Dutch Oven Cooking Temps

"Cast Iron is famous for holding heat for long periods, and proper placement of briquets helps distribute heat evenly when cooking. Charcoal briquets are the easiest way to heat Dutch ovens. They give a longer, more steady supply of heat, which aids greatly in controlling cooking temperatures." - Dutch Oven Cooking

"The following baking temperature chart will get you started, and with a little experience you will be able to make changes for your local conditions. The number to the right of the oven sizes is the totally number of briquets requires to reach the desired temperature. The numbers directly below those are the number of top/bottom coals (briquets) required to obtain the desired temperature.
Arrange the number of coals (briquets) needed by placing them under the Dutch Oven's bottom in a circular patter so that they are 1/2" inside the oven's edge. Arrange the briquets on top of the lid in a circle around the edge with one on either side of the handle.
Avoid the temptation to pile all the coals in one bunch, either under the oven or on the lid. When this is done a hot spot is formed, guaranteeing burned food.
This type of cooking is extremely easy and not difficult to learn." - Dutch Oven Cooking

Dutch Oven Baking Temperature Chart w/ Coals

Oven Size 8"
325 degrees 15 coals total 10top/5bottom
350 degrees 16 coals total 11top/5bottom
375 degrees 17 coals total 11top/6bottom
400 degrees 18 coals total 12top/6bottom
425 degrees 19 coals total 13top/6 bottom


Oven Size 10"
325 degrees 19 coals 13top/6bottom
350 degrees 21 coals 14top/7bottom
375 degrees 23 coals 16top/7bottom
400 degrees 25 coals 17top/8bottom
425 degrees 27 coals 19top/9bottom


Oven Size 12"
325 degrees 23 coals 16top/7bottom
350 degrees 25 coals 17top/8bottom
375 degrees 27 coals 18top/9bottom
400 degrees 29 coals 19top/10bottom
425 degrees 31 coals 21top/10bottom

There are 14", 16", 18" Dutch Oven Sizes too. You can find the tempature chart on Lodge Manufactoring Co. website.

QUICK TIPS:
* Most recipes are made for you to use a 12" Dutch Oven at 350. For anything that cooks at 350 degrees this is a quick way for that I calculate the temperatures. I always calculate the coals by taking the Dutch Oven number. In this case, we will use the number 12. Add 3coals to the number. 12 plus 3 = 15 coals on top! Then for the bottom I minus 3 from the dutch oven number. 12-3= 9 coals for the bottom. I do the (add 3) and the (minus 3) for all sizes and recipes that cook at 350. Then, I don't have to carry the chart around.

*For every briquette you can count on it giving you 25degrees. So it take 4 to get to 100.