Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC]
Minecraft is all about creativity and efficiency, and sometimes the smallest tweaks make the biggest difference. The Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] mod does exactly that by turning the humble campfire into a fully functional smelting station. No more waiting for a furnace when you are out exploring or just starting a new world. This add-on lets you smelt ores, glass, and more right on a campfire, streamlining your early-game progression and adding a touch of realism to your survival experience.
What Is Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC]?
At its core, this mod expands the functionality of the standard campfire. Normally, campfires can only cook food items like raw meat or fish. With Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC], you can toss raw ores, sand, and other smeltable materials onto a campfire and watch them transform into ingots, glass, and more. It is a simple concept that was originally popularized in modpacks like All the Mods 6, and now it is available as a standalone add-on for both Forge and Fabric loaders.
The mod supports a wide range of smeltable items: coal, iron, redstone, gold, lapis lazuli, diamond, emerald, quartz, and sand (for glass). Instead of crafting a furnace and waiting for fuel to burn, you can set up a campfire anywhere and start smelting immediately. This is especially useful in the early game when resources are scarce and every iron ingot counts.
How to Install Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC]
Installing this mod is straightforward, but there are a few version-specific requirements to keep in mind. For Minecraft 1.19.2 and newer, you will need the Architectury API as a dependency. This API ensures smooth compatibility across both Forge and Fabric environments. Older versions of the mod may not require it, but always check the mod page for the exact dependencies for your Minecraft version.
Installation on Forge
To get Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] for Minecraft on Forge, first make sure you have the correct Forge loader installed for your game version. Then, download the mod file and the Architectury API (if needed) and place both into your mods folder. Launch the game, and you are ready to start smelting ores on any campfire.
Installation on Fabric
Fabric users will need the Fabric Loader and Fabric API. After that, the process is identical: download Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] along with Architectury API for versions 1.19.2 and above, drop them into the mods folder, and enjoy. If you are using a launcher like foxygame.net, you can find Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] in its curated add-on catalog, where one-click installation and automatic version matching take the guesswork out of modding. The launcher also keeps the mod updated, so you never miss a compatibility patch.
Supported Ores and Smelting Recipes
The mod adds campfire recipes for a variety of materials, making it a versatile tool for any survival world. Here is a quick list of what you can smelt:
- Coal Ore → Coal
- Iron Ore → Iron Ingot
- Gold Ore → Gold Ingot
- Redstone Ore → Redstone Dust
- Lapis Lazuli Ore → Lapis Lazuli
- Diamond Ore → Diamond
- Emerald Ore → Emerald
- Nether Quartz Ore → Quartz
- Sand → Glass
All these recipes work exactly like a furnace but use the campfire's cooking mechanic. Simply right-click the campfire with the raw material, and it will begin smelting. The process takes the same amount of time as cooking food on a campfire, so you can smelt up to four items simultaneously by placing them in each slot.
Why Use Campfire Smelting?
There are several practical reasons to add this mod to your game. First, it saves fuel. Campfires run on wood or coal, but they burn indefinitely once lit, unlike furnaces that require constant refueling. This makes campfire smelting a renewable and low-effort alternative, especially in the early game when coal is better used for torches. Second, it is portable. You can break a campfire with any tool (or your fist) and carry it with you, setting up a temporary smelting station wherever you go. This is perfect for long mining trips where you want to process ores on the spot to free up inventory space.
Third, it adds a layer of immersion. Watching ores glow and transform into ingots over an open flame feels more natural than stuffing them into a stone box. The mod integrates seamlessly with vanilla aesthetics, so your campfire still looks like a campfire, just with a new purpose.
Compatibility and Modpack Use
Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] is designed to be lightweight and compatible with most other mods. It does not alter core game mechanics beyond adding campfire recipes, so it should work alongside popular mods like JEI, REI, and even large modpacks. The author explicitly allows inclusion in any modpack, so feel free to bundle it into your custom pack or server setup. For version 3.0.0 and above, the Architectury API requirement ensures that the mod functions identically on both Forge and Fabric, eliminating loader-specific bugs.
If you are running a modpack on a server, all players will need to have the mod installed client-side to see the custom smelting recipes, but the server-side installation handles the logic. The mod is also compatible with other campfire-related mods, though you should test for recipe conflicts if another mod adds similar functionality.
Performance and Updates
Because the mod only adds a few recipes and no new blocks or entities, it has virtually no impact on performance. It is safe to add or remove from existing worlds, though removing it will cause any items currently smelting on a campfire to pop off as raw materials. The mod receives regular updates to support the latest Minecraft versions, and the developer is active in addressing issues. When you download Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC], always grab the version that matches your game and loader to avoid crashes.
Final Thoughts
Campfire Smelting [FORGE & FABRIC] is a small but impactful mod that fills a logical gap in vanilla Minecraft. It rewards players who take the time to craft a campfire with a convenient, fuel-free smelting method that works anywhere. Whether you are a seasoned modder or just looking for a quality-of-life improvement, this add-on is a must-have. The dual support for Forge and Fabric means almost everyone can enjoy it, and the open modpack policy makes it a safe choice for server admins. Light up a campfire, toss in your ores, and watch your inventory fill with ingots—smelting has never been this simple.