Forum Discussion

magnusfide's avatar
magnusfide
Explorer II
Feb 16, 2021

Campfire cooking in the cold

One of our favorite times of year to camp is in the winter. No snakes. No whining campers. Everyone I've ever met at a campground in winter wants to be there.

There is a catch though. When the wind chill and temps get too low you have to compensate with your DO cooking on the campfire.

For blocking windchill that cools the pot you can do several things.
1.Set up logs around the pot to block the wind and concentrate the heat.
2.Use a roll of flashing clipped together with clips.
3.Or you can do what I do and set the pot in a small Weber Kettle grill (grill removed) and pop on the lid. It creates an oven effect without overheating the bottom.

Here are some dishes that cook up great on a winter campfire.
Practical (Yet Delicious) Winter Campfire Cooking Ideas For Outdoor Cooking
  • coolmom42's avatar
    coolmom42
    Explorer II
    Feb 17, 2021
    Dick_B wrote:
    or use a George Foreman grill inside; much easier and no wind chill.


    I was thinking the same thing.... but each to his/her own!
  • magnusfide's avatar
    magnusfide
    Explorer II
    Feb 17, 2021
    opnspaces wrote:
    in the past I've had to dig a small pit in the sand to put the DO in. I've also stacked wood or other things around the oven to keep the heat robbing wind down.

    This works as well too. I have one of those military surplus collapsible shovels I keep in mh that works really well for that.
  • opnspaces's avatar
    opnspaces
    Navigator II
    Feb 17, 2021
    in the past I've had to dig a small pit in the sand to put the DO in. I've also stacked wood or other things around the oven to keep the heat robbing wind down.
  • Dick_B's avatar
    Dick_B
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2021
    or use a George Foreman grill inside; much easier and no wind chill.
  • magnusfide's avatar
    magnusfide
    Explorer II
    Feb 16, 2021
    rexlion wrote:
    You're placing the Weber grill overtop the campfire. I assume with the vents closed? Have the fires degraded the outer, bottom finish over time?

    I don't put the kettle grill on the campfire. I place the coals inside the kettle and set the DO on top of the coals. Then the appropriate amount of coals on top of the DO then put the kettle lid in place. I guess you could put the kettle grill on the campfire but when temps get crazy, I don't use the campfire. I use the charcoal method.

    Diamond c wrote:
    I’ve done the same thing with a old grill that I have replaced. One that the grill grate has rusted out past using or legs have bent or broke, but the “ tub “ is still good for some thing.

    Great idea. If you have an older small kettle grill that was popular in tailgating days you can now use it for that. Even the body of one of those old aluminum grills will do as long as you can fit the DO inside.

    I have a Weber Jumbo Joe tabletop kettle grill that always travels with us to keep the DO protected from temp changes and chills. It's 18" so it handles even my largest DO. The kettle vents let me adjust oxygen levels too.
  • Diamond_c's avatar
    Diamond_c
    Nomad
    Feb 16, 2021
    I’ve done the same thing with a old grill that I have replaced. One that the grill grate has rusted out past using or legs have bent or broke, but the “ tub “ is still good for some thing.
  • rexlion's avatar
    rexlion
    Explorer
    Feb 16, 2021
    You're placing the Weber grill overtop the campfire. I assume with the vents closed? Have the fires degraded the outer, bottom finish over time?

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