Building a campfire for cooking
For novice campers, one of the most daunting challenges on those first few camping trips is building a campfire. At least it was for me. I needed that fire to prepare dinner, to ward off the creeping damp cold, and provide a sense of security (there were bears out there!). I have to smile now when I think of those early days and all the challenges but I never forget them. It is those memories the make me proud of how my campfire building skills have improved. Click here for a primer on campfire building and safety made by a group of Boy Scouts. They did a good job.
Wood burning open campfires are the most primal, basic approach to cooking a meal when camping. You need dry wood, preferably from a hard wood tree species (pine burns hot and fast making it less desirable for a cooking campfire), a mound of “kindling”, usually twigs, leaves, needles, and paper (paper should be a last choice), and an assortment of wood pieces of graduating size. And a starting flame; I prefer a wooden match but paper matches and cigarette lighter work, as do those fancy striker available in big box stores.
The toughest part of cooking over a wood burning in an open campfire is probably temperature control. I think a “key-hole” fire design is probably the best for cooking. For a “key-hole” fire, place a mound of kindling in the upper third of the fire-ring. Stack some of the various sized wood on top, either in a log cabin or teepee fashion. Be sure to leave some space between the pieces of wood. Light a match and, carefully, ignite the kindling. A few gentle breaths might help the flame to spread. As the fire gets more established, add larger pieces of wood.
Once the fire is well-established, and there are glowing coals, pull some of those hot coals to the front of the fire-ring, that’s why they call it a “Keyhole” fire. Use these front coals to cook over, pulling more coals forward as needed, while feeding the rear fire with more dry wood so you always have hot coals waiting to be use. The back of the Keyhole fire is a good place to heat a large pot of water for later use like washing children and dishes.
Remember to keep a bucket of water and shovel or rake handy just in case some burning embers float away.
