I refer in my “easiest bread ever for camping and home” to a camping, or outdoor, Dutch oven. I’ll talk today about how indoor and outdoor Dutch ovens differ from each other in appearance and use. First, I’d like to sing the praises of cooking equipment that looks like it belongs in a shop inJ.K. Rowling’s Diagon Alley rather than in a modern kitchen.
I am a big fan of cast iron because of its durability and health benefits. My oldest piece of cast iron is probably my 1883 frying pan from Cleveland Stove Company, although I have a few unlabeled pieces that I suspect may be older. Well kept for a century and a quarter, the cast iron delivers the same great service for me as it did for my great-great grandparents. Cast iron has never been implicated in any adverse health conditions (unlike aluminum, plastics, etc.). It even delivers an iron boost to you as you cook in it and foods absorb small amounts. For these reasons, I believe cast iron is a frugal, healthy choice.
Cast iron comes in many sizes and shapes, including today’s subject, Dutch ovens. Dutch ovens are pots with nipped handles and specialized lids. I’m picturing two Dutch ovens here. The one on the left is a typical Dutch oven for use inside. The one on the right is for use with charcoal, although you could use it inside in a standard oven or on a gas stovetop.
Let’s look at how the indoor and outdoor versions differ. First look at the bottoms. The indoor Dutch oven has no legs. You can easily use it on a stove top or in a standard household oven. Now look at the outdoor Dutch oven. It has legs that are designed to keep it just above coals, preventing direct contact with the heat and permitting oxygen to get to the coals.
Let’s move on to the lids. The indoor Dutch oven lid is domedon top. It also has spikesthat are supposed to transfer juices back into roasts, basting the meat.
The outdoor Dutch oven lid has a raised rim on a relatively flat top. This construction allows you to pile coals on the top as well as the bottom, letting you create a standard oven effect wherever you can collect coals from a fire or burn charcoal. The underside of the lid is flat too, so you can flip it over and use it as a griddle.
Both of the Dutch ovens pictured here are from my favorite cast iron manufacturer,Lodge in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee, and both are the same size: 8 inches in diameter and 3 inches deep. Lodge calls them 2-quart Dutch ovens, but you should only plan on filling half way for breads and cakes that rise. These 8-inch Dutch ovens are ideal for today’s family, holding easily two chicken quarters with fixings, a good number of servings of soup or stew, a small loaf ofmy variation of easy-fix yeast bread, etc.(I’ll talk in future blogs about recipes for home and camp.)
Thanks to combining two households of Dutch oven lovers, two competitors in Dutch oven contests (and a few wins), and a general appreciation of Dutch ovens, my family has a variety of Dutch ovens in size, shape, and construction material. Today I’ll stick to talking about cast iron. Lodge’s largest Dutch oven holds 12 quarts and is 16 inches in diameter. Lodge’s smallest, pictured here next to one of the 8-inch ovens, is 5 inches. It’s cute, but beyond that I’d say you can live without it.
Next we have a Dutch oven from (shhhhhhh) China, shown on the right. Something tells me J.K. had this kind of Dutch oven in mind when she wrote aboutPercy Weasley’s obsession with inferior, imported, thin-bottomed cauldrons. This Chinese-manufactured Dutch oven has skimpy legs and thin walls. I’ve used it successfully, but you really have to watch it to make sure it does not burn. Can you figure out if it’s for indoor or camping use? Yep, camping.
Do you have questions about cast iron or Dutch ovens? Post here and I’ll answer what I can.
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FAQs
Designed for outdoor cooking, our cast iron Camp Dutch Oven has a flat bottom with three small legs that hold the pot above the heat source. This allows for air to circulate. The lid has a flanged outer edge and a handle for easy lifting. The oven also has a bail handle to lift it off the coals or hang off a tripod.
What is the difference between a Dutch oven and a camping Dutch oven? ›
The indoor Dutch oven has no legs. You can easily use it on a stove top or in a standard household oven. Now look at the outdoor Dutch oven. It has legs that are designed to keep it just above coals, preventing direct contact with the heat and permitting oxygen to get to the coals.
What is the meaning of Dutch oven? ›
What is a Dutch Oven? The Dutch Oven (also known as the French Oven or Cocotte) is a thick-walled cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid that can be used for a number of recipes.
What is a cast iron Dutch oven? ›
A Dutch oven is a thick-walled, lidded pot.
This type of sturdy cooking vessel has been used for centuries to slow-cook soups, stews, sauces, and breads. Dutch ovens come in cast iron, enameled, aluminum, and ceramic varieties. Traditionally, though, they're made with seasoned cast iron.
What is the point of a Dutch oven? ›
Dutch ovens look like stockpots but have wider bases and slightly shorter but thicker walls that allow for better browning and caramelization of ingredients and retain heat well, as well as doubling as serving pieces that keep food warm on the table.
What to cook in cast iron Dutch oven camping? ›
Think: simmering soups, steaming rice, boiling water for pasta, etc. Sear, pan-fry, sautee: A camping Dutch oven is also a great stand-in for a cast-iron skillet. Anything that can be cooked in a cast-iron skillet can be done in a Dutch oven too, like searing steaks, browning chicken thighs, sauteing vegetables, etc.
Is a Dutch oven worth it for camping? ›
The answer is simple – whatever is cooked in it tastes fantastic, and it cooks just about everything. The Dutch oven is also called a camp oven, outdoor oven, kitchen oven, and bean pot. The bean pot and kitchen oven are basically the same design, equipped with a rounded lid, flat bottom, and no legs.
Are Dutch ovens better than pots? ›
Dutch ovens have thicker walls and lids compared to stock pots. Dutch ovens can withstand higher temperatures and versatile cooking methods such as stovetop, high - temperature ovens, campfire cooking, and cooking with coals.
How do you tell if it's a Dutch oven? ›
Dutch Ovens tend to look like regular stock pots but with a wider base and shorter walls.
Can a Dutch oven go on a stove? ›
You can use a dutch oven on any kind of cooktop, including induction, as long as the dutch oven is cast-iron or another induction-compatible material. When you are using the dutch oven on a direct heat source, just make sure that the temperature does not get too hot and scorch it.
Because chef's ovens are often made from stainless steel or aluminum, they typically have multiple layers of metal, allowing for rapid and even heat distribution. Dutch ovens, made from cast iron or enameled cast iron, have a high thermal mass, meaning they retain heat well and provide a consistent cooking temperature.
What does "Dutch" mean? ›
Dutch means relating to or belonging to the Netherlands, or to its people, language, or culture.
Do I really need a cast iron Dutch oven? ›
“A cast-iron Dutch oven will give you better results than an Instant Pot any day,” says Lance Nitahara, an assistant professor at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, N.Y. In fact, this one pot can replace your slow cooker, stock pot, pasta pot, loaf pan, and deep fryer.
Can I use my Dutch oven like a skillet? ›
You can use a Dutch oven to cook delicious meals in a wide variety of cooking methods: Dutch ovens can sauté, simmer, braise, sear, fry, and even bake food. Not only are Dutch ovens heavy-duty; they are virtually all-purpose.
What is the heck is a Dutch oven? ›
A Dutch oven is a heavy, wide, fairly shallow pot with a tight-fitting lid. We tend to think of enameled cast iron casseroles with two small handles and a lid as the only pot that qualifies as a Dutch oven, but that isn't the case.
What temperature is a camp Dutch oven? ›
You might consider making an aluminum foil wind shield to place around your oven, but if it is that windy, I would recommend you not have an open fire. Nearly all dutch oven cooking will come out ok if your dutch oven is about 350 degrees.
How does a camp oven work? ›
A convex (or is that concave) lid on the top has a central hole. Once the gas is lit creates a flow of hot air around the sides of the camp oven, down onto the camp oven lid, then up and out the top. It even protects the gas burner and camp oven from the wind so your meals cook evenly every time.
Cast iron comes in many sizes and shapes, including today’s subject, Dutch ovens. Dutch ovens are pots with nipped handles and specialized lids. I’m picturing two Dutch ovens here. The one on the left is a typical Dutch oven for use inside. The one on the right is for use with charcoal, although you could use it inside in a standard oven or on a gas stovetop.
on top. It also has spikes
that are supposed to transfer juices back into roasts, basting the meat.
This construction allows you to pile coals on the top as well as the bottom, letting you create a standard oven effect wherever you can collect coals from a fire or burn charcoal. The underside of the lid is flat too, so you can flip it over and use it as a griddle.
It’s cute, but beyond that I’d say you can live without it.
has skimpy legs and thin walls. I’ve used it successfully, but you really have to watch it to make sure it does not burn. Can you figure out if it’s for indoor or camping use? Yep, camping.