Using a tripod to cook a stew over the fire.

GaMntHomestead · #1 12/30/12, 02:03 PM

I am cooking a venison stew in my cast iron dutch oven, which I have done often enough. But this time I am using a tripod over the fire to suspend the DO on. As this is my first time doing it this way does anyone have any tips, tricks or hints that would come in handy? LOL
The stew is assembled and has just been hung over the fire.

**Cabin Fever** · #2 12/30/12, 02:12 PM

Be real careful if it's hanging over an open flame, it is real easy to burn. If if were me, I'd hang it low over just campfire coals. Actually, with a dutch oven there is no need for a tripod. Just set the dutch oven on top of campfire coals. Good luck. Let us know how it went. Take some photos.

GaMntHomestead · #3 12/30/12, 02:15 PM

Cabin Fever I took some pictures just now. Now I am trying to figure out how to put them on here. It asks for a url....I am not sure how to do that.

GaMntHomestead · #4 12/30/12, 02:19 PM

Also...I have cooked with coals before, am pretty good at that. I was just wanting to try using the tripod because it was given to me as a gift years ago and I had never used it.

**Cabin Fever** · #5 12/30/12, 02:22 PM

ClicK: "Manage Attachments" button below

Then, click the "Browse" button

Next, find the photo on your hard drive and click the name of the photo.

Lastly, click the "Upload" button

GaMntHomestead · #6 12/30/12, 02:32 PM

Hmmm, I can't find a manage attachments button, but while looking I noticed under my posting rules it says "you may not post attachments". :-/

Fire-Man · #7 12/30/12, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GaMntHomestead

Hmmm, I can't find a manage attachments button, but while looking I noticed under my posting rules it says "you may not post attachments". :-/

The simple thing to do is go to Quick Reply, just below----look for the paper clip (right of smiley face) that is your "attachment button" click it, then click the top "browse" when you find your picture click on it then "Open", then click "upload" unless you want to do more photos. It should attach then you can type what ever in the box. Then Post! Good Luck!

Fire-Man · #8 12/30/12, 03:13 PM

I have cooked Many meals using a tri-pod, As Cabin mentioned I Always moved coals/red embers under the hanging pot. I Never hang the pot over a open fire. Get the pot hanging a few inches over the dirt then take a shovel and move enough embers under it to cook. If you want it hotter put more embers under the pot. if its to hot pull some away. I also have a tripod with a grill top hanging under it. I have grilled all kinds of meat on this including fish and potatoes wrapped in tin foil. I Love cooking like this.

Farmer Willy · #9 12/30/12, 04:22 PM

Save the tripod for boiling your wash water or hanging a chicken. The old boy scout adage was to cook on coals, boil over flames. Also, there are two styles of DO. I use the flat bottom ones in the over, the ones with feet on coals (the feet keep it elevated so's the coals can breathe.

Gianni · #10 12/30/12, 06:09 PM

If you use a tripod take plenty of pictures. I think that is the main benefit of the tripod to look good. I get great results over coals and in an oven.

toni48 · #11 12/30/12, 07:11 PM

I use my tripod to cook beans over a fire and it works really good. Don't know why it wouldn't work with venison stew.

GaMntHomestead · #12 12/30/12, 07:13 PM

Stew turned out great....although if I had checked it 40 seconds later than I did it probably would have started burning, all the liquid was gone. And that was an hour before the recipe said it would take to cook.
But I just added a little hot water, stirred it up and put the lid back on. Sat it on my counter to do a little more cooking, even though the veggies were done by then.
My 2yo neice kept saying "deer, mmmm gud(good), mmm gud gud" LOL
Thanks for the tips, I agree, I will stick to the coals from now on. The tripod works a bit "to fast" for me. Hehe

Oldcountryboy · #13 12/30/12, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toni48

I use my tripod to cook beans over a fire and it works really good. Don't know why it wouldn't work with venison stew.

I've used the tripod with success also. No problem. Periodically check your stew/chili/beans, etc. and make sure it's not boiling to rapidly. If it is, you need to raise the pot up a few inches. If it's not boiling quite enough, either add wood or lower the pot some. Just takes a little practice and you'll know what your doing.

If I ever get posted photo's figured out, I've got a lot of pictures to show everyone. But everytime I've tried it, I just can't get it done. It might be because I'm using a ancient prehistoric PC. And no sound!

Hopefully this coming spring I'll be able to afford a new PC. I'm gonna get a laptop.

GaMntHomestead · #14 12/31/12, 07:29 AM

I can post pics now! Here is one of the tripod set up over the tractor rim fire ring. The other is the finished stew. It was yummy!

**Cabin Fever** · #15 12/31/12, 07:50 AM

Looks great!

OkieDavid · #16 12/31/12, 08:17 AM

Looks delicious!! Thanks for posting pictures, that helped me visualize that my idea of an open flame and yours are different. Excellent job!!!

GaMntHomestead · #17 12/31/12, 09:20 AM

Okie, this pic shows a little bit of the actual flame. I usually use a big brick fire ring that is more open, only 3 bricks high and about 5 feet around. I used this tractor rim yesterday because I wanted to test it out to see how it worked. Looks like we need to cut it down some and add some kind of air holes.

GoldenCityMuse · #18 01/02/13, 11:03 PM

I can almost smell that stew!