Dutch Oven Cooking

[rmkrum]

Typically we used a galvanized steel round oil change pan (dedicated only to Dutch oven use) set on concrete blocks to protect the ground. It also makes it easy to dispose of cold ash when done. The Dutch oven legs sit solid in the pan, and with a very long set of stainless steel restaurant tongs it’s easy to move the charcoal around to load under and over the oven. Makes for a tidy campsite as well, and is bulky, but light to carry.

[Hittenstiehl]

Rmkrum I like that oil pan idea. When there is a dedicated campfire ring we use that however when there isn't, even though we clean up the ashes, I still don't like leaving the gray spot behind.

[rmkrum]

Yup. We emphasize “leave no trace” principles. Was a Boy Scout Adult Leader for many years, and that is one of the principles we taught, internalized, and now do as a matter of course. Carrying a few bricks to keep the pan off the ground also helps avoid scorch marks.

Raised three very successful boys, all Eagle Scouts. They still think like that...

[Tom Nugler]

Originally Posted by Len n Jeanne

Tom, I picked up one that sounds like yours at a garage sale. I think you can use it over the coals on a grill surface....

That's the idea. This park has vented 3 foot square fire pits with adjustable, flip-over grates on the back third. Perfect for open fire or briquette cooking. The pit will easily hold 4 pieces of cookware
As to the kind of pot there's a nearly identical one on eBay now.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CAST-IRON-SHORT-DUTCH-OVEN-8-WITH-LID-HANDLE-HEAVY-10-1-4-MADE-IN-USA/232763309834?hash=item3631c63f0a:g:WaoAAOSwomVa80l 3
Lodge refers to the ovens with legs as Camp Dutch Ovens and the inter webs like the term Dutch Oven for any covered pot with a wire bail. Probably plenty of regional variations on the names.
I'm also bringing 4 pans/skillets from 12 to 6 inches. Got to have all the bases covered.

Tom

[LBelle]

As a long time Dutch Oven user I know it is heresy to say but the legs are not really that important! in a "normal" campfire the legs sink right into the ground, or too the ground, and do not hover above the coals...maybe if they were 3" in length but otherwise they do very little. Though I have not ground them off of any of my 5 DOs though it would make storing and carrying them a bit easier. That said, I think rmkum's oil pan is great - that will provide the legs with something solid to stand upon plus it is safer and cleaner.

[rmkrum]

Must admit the oil drain pan is not my original idea. Many of the units I worked with in San Diego, China Lake, and Huntsville, Alabama used this method. And I suspect no one remembers who came up with it first. We used to constantly swap and swipe good ideas from each other. [emoji3][emoji3][emoji3]

[OTRA15]

Interesting new Lodge setup which is part DO and part flat iron/meat griddle:

[click on orange arrow to go directly to this post in the Cast Iron thread]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Picked up this Lodge Cook it All recently. Large and heavy but such a great one pot supper holder and quite versatile.Attachment 372760Attachment 372761

Thanks for the heads up on this.

[Foiled Again]

Made me hungry!

[Boxite]

Dutch ovens WITH legs are intended for actual fire-use. Dutch ovens without legs are intended for stove-top use. \
Those WITH legs also have rims on their lids to contain the coals. Those without legs, not intended for use with fire, have ordinary rounded lids since they are not expected to be used with coals.

I have both types and use them for their designed purposes.... legs for campfires....no-legs for home or stovetop (or oven) use.

[OTRA15]

FYI a new post in the Cast Iron thread, with a link for an interesting DO horseshoe trivet which comes with both long and short legs for use with different fires:

[click on orange arrow in quote to see the full post]

Originally Posted by OTRA15

Just came across Kent Rollins's site and YT videos:

https://kentrollins.com/
Cast iron: https://kentrollins.com/category/cast-iron/
Weekly shows: https://www.youtube.com/cowboykentrollins
Horseshoe trivet in store: https://kentrollins.com/shop-1/Horse...ivet-p84994751
. . .

Happy trails,

[OTRA15]

FYI a new thread which includes some Dutch Oven discussions:

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f42...et-207352.html

Happy New Year,

[Hittenstiehl]

Short ribs, veggies, potatoes and rutabaga.

[Lily&Me]

Yum!

Maggie

[Lily&Me]

This thread has not had any attention in a very long time, and I decided this little item on Oprah’s Favorite Things 2023 list warranted a post.

An apparently purpose built bread oven by Le Creuset, at the bargain price of $300.

It comes in girly colors, too.

Nice to see that Dutch Oven Bread, peasant food at its best, IMHO, has found the rich and famous.

[Bunker]

That sure is a fancy Dutch oven. I find my enameled ones don’t appreciate the torture of 500*. Good old cast iron sure does the trick!

I find handing warm bread to my neighbors buys me an extra day or so parking in the driveway before the complaints roll in.

[Lily&Me]

It is fancy, and it comes in really pretty colors.

I did see it online elsewhere for about half that price, but I prefer my Lodge cast iron and other old pots to them newfangled ones any day.

And who doesn’t love fresh bread?

Maggie

[jcl]

We'd like a cloche for our bread baking but not this one. The handle on top makes the upper half a single purpose item. The Lodge bread baker has a flat top, which can be used inverted as a braising pan. Saves carrying twice as many (heavy) items.

We prefer using a pizza stone to bake bread on, as it is easier to load the dough into, and we want to just buy the cloche (cover) to use on the pizza stone.

Serious Eats reviewed this item and recommended against it.

https://www.seriouseats.com/le-creus...review-5272499