[This article contains a table. Please see hardcopy of magazine or PDF.]
| THE FIRE | THE FOOD | THE BURN |
|---|---|---|
| TEPEE Build it with standing lengths of wood. | Use when you need a steady, hot heat source for a reflector oven. The tall flames produce the high-level heat required for even cooking. | Have plenty of small- and medium-size pieces of wood ready to add to the fire for temperature regulation. |
| PINWHEEL Lay out 1- to 2-inch-diameter sticks of firewood in a starburst pattern. | It’s perfect for throwing a fish fry. With a relatively small diameter, the blaze is close to the ground and has precise temperature control. | Build it inside a ring of rocks or logs to hold the frying pan, and feed dry wood into the fire to keep the oil roiling, which is key for crispy fish. |
| LOG CABIN Stack 4- to 6-inch-diameter sticks in a crosshatch pattern. | Build a log cabin when you want a deep bed of coals for roasting or grilling meat. Cook foil-wrapped game or use a Dutch oven. | The log-cabin fire provides lots of air circulation and plenty of wood surface for an even blaze. It results in a quick supply of cooking coals. |
| KEYHOLE Construct a rock fire pit in the shape of a keyhole. In the round part, build a tepee fire; in the narrow end, a log-cabin fire. | This is a great multipurpose fire. Build it when you’re multitasking for a campfire feast. | The tall flames of the tepee fire provide both heat and light and will give you a constant source of coals once the log-cabin fire burns down. |
