Dutch Oven

 


 A Dutch oven makes cooking outside feel as if you were at home using a normal oven.  Made out of aluminum or cast iron like a skillet, these outdoor cooking pots perform like no other.     

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  1. Their design lets you heat from the top and the bottom at the same time.
  2. Three legs to the bottom help balance the pot in the coals.
  3. A lip around the outside edge of the lid helps hold charcoal on its top, and keeps coal dust from falling into the Dutch oven when opened.
  4. The thick wall designed and bottom helps disperse the heat.
The ideal method for cooking is to heat the charcoal and place the Dutch oven on top of it.  Then cover the lid with a shovel full of charcoal.  This creates heat evenly.

A newly obtained Dutch Oven needs to be initially seasoned by cooking an oily or high fat content food such as bacon or sausage.  This procedure will help make the inside surface as stick resistant as Teflon coated pans.  Repeat this several times when the Dutch Oven is new.  To clean the Dutch oven, use plain water with as little soap as necessary to remove foodstuffs.  Dry completely and store in a clean place.  Do not leave the lid on tight, as it may start to rust on the inside.  It is best to apply a light coat of cooking oil to the Dutch oven after cleaning.

A Dutch Oven can be hung from a tripod or placed on a grate over a fire.  Soups, stews and beans cook the best in this manner this because the heat can be controlled better by raising or lowering the position of the Dutch oven.  Setting the Dutch Oven in the coals keeps the heat high for larger meals such as roasts, chicken and fish.  There are many recipe books for Dutch Oven cooking.  Some of the best copies come from local Boy Scout Troops.


Breads, cakes and desserts can also be made in a Dutch oven.  Some of the best cobblers ever made have been baked in a Dutch oven.  A box cake mix and some pie filler will satisfy any camper’s sweet tooth in the outdoors.  The next time you plan a group or family outing, find a Dutch Oven that fits your needs for some real homemade tastes.