, what to buy first, and what can wait until you've got your first fire under control.

By Colin B. · Published June 12, 2026 · Last reviewed June 12, 2026
a person cooking food over a skillet over a campfire

Photo by Conner Baker on Unsplash

The 60-second version

If you only buy 3 things to start:

  1. Lodge 12-inch Camp Dutch Oven — The universal starter Dutch oven: made in the USA, nearly indestructible, and sized for most camp recipes.
  2. RAPICCA BBQ and Fireplace Gloves — The gloves you need before your first fire. Handles 662°F with enough dexterity to grip a Dutch oven lid.
  3. Texsport Heavy Duty Swivel Camp Grill — An adjustable-height grate that fits most fire rings, so you can cook steaks and skillets over flame.
Budget total
$80
Typical total
$200
You can start for $80 with a Lodge Dutch oven and a pair of welding gloves. Add a fire grate and tripod as you find your style.

We earn commission on qualifying Amazon purchases — see our affiliate disclosure. Price tiers and budget totals shown above are editorial estimates; actual Amazon prices vary.

At a glance

Our top pick in each category

The fastest path through this guide — each best-starter pick by category. Scroll for the budget and upgrade alternatives.

CategoryTop pickPriceWhere to buy
Dutch OvensLodgeLodge 12-inch Camp Dutch Oven$$ See on Amazon →
Fire GratesTexsportTexsport Heavy Duty Swivel Camp Grill$ See on Amazon →
Tripods & Pot CranesStansportStansport Cast Iron Camp Cooking Tripod$$ See on Amazon →
Long-handle Cooking ToolsLodgeLodge 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool$ See on Amazon →
Heat ProtectionRAPICCARAPICCA BBQ and Fireplace Gloves$$ See on Amazon →
Before you buy anything

A few things worth knowing first

Get a camp Dutch oven with legs, not a kitchen Dutch oven. This sounds obvious until you're standing in a store holding a beautiful Le Creuset thinking it'll work. It won't. Kitchen Dutch ovens have flat bottoms and domed lids. Camp Dutch ovens have legs that hold them above coals and flanged lids designed to hold coals on top for even heat. They are different tools.

Plan to burn your fire down to coals before you cook. Cooking over active flames is for marshmallows. Fire cooking is coal cooking: you need 45-60 minutes of burn time to build a proper coal bed. Start your fire early and get comfortable with this rhythm before dinner is on the line.

Open fire cooking is not BBQ smoking. Smoking is low, indirect heat over hours. Fire cooking is direct heat, faster, more hands-on. If you already smoke briskets, fire cooking is a new craft, not a progression. Different gear, different instincts, equally worth learning.

The gear

What you actually need

black round pot on fire

Photo by Melody Ayres-Griffiths on Unsplash

Dutch Ovens

A camp Dutch oven is the one piece of gear that separates cowboy cooking from grilling hot dogs. The legs and flanged lid are what make it a camp Dutch oven: legs hold it above coals, and the flat lid holds coals on top for even heat from above and below. That's how you bake cornbread, braise a chuck roast, or simmer a campfire chili. The 12-inch / 6-quart is the right starting size for most beginners: big enough to cook for four, light enough to carry, and the size most camp recipes are written around. Cast iron is forgiving, nearly indestructible, and improves with every cook.

Dutch Ovens — what's the difference?

A few common shapes, each making a different trade.

10-inch / 4-quart

Lighter and faster to heat; ideal for solo or couple camping.

Diameter
10"
Capacity
4 quarts
Weight
~7 lbs

Best for Solo campers, couples, backpack-friendly setups

Tradeoff Too small for most family recipes; you'll want 12-inch within a season

12-inch / 6-quart

The standard size; fits most camp recipes and serves 4-6 people.

Diameter
12"
Capacity
6 quarts
Weight
~8 lbs

Best for Most beginners; family camping; the size most camp recipes use

Tradeoff Slightly heavy for backpacking; perfect for car camping

↓ See our pick
14-inch / 10-quart

For group cooking and large roasts; heavy but maximally versatile.

Diameter
14"
Capacity
10 quarts
Weight
~12 lbs

Best for Groups of 6+, large roasts, batch cooking at basecamp

Tradeoff Too heavy for anything but car camping; harder to heat evenly

Best starter
Lodge

Lodge 12-inch Camp Dutch Oven

$$

Lodge has been making cast iron in Tennessee since 1896, and the camp Dutch oven is their most iconic product. The 12-inch is the sweet spot: big enough to feed four people, light enough to carry, and the size most fire-cooking recipes are written around. The flanged lid holds coals perfectly, the legs sit stable on a coal bed, and the pre-seasoning means you can cook day one.

What we like

  • Made in the USA since 1896; the most trusted name in camp cast iron
  • Flanged lid holds coals on top for true baking and braising
  • Pre-seasoned out of the box; cook on day one

What to know

  • Weighs about 8 lbs empty; not ideal for backpacking
  • Lid handle gets scorching hot; a lid lifter tool is not optional
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Camp Chef

Camp Chef 12-inch Classic Dutch Oven

$$

If you're cooking roasts, whole chickens, or bread, extra depth matters. Camp Chef's 12-inch deep version gives you the same diameter as the standard Lodge but significantly more depth for larger cuts and taller loaves. Same camp-style legs and flanged lid. Worth the upgrade once you've got a season under your belt.

What we like

  • Extra depth handles whole roasts and bread loaves Lodge can't fit
  • Same legs and flanged lid design; no new technique required

What to know

  • Heavier than the Lodge equivalent at the same diameter
  • Less widely stocked; expect a few extra shipping days
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Lodge

Lodge 14-inch Camp Dutch Oven

$$$

When you're cooking for six or more, the 14-inch becomes the right tool. Two extra inches of diameter adds meaningful volume for stews and chilis, and more surface area for browning. It's heavy at roughly 12 pounds before food, so it lives in the car rather than a pack. For family camping and group cookouts, it earns its weight.

What we like

  • 10-quart capacity easily feeds 6-8 people
  • Same Lodge quality and lifetime guarantee as smaller sizes

What to know

  • Weighs ~12 lbs empty; impractical for anything but car camping
  • Needs a larger coal bed; takes longer to heat evenly than the 12-inch
See on Amazon →
metal fire grate over open campfire flames

Photo by Danny de Jong on Unsplash

Fire Grates

A fire grate is how you cook directly over fire the same way you'd use a stovetop burner: set your cast iron skillet or pot on it and cook. The critical thing is height adjustment. You manage temperature with a grate by moving it closer to or farther from the flame, not by adjusting the fire itself. An adjustable-height grate is worth the extra few dollars over a fixed one. Most public campgrounds have fire rings but no grates, so this is the piece you bring yourself.

Best starter
Texsport

Texsport Heavy Duty Swivel Camp Grill

$

The backbone of camp cooking when you want to cook over open flame. The Texsport adjusts in height so you can manage heat distance, straddles most standard fire rings, and holds up to 50 pounds. Grill steaks, cook a cast iron skillet, or park your Dutch oven on it for high-heat cooking. Folds flat for the truck bed. Every serious camp kitchen eventually has one.

What we like

  • Height-adjustable legs work over most standard fire rings
  • Rated to 50 lbs; handles any cast iron setup you put on it
  • Folds flat; fits in any camp bag or truck bed

What to know

  • Legs can sink into soft or sandy soil; bring tent stakes as anchors
  • Chrome finish (not stainless) will rust if stored wet
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Lodge

Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman's Pro Grill

$$

A compact hibachi-style portable grill that uses any fuel (charcoal, briquettes, or hardwood). Lodge's cast iron cooking grate holds heat beautifully and leaves a proper sear on anything you put on it. Not for group cooking, but for a solo fire-grilled steak or two burgers, it's the most versatile small live-fire grill available.

What we like

  • Cast iron grate produces restaurant-quality sear marks
  • Works with charcoal, wood chunks, or briquettes interchangeably

What to know

  • Small cooking surface; practical for 1-2 people only
  • Heavy for a compact grill; this one lives in the truck, not the pack
See on Amazon →

Tripods & Pot Cranes

A campfire tripod hangs your Dutch oven or pot directly over the fire, suspended by an adjustable chain. The hook height controls temperature: higher up means gentle simmer, lower means a hard boil. The tripod method is slower to set up than a grate but gives you the most immersive fire-cooking experience and is ideal for soups, stews, and boiling water. Traditional camp setup: tripod for the main pot, grate for steaks and skillets.

Best starter
Stansport

Stansport Cast Iron Camp Cooking Tripod

$$

The classic tripod setup for hanging a Dutch oven over fire. Adjustable S-hook chains let you control heat by raising or lowering the pot into the flame. The set includes a lid lifter and pot hook. Stands 36 inches tall over the fire. This is how cowboys and chuckwagon cooks have done it for 150 years, and it still works beautifully for stews and chilis.

What we like

  • Adjustable chain height gives precise temperature control over fire
  • Includes pot hooks and S-hooks for multiple hanging configurations

What to know

  • Legs splay wide; needs 3-4 feet of clear space around the fire
  • S-hooks can slip if overloaded; respect the weight rating
See on Amazon →
Upgrade pick
Texsport

Texsport Campfire Dutch Oven Tripod

$$

When the Stansport feels undersized, the Texsport campfire tripod is a step up: heavier-gauge steel, rated to 50 pounds, and built with a swivel lantern hanger that keeps your pot level as you reposition it around the fire. Once you're cooking seriously, the sturdier frame gives you more confidence handling a full Dutch oven.

What we like

  • Heavy-gauge steel rated to 50 lbs; handles a full Dutch oven without shaking
  • Swivel hanger keeps pot level when repositioning around the fire

What to know

  • Noticeably heavier than the Stansport; feels overbuilt for casual use
  • Swivel takes a few minutes to figure out the first time
See on Amazon →

Long-handle Cooking Tools

Fire cooking tools are long-handled versions of kitchen tools because your hands need to stay 18 inches from the fire. The three you'll use constantly: a lid lifter (the single most important dedicated tool for Dutch oven cooking), long-handled tongs for adjusting coals and food on the grate, and a long-handled fork or turner. All of these need to be all-metal: no plastic parts. Most kitchen tongs melt. Your kitchen spatula is too short. Budget $20-40 for a decent set and you won't think about it again.

Best starter
Lodge

Lodge 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool

$

Lodge's 4-in-1 camp tool is purpose-built for Dutch oven cooking: it functions as a lid lifter, bail lifter, trivet, and lid stand: four jobs in one heat-treated steel piece. No plastic, no melting, no worrying about grabbing the wrong kitchen gadget. The single most useful tool purchase for a beginner setting up a fire kitchen.

What we like

  • Four functions: lid lifter, bail lifter, trivet, and lid stand in one tool
  • Long enough handle keeps hands clear of coal heat
  • Heat-treated steel; no plastic parts to melt or burn

What to know

  • One tool per function at a time; get separate tongs for grill work too
See on Amazon →
Specialty pick
Camp Chef

Camp Chef Cowboy Dutch Oven Lid Lifter

$

If you already have tongs and forks, the lid lifter is the one specialized tool worth buying separately. Dutch oven lids sit in a ring of coals on top and are scorching hot at 400°F+. The Camp Chef lifter hooks into the lid knob and lets you peek inside or fully remove the lid with one controlled hand, with no glove juggling required.

What we like

  • One-handed lid removal keeps your other hand free for a mitt
  • Hooks securely into the lid knob; doesn't slip under load

What to know

  • Confirm fit before ordering; not universal across all Dutch oven brands
See on Amazon →
A person cooking food on a grill over a fire

Photo by Brad on Unsplash

Heat Protection

Heavy gloves are not optional in fire cooking. You will handle a 12-pound Dutch oven that's been sitting in coals at 400°F. You will grab a grate that's been over direct flame. You will instinctively reach in to stop something from tipping over before you can think about it. Silicone oven mitts don't cut it: they grip poorly, degrade at sustained high heat, and leave your forearms exposed. You need something long, made of leather or aramid fiber, and rated for real fire temperatures.

Best starter
RAPICCA

RAPICCA BBQ and Fireplace Gloves

$$

The most important safety purchase in fire cooking. RAPICCA's aramid-fiber and leather gloves are rated to 662°F and long enough to protect your forearms when reaching into a coal bed. Unlike silicone oven mitts, they give you real dexterity to grip a Dutch oven lid or move a hot grate. The articulated thumbs mean you can actually pinch and handle things.

What we like

  • Rated to 662°F; handles Dutch oven lids straight from coal beds
  • 14-inch length covers forearms when reaching over fire
  • Articulated thumbs give real dexterity; you can grip and pinch

What to know

  • Thicker than leather; fine dexterity tasks are harder
  • Hand wash only; machine washing degrades the heat rating
See on Amazon →
Budget pick
Lincoln Electric

Lincoln Electric KH641 Welding Gloves

$

True welding gloves from a hardware store do the same job as specialty BBQ gloves for less. Lincoln's cowhide welding gloves are rated for arc welding temperatures, handle camp cooking heat easily, and cost about half as much as RAPICCA. The catch: they absorb grease and smoke over time and will eventually need replacing.

What we like

  • Available at any hardware store for under $15; no shipping wait
  • Rated for welding temperatures; handles camp cooking heat easily

What to know

  • Absorb grease and smoke; plan to replace them once they're saturated
  • Less dexterity than aramid-fiber gloves on fine grip tasks
See on Amazon →
Going deeper

Your first weekend of open fire cooking

Most people get their first campfire cook wrong: they try to cook over flames. Fire cooking is coal cooking. Here's the mental shift and the real skill curve for your first dozen fires.

Read the guide →
Save your money

What you don't need yet

Beginners get pressured to buy a lot of stuff that doesn't help them play better. Here's what we'd skip on day one.

  • A BBQ smoker — Different hobby, different equipment, different skill set. Start here; add smoking later if the mood strikes.
  • A propane camp stove — Useful for convenience but works against the whole point. Learn fire cooking on fire, not a gas burner.
  • Specialty fire starters and fire logs — Newspaper and dry kindling build a perfect coal bed. Fire starters are for when you're in a hurry; you're not in a hurry.
  • A cast iron cleaning kit — Hot water and a stiff brush clean a Dutch oven after every cook. Soap is fine occasionally. No kit required.
  • A wood-splitting maul or hatchet — Pre-split campground firewood works for your first dozen fires. Buy a splitting tool once you're sourcing your own hardwood.
First week

Your first seven days

A short, real plan to get from gear-on-doorstep to actually playing.

  1. Order your Dutch oven now so it arrives before the weekend. · Buy
  2. Season the Dutch oven before your first cook: coat with a thin layer of vegetable oil and bake upside-down at 400°F for an hour. · Action
  3. Watch one Cowboy Kent Rollins video on Dutch oven fire cooking. His channel is the best intro to this hobby. · Learn
    • Kent Rollins on YouTube · The most-watched live-fire cooking channel for beginners. Start with any Dutch oven chili or stew video.
  4. Practice starting and tending a fire before cooking anything. Get comfortable reading the coals. · Action
  5. First recipe: Dutch oven chili. It's forgiving, takes about 90 minutes of coal time, and introduces you to the lid-and-coals method without fine technique. · Action
  6. Keep a bucket of water or a fire extinguisher within reach. Not optional. · Action
FAQ

Common questions

Can I use my kitchen Dutch oven over a campfire?

No. Kitchen Dutch ovens (Le Creuset, Staub, Lodge's enameled line) have flat bottoms and round dome lids. Camp Dutch ovens have three legs to sit above coals and flat flanged lids designed to hold coals on top. These are different tools. Using a kitchen Dutch oven in coals risks breaking the enamel and won't cook evenly anyway.

What kind of wood is best for cooking?

Hardwoods: oak, hickory, apple, cherry, or whatever is locally available. Softwoods like pine burn fast and produce too much resin for cooking. But for your first fires, use whatever split campground firewood is available and focus on building a good coal bed. Wood sourcing is a refinement, not a prerequisite.

How do I know when the coals are ready to cook on?

When the flames die down and the coals glow orange-red with a layer of white ash on the edges, you're ready. That usually takes 45-60 minutes from a full fire. The ash tells you the volatile gases have burned off. Cooking over active flames chars the outside and leaves the inside raw.

How do I clean a Dutch oven after campfire cooking?

While the oven is still warm (not scorching hot), pour in a cup of hot water, scrub with a stiff brush, and dump it out. That's it. Dry it immediately over low heat and apply a thin wipe of oil. No soap required unless you've got burned-on protein. Never put it in a dishwasher or let it soak in water.

Is fire cooking safe for campgrounds?

Check fire regulations before you cook. Many campgrounds have fire restrictions, especially during dry seasons. Always use established fire rings, keep a bucket of water handy, and never leave the fire unattended. In open country, bring a portable fire pan to cook on if there's no established ring.

How many coals do I put on top vs underneath a Dutch oven?

A rough starting rule: use about twice as many coals on top as underneath for baking (bread, cornbread). Use a mostly-underneath split for stews and braises. The 'thirds rule' works for 350°F: use the diameter of your oven in inches as the total number of charcoal briquettes (24 for a 12-inch oven), with one-third below and two-thirds on top.

Going further

Where to next

Related hobbies

Browse by category

Authoritative sources

  • Cowboy Kent Rollins (YouTube) — The most-watched live-fire and Dutch oven cooking channel for beginners. Accessible, practical, and genuinely fun. Start here.
  • Dutch Oven Society — The oldest organized community around Dutch oven cooking. Cook-offs, recipes, and members who've been doing this for decades.
  • Lodge Cast Iron — Lodge's own recipes and guides are worth bookmarking. The camp section specifically covers Dutch oven fire techniques.
  • r/DutchOvenCooking — Active subreddit covering both campfire and stovetop Dutch oven cooking. Good for troubleshooting heat management questions.
  • A Taste of Cowboy (Kent Rollins book) — Kent Rollins's cookbook with 120 recipes adapted for home and camp cooking. Worth owning after you've done a handful of fires.
a man and a woman cooking outside

Photo by Derek Owens on Unsplash

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