What are cast iron Dutch ovens best for?

Made from enameled cast iron, this versatile pot is meant for braising, deep-frying, baking, or roasting , and does each task perfectly.

What is the difference between a Dutch oven and a cast iron Dutch oven?

Well-seasoned cast irons are one of the most non-stick cookware when exposed to intense heat. They are great at absorbing heat and can distribute it effectively while locking in flavors and juices. Enameled Dutch ovens are, unfortunately, not non-stick . You will need to use oil or water on the surface when cooking.

Do you wash a cast iron Dutch oven?

Scrape out all of the food and wash your Camp Dutch Oven by hand with hot water . You can use a small amount of mild detergent. Dry your Camp Dutch Oven and lid thoroughly with paper or cloth towels. While the cookware is warm, rub a very light layer of cooking oil or our seasoning spray onto the surface.

What shouldn't you cook in cast iron?

5 Things You Shouldn't Cook in a Cast-Iron Skillet Eggs. Fish. Desserts. Acidic Foods. Potent Ingredients. Sep 13, 2023

What is the best oil for a Dutch oven?

Olive oil is particularly good for Dutch ovens. Usually folks aren't using their ovens as much as skillets and some seasoning can become rancid. Olive oil won't do that because it's like the old timers used to say to me, “Olive oil will keep that cast iron sweet.”

Can you put butter in a cast iron skillet?

Yes, you can season the pans for frying, sautéing, or baking in cast iron cookware like pans, pots, or skillets with butter , but it's not the right choice to season it for the first time. Butter immediately starts to smoke when added to a heated pan because cast iron can withstand a lot of heat.

What is a Dutch oven fart?

A Dutch oven is a slang term for lying in bed with another person and pulling the covers over the person's head while flatulating, thereby creating an unpleasant situation in an enclosed space . This is done as a prank or by accident to one's sleeping partner.

Is a cast iron Dutch oven worth it?

Its cast-iron walls are better at retaining heat than stainless steel, which helps keep temperatures more stable . It also redistributes that heat efficiently, so the oil can rebound quickly after temperatures drop when food is added.

What are 8 reasons to use a Dutch oven?

What Is a Dutch Oven Used For? Bread. One of the easiest (and more surprising) ways to use a Dutch oven is actually for breaking bread. ... Casseroles and Lasagnas. ... Skillet Cookies. ... Chicken Stock. ... Frying. ... Braised Meats. ... Roasting. ... Poaching Chicken. More items... Oct 27, 2022

Why Le Creuset is so expensive?

When you buy from Le Creuset, you're paying for high-quality pots and pans that are designed to stand the test of time . Rather than aluminum or stainless steel, Le Creuset craft their pieces from cast iron, which has a much higher heat capacity.

How much should I pay for a Dutch oven?

A 6-quart enamel-coated Dutch oven costs less than $100 , and their seasoned Dutch ovens and camp stoves are even more affordable. You can score a 5-quart Dutch oven for just over $50 and a camp stove for $79.95. For an enamel-coated 5½-quart Dutch oven from Milo, you'll pay $135.

Which is better cast iron or enameled cast iron?

The moral of the story here is that enameled cast iron is the best because it's incredibly versatile, amazingly durable, and easy to clean. But there's one thing it's not: nonstick.

What's the point of a Dutch oven?

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven . It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (2024)

Cast iron Dutch oven recipes, along with a cast iron Dutch oven, are essentials to have on hand should the power go off.

They're also useful if you're moving toward an off-the-grid lifestyle, or if you are simply looking for ways to keep your house cooler in the summer.

These are turbulent days we are living in, and it's wise to be prepared. While we may not be struck by an EMP, the collapse of the dollar very well may happen, and although we should not live in fear, preparing for an emergency can avoid needless suffering and trauma and provide you with peace of mind.

So learning to cook outdoors is not only a great idea, it's essential for self-sufficient living.And there is no group out there who are greater masters of outdoorcooking than the Boy Scouts. Their motto is "Be Prepared", and they arecertainly prepared when it comes to outdoor cooking and cast iron Dutchoven recipes.

Camp Dutch Oven Photo courtesy of Amazon.

Unlike cooking with a solar oven, which takes a lot of time and practice, cooking outdoors with cast iron cookware is much easier and faster. And the food was amazing. I have never made such moist cornbread, and the soup cooked up really quickly.

Good Resource for
Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes

My favorite collection of cast iron Dutch oven recipes is The Scout's Outdoor Cookbook by Christine and Tim Conners.

Not only does it have a lot of great recipes, but it also has essentialinformation on how many charcoal briquettes you need to reach a certaincooking temperature as well as ratings on recipes from easy to moderateto more difficult.

My favorite Dutch Oven cookbook.

What You Need

Obviously cast iron cookware and especially a camp Dutch oven is anexcellent choice for preparing your cast iron Dutch oven recipes. Lodgehas a very good, reasonably priced Dutch oven.

You can also use a cast iron combo cooker such as this one, although you will also need a lid stand (you can see one here) to lift the cookware up so you can set coals underneath. A Dutch oven lid lifter (see one here) is also very handy to have.

Lodge has a very good, reasonably priced Dutch Oven. Find one here.

You will also need charcoal briquettes. While you can use wood coals, briquettes are easier to light and make for more accurate cooking. Plus they're inexpensive especially if you buy them in bulk, so consider adding two or three bags of these to your disaster preparedness list.

Plus, a charcoal briquette starter is essential. (You can see one here). They don't cost much and they are very easy to use and eliminate the need for toxic charcoal fluid lighter. Just pack crumpled paper in the bottom of the starter and place the charcoal briquettes on top. Light the paper, and the briquettes will be going in less than 10 minutes.

Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes

Ready to start cooking? This recipe is easy to make and like all the recipes in this book is very, very good.

Scout Camp Carnitas
(from the Scout's Outdoor Cookbook)

Ingredients:

3 pounds boneless shoulder pork
1 cup of flour
1 tablespoon of powdered chili pepper
1 teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of ground oregano
1 teaspoon of garlic powder
1/2 cup of lard
24 tortillas
Refried beans
Salsa
Sour Cream

Cut the pork into 1-inch cubes. Then blend the flour, chili pepper, salt, oregano and garlic powder into a large mixing bowl. Add the pork to the flour mix and coat well.

Place 15 briquettes under your Dutch oven and melt the lard. Add the floured meat mixture and fry it, stirring occasionally until the pork is cooked through and tender, about 30-40 minutes depending on how hot your coals are. Don't let a hard crust form over the carnitas. This recipe serves 10-12 people.

Serve with tortillas refried beans, salsa and sour cream.

Want to Make Bread?

Yes, breads can also be a part of your cast iron Dutch oven recipes. Here's my cornbread recipe.

Ingredients:

1 cup of flour
3/4 cup of cornmeal

OR...

3/4 cup of whole wheat berries and 1/2 cup of popcorn, ground together in your grain mill

ALONG WITH...

1 tablespoon of baking powder
1 teaspoon of salt
1 egg
1 cup of milk
1/3 cup of oil

Grease the bottom and sides of your Dutch oven. Mix together the dry ingredients and then in a large measuring cup, mix together the milk, egg and oil. Add the liquid ingredients to the dry ingredients and pour into your greased Dutch oven.

Place the Dutch oven on 17 lit coals and then cover with an additional eight coals. Bake for about 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. This recipe serves six to eight people.

Learn More About Frugal Cooking

Learn More About Being Prepared

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Cast Iron Dutch Oven Recipes (2024)