

You can even use it on a camp stove like a regular pot, provided that legs fit through the grate. Since it’s made entirely from cast iron, there’s nothing that can melt or warp.

You can also use a Dutch oven as a heavy-duty, fire-resistant pot and place it over a campfire. So, you will want to have more coals on top of the lid than you will have underneath your Dutch oven. Cast iron does a great job of radiating heat, so by heating from the top and the bottom, you evenly distribute the heat through the inside.ĭue to the insulating properties of the ground, you will find you need proportionally much more heat coming from the top than from the bottom. (Similar to setting the temperature on your home oven) This is achieved by placing hot coals or embers underneath the Dutch oven and on top of the lid. There are lots of different ways to cook with a Dutch oven, but here are the most common.įor baking, you want to create an even ambient temperature inside the Dutch oven. ↠ Lodge 12” 8 qt (deep): This is a deeper and wider Dutch oven that is great for making larger quantities of soups and stews. ↠ Lodge 12” 6 qt (shallow): A slightly wider version, this Dutch oven is ideal for 4-6 people. It’s relatively inexpensive, comes pre-seasoned, and is great for somebody just getting into Dutch oven cooking. ↠ Lodge 10” 4 qt: This Dutch oven is the size and dimension as the one that we own. Shallow Dutch ovens are the most versatile option and are best for baking, while deep Dutch ovens are best for making large amounts of soups, stews, or anything else with a lot of liquid. Coals or embers can be placed underneath and on top of the lid, allowing you to heat from both sides.Ĭamping Dutch ovens also come in two different depths. Unlike a home Dutch oven, which has a flat bottom and sealed in enamel, a camping Dutch oven is made entirely from cast iron, has support legs on the bottom, and comes with a flat flanged lid. This recipe for braised short ribs is foolproof and yields restaurant-quality results.Certain Dutch ovens are made specifically for camping.
Dutch oven recipes full#
They’re full of flavor and become melt-in-your-mouth tender when cooked low and slow. Short ribs are the perfect cut of meat for braising. Remember, save these recipes in ClipDish so you’ll have them when you’re ready to cook. To show you just how versatile it is, here are 10 Dutch oven recipes (including the aforementioned Peposo) that will show just how useful a Dutch oven can be. No matter what Dutch oven size you choose, one thing is for sure: this versatile pot is sure to become a beloved part of your kitchen repertoire. And if you’re really tight on space, a two-quart Dutch oven is just the right size. For everyday cooking or smaller gatherings, a four-quart Dutch oven will do the trick. If you’re planning on using your Dutch oven for one-pot meals or large gatherings, a six-quart Dutch oven is a good option (which is what I chose). So what’s the perfect Dutch oven size? The answer depends on your needs. Too large, and your Dutch oven will take up half of your kitchen cabinet space. Too small, and you’ll be stuck cooking for a crowd in batches. When it comes to choosing a Dutch oven, size is an important consideration. But whether you’re looking for a high-end Dutch oven, like the famous Le Creuset version, or a more affordable option, there are plenty of options out there. I have several other Lodge products, so I already trusted the brand. Ultimately, I ended up buying a Lodge Dutch oven for under $80. One of the reasons I held out on buying a Dutch oven for so long was because I thought they were too expensive. That means you can make a one-pot dish with plenty of space for anything you want to toss in there. Unlike regular pots, you can also toss a Dutch oven right into the regular oven. The magic of a Dutch oven is that it promotes even heat distribution and retention. Of course, there’s also the Urban Dictionary version, but we’re talking about cooking here. What is a Dutch oven and why do you need one?Ī Dutch oven is a heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid that can be used for searing, braising, roasting, or baking. So I cast my doubts aside and went out to buy a Dutch oven so we could feast on Peposo for dinner that night. It’s a rustic Tuscan beef dish made with wine that one of my favorite YouTube home cooks, Jim from Sip and Feast, featured on his channel. But sheesh, they’re expensive and heavy and they take up a lot of cabinet space (and we have a teeny tiny kitchen). Every now and then I would see a recipe that called for one and I would wonder if I should get one. It took me four years to finally decide to buy a Dutch oven.
