About Dutch Ovens

One of my favorite ways to cook outdoors is with a Dutch oven, and you’ll find several recipes, pointers, and how-to's about them in this blog. Dutch ovens may be new to many readers, and so I've created this page to give you a few of the basics on Dutch ovens and how to use them.

 

Dutch ovens: sizes, shapes, and construction

Not all Dutch ovens are created equal. If you're planning to cook outdoors with one, there are a few things you need to look for in choosing yours.

Cast iron or aluminum - I use only cast iron Dutch ovens. Although they are heavier than aluminum, the added mass helps the oven distribute heat more effectively as well as retaining heat better, which is very important when cooking with unpredictable outdoor heat.  If you're using your oven in the back country where you'll be carrying it and weight is important, you may prefer aluminum. Because you don't season them, aluminum Dutch ovens can be cleaned with soap, which would be detrimental to their iron counterparts. Famed Dutch oven master Woody Woodruff was known for his passion for aluminum Dutch ovens, and for his invention of a rectangular, rather than circular, aluminum Dutch oven.
Legs - Legs get the bottom of your Dutch oven off the ground so you can put coals underneath for heat. It's important that the legs be long enough to leave room for both coals and airflow. If you cook over an open fire on a hook this may be less important. If you're not sure how you'll heat your oven, having the legs doesn't hurt. One of my least favorite aspects of the Dutch ovens from Cabelas are the shortness of their legs.
Rimmed lid - Whether you cook with coals or on a hook, a rimmed lid is important because they allow you to put coals on top of the oven for top heat.  This is a big part of what makes a Dutch oven an oven instead of just a pot. Some Dutch ovens have a domed lid that's fine if you plan to use it inside a traditional oven or gas grill instead of over an open fire.
Figuring out sizes - Traditionally we refer to Dutch oven sizes by the lid diameter. A #12 (number 12) has a 12 inch lid, a #14 has a 14 inch lid, and so on.

Deep dish vs. regular - Dutch ovens come in deep and regular sizes. I only use deep dish ovens because you can do anything you would do in a standard oven in a deep oven, but the reverse is not true.

Quarts - Very often you'll find a Dutch oven labeled with the number of quarts it holds. A #12 deep dish Dutch oven holds 8 quarts, whereas a #14 deep dish holds 12 quarts.

Pre-seasoned vs. unseasoned - All cast iron Dutch ovens must be seasoned before use. These days there are a wide variety of pre-seasoned ovens available including those from Lodge and Cabelas. I like to season them myself, and plan to write a future post about that, but for many who want to get out and start cooking right away a pre-seasoned oven is best. Bear in mind, however, that you will need to periodically touch up the seasoning on your oven, so you still need to know the proper way to season cast Iron.

 

Sizes: choosing the best for you

So you've decided to get a Dutch oven, but you're not sure which size to choose?  I understand that one so well that I have multiple sizes because I couldn't decide!

There are a number of things to consider when choosing your first Dutch oven, including:

• What you're cooking.
• How many you're cooking for.
• Portability.

Most people will be get started with their Dutch ovens cooking one-pot meals like for 4-8 (or perhaps for fewer people) in their backyard and camping out of their car.  For these people, a #12 deep dish (8 qt.) oven offers the greatest versatility.

A #14 deep dish Dutch oven is useful for larger groups and for meals where the added space is important, such as making pizza or roasting chickens.

I use my #10 deep dish oven most rarely: typically only for desserts or side dishes for just the family.  You can squeeze some one-pot meals into them, though, so if you already have one of these, give it a go!

 

A few important Dutch oven accessories

 

There are some accessories you should have with your Dutch oven to facilitate cooking if you're planning to use it outdoors on an open fire or with briquettes. These include:

A lid lifter - This is an absolute MUST. The best grip the lid firmly and hold it tightly while keeping your hands clear of hot coals. My favorite is the model pictured at right distributed by V-R Enterprises. It comes in a 12" size which works great on my steel cooking table and a 24" size that gives me some added reach when cooking on the ground.
Small shovel - When cooking with a Dutch oven outdoors, you're going to want to put coals on top and generally move your fire around. A small shovel such as a military surplus folding entrenchment tool, or perhaps a compact fireplace ash shovel is indispensable.
A lid rest - You'll need to put your lid down occasionally to check whatever you're cooking for done-ness, to stir, or to serve. While you can rest your lid on any heat resistant surface, one of these folding lid rests can be easily carried with your oven so it's always handy.
Mitts - Most of the time you won't want to handle your oven directly, even with an insulated mitt, while cooking. However you will want to handle it while it's still hot for cleaning, serving and so on. A good heavy duty pair of oven mitts is indispensable.

 

Some other "nice to have" Dutch oven accessories

 

There are a few other accessories that I've accumulated over the years that are very handy, but not necessarily indispensable:

• Carry bag - Dutch ovens are heavy and cast iron is brittle. A bag will make the oven easier to carry and ensure that your lid doesn’t fall off and crack. Of course, it also keeps your oven clean while during transport.
• Dedicated cleaning brush – Soap removes the black coating (seasoning) from your Dutch oven. You’ll want to clean it with very hot water and a stiff brush that doesn't have residual soap on it.
• Liner paper – I use this a lot. It makes the cleanup process easier and also can make it easier to remove baked goods like bread and cakes from your oven.
• A steel cook table - What can I say? Why bend over to cook when you can stand? If you use your oven a lot this nice-to-have accessory will make Dutch oven cooking a more enjoyable experience. It’s definitely a luxury, though!