Camping with Cast Iron Pans – Stovetop, Charcoal, or Campfire?
Cast Iron on a Camping Stove
If you have a camping stove you’re taking along with you, the main thing you want to remember is to pay attention to your heat setting. One of the key benefits of using a stove is that you can control the heat level more precisely than when cooking with charcoal or logs.
So simply start with low heat and be patient. You don’t want to overheat your cast iron because it will take far longer to let it cool back down and you’ll probably have burned some food in the process. If patience isn’t your strong suit, consider gazing into the foliage, posting that perfect #nature photo to social media, or playing I Spy with the kids.
If the slow-and-steady requirement seems like a detriment, it can also be an advantage if you’re camping in a group. Since cast irons stay warm far longer than pans made from other metals, they are ideal for preparing several dishes over one firepit or for making a single dish for people who might be coming back to the campsite at different times.
Cast Iron over Charcoal
If you don’t have a portable stove or just want to try a ‘campier’ cooking method, charcoal is a great option.
Charcoal brings a smoky flavor to your food that is largely absent in stovetop meals. Of course a traditional campfire is going to give you a richer smoky flavor, but charcoal provides a more easily controlled heat source that lasts longer than sticks and logs. The downside? Some people have said charcoal is messier. Those people were right.
But, if you decide to brave the fun charcoal dust (which has been known to provide camping cred even with an Instagram filter), we particularly like instant charcoal briquettes because they are quicker than regular charcoal. If you prefer standard charcoal, we recommend adding a collapsible charcoal starter to your camping gear to jumpstart cooking.
Once you’ve got your hot coals going, you have two options for cooking: directly on the coals or on a grill.
Direct contact with hot coals is going to provide high heat cooking. This is great for searing ingredients or for foods that you don’t need to cook for a long time. Don’t forget that it’s important to arrange hot coals safely with charcoal tongs so you have a relatively even surface to place your cast iron pan or dutch oven on. You will also get the best cooking results if you spread charcoal pieces fairly evenly underneath so that one half of the pan doesn’t get way hotter than the other.
If you are looking for a longer, slower cook with fewer chances of burning, using a heavy duty camp grill or even rocks to elevate your cast iron above hot coals is the way to go. This will provide low to medium heat.
