Anyone who can start a fire and follow a recipe can perform miracles with a Dutch oven. Position your Dutch oven over a bed of briquettes, place more on the lid, and presto, it bakes like an actual oven. Baking at 350 F requires five to eight briquettes evenly distributed under the oven and 12 to 16 on the lid. When using more than one Dutch oven, you can stack the second on top of the first, and so on, without the necessity of spreading more briquettes on the ground. If your campsite mandates low impact, spread some aluminum foil under the coals and pack them out in a fireproof container.
Experience is the best judge when deciding when a Dutch oven meal is ready.
Using your watch is a safe way to bake and always keep in mind that if you snooze, you lose. Avoid lifting the lid to look at the food. Like your oven at home, opening it up loses precious heat. Each peek can cost you five to 10 minutes. Sheila Mills has spent the last 18 years as a wilderness river outfitter.