Fireplace cooking

I have cooked with a Dutch Oven in the fireplace.  I would like to expand on my fireplace cooking. What system do you use to hold pans above the fire?  

Hi John;
I've only ever seen a long cast iron swivel hook , bolted to the wall of the fireplace.

The old fireplace in the kitchen in my new place has this trivet for supporting pans for cooking over a fire.



We sealed the chimney off a few days ago to stop all the warm air from the woodburner downstairs disappearing up it overnight and discovered there was a big chain installed there too, for hanging cooking pots from.  No photo of that, sorry...

Hi Thomas,

I am considering mounting a chain.

Hi Burra,

I suspect I will end up with some combination of chain and trivet.  In the past, I have set the Dutch Oven in coals.  That works only to a point.

Hi John and all,
Though this is not a hanging pot approach, I find that the lava rock method is useful for creating stations of various heights and temperatures in the fireplace. The simplest way to experiment is to start with small, fist-sized chunks of lava in one pile of about 8-12 cubic inches in the center of the empty fireplace. Make sure your lava is bone dry. Place the firewood and non-chemical starter (i.e. fire starter sticks or paper) on the outside of the rock pile. The fire will heat up the lava as the wood burns. You can cook with your pot on the lava rock pile or use larger lava chunks to make a tripod or ring. The lava holds the heat and creates an even heating surface (conduction) or a radiant heat source for slow cooking by surrounding a lidded cast iron pot with the rock. A fireplace shovel and relaxed attitude are essential. Have sand ready for safety. Never pour water on hot lava (unless you're in a sauna) as it will produce intense steam.
Have fun!

Hi John;
As I suspected those pot hangers "called a crane" are not cheap!
But they would be the original tool to use for early american cooking.
In case your suddenly looking to spend $  heres a link.   https://www.amazon.com/Minuteman-International-MC-18-Fireplace-18-Inch/dp/B0006Q4IBK?pd_rd_w=dc69h&pf_rd_p=07442e57-5bbc-4b36-bdb2-92a5

Hi Thomas,

The price is up there.....but, concept wise they make sense.  There is a guy who works in iron me.  If I showed him the picture, he would do it for less than half and feel guilty that he took me.

As I consider this, I am thinking about running a 1 inch pipe just under the draft.  I could then mount it on either side with a floor flange.  A couple of chains with hooks could work for a height adjustment.    Add the trivet for skillets, and I should have all I need.

You know John;
If you have a metal worker friend.
I would seriously consider having him make one.
The ability to swing a heavy pot out away from the flames would be very handy...
The pipe and chain idea is a good one also.
Have both!