Dutch Oven Cooking Temperature

Most dutch oven cooking will come out OK if the temperature of the oven is around 350 degrees.  Since dutch ovens don't come with a dial to set the temperature, how do you tell how hot it is in the oven?

One method is the hand test.  Remove the lid from the dutch oven and hold your bare hand just above the top rim of the oven over the contents.  Count backwards, about one second per number, from 550 by 50s until it's too hot to hold your hand there anymore.  So, if you were able to count 550, 500, 450, 400 and then had to take away your hand, the oven is about 400 degrees.  Be sure to quickly replace the cover since you are losing heat while testing.