Before we ever moved, but after we knew we were moving here, I was looking online to learn everything I could about Brownwood and found that they have a local Dutch Oven Society. I’ve never done any Dutch Oven cooking . . the kind where you use coals and do it outside, but I’ve wanted to do it. I didn’t want to go to their meetings by myself and Vince wasn’t ever really interested in going. You know how it is . . he wants good, hot food on the table but doesn’t care too much about how it gets there.
Today there’s a little festival in a neighboring town and the Dutch Oven Society was supposed to be there doing demos so I dragged Vince out there. I just kinda wanted to see it all in action and I did. “Was supposed to be there” . . therein lies the problem. They were not there! There was a real nice guy with a covered wagon and he was all set up like it probably would have been back in the wagon train days. He was getting ready to cook in a big Dutch Oven so I started talking to him and he gave me all kinds of good info. There was a blacksmith there so we bought a handle grabber thing from him. Even the Lodge brand grabbers are now made in China and folks are complaining about the quality so I as glad to get one from a fairly local blacksmith.
We came home and I ordered an 8 quart Lodge Dutch Oven:
Lodge 8 Quart Dutch Oven
And a Lodge 4 quart Dutch Oven:
Lodge 4 Quart Dutch Oven
Vince is going to build a “fire wall” of sorts to keep hot embers from flying off. We almost always have a burn ban here and the last thing I want to do is have embers blow off and start a fire. I’m looking forward to playing with the Dutch Oven.
Mary says
I love Dutch Oven cooking! It is fun and tasty! But it is a hot job, nice on a cold day though. Have fun with it!
Judy H says
Yep! I have used a dutch oven on camping trips lots of times, and I have one without feet that I use on the stove often. It’s great! All of mine are Lodge except one. That one is a little thinner, I think.
I always just used a set of pliers to take the lid off when cooking outside. The bigger problem is preparing a place to PUT the lid when you take it off. If you lay down some foil first, you’ll have a safe clean spot. I finally learned that little trick.
JudyL says
One of the tips the guy gave me was to get the grate thing off a gas stove .. the thing the burners sit on, and he said if you could find a continuous one, they’re great. We still have the gas stove we took out of the house when we got the new one so I’ll use one of those grates. It’s not too heavy and I can bring it in and out when needed.
Susan says
Oh, Judy, I was right by the Lodge store and outlet today! They are at all our prep fairs and oh, is the cooking good! They have wonderful cookbooks. My friend, Stacey, has started cooking in them, with the charcoal and all that, but I use the skillet and the ovens without the feet in the regular oven. My deck is wood, and I worry about starting a fire. It’s second floor decking, with no stairs down. I love their demonstrations, so I’m sorry your society wasn’t there today. There used to be a show on RFD called Cowboy Cooking, I think. Paul and I watched it all the time. They made amazing things!
Linda Steller says
Judy – are you friends with Deborah Johnson Poole on Facebook? She’s a quilter from Idaho (she quilts for Kim Diehl) and she and her family go camping often and she cooks in a dutch oven. You might get a few tips from her. I’ve seen pics of a few of the things she’s cooked and they look and sound very yummy.
shirley says
The last cookout my family had a guy cooked a pineapple upside down cake in one. Yummy
marilynS says
Judy, i have a Lodge frying pan and a Lodge flat bottomed Dutch Oven. Love them both. Tonight i am cooking a new recipe that is smoked sausage, potatoes, ontions, carrots, celery seed, garlic powder, s&p, chix broth, parsley(mine was fresh) and a little flour. I did it all in my LeCruset 3.5 qt pot and it is smelling great. It is so nice to finally be able to use the oven. Hope it is good. I have a few good crockpot meals/recipes to send to you that are really good
Barbara says
Interesting that you mention dutch oven cooking today.
The ‘National Dutch Oven Gathering 2013’ is taking place this weekend at DeGray Lake Resort State Park in Arkansas.
They were expecting at least a hundred different cooks with dutch ovens this weekend.
Kim Paventy says
I grew up with dutch oven cooking and my father is passing it on to my kids. We have stew biscuits and cobble every summer. This year he mixed thinfgs up and fixed everyone Mountain Man breakfast with Waffles. He’s 85 years old and fixing that breakfast was the highlight of his summer.
JudyL says
That made me smile. Memories in the making!
Deanna says
While practicing, or when under fire ban, you can use Dutch Ovens in the regular oven, too. Don’t say that to a purist, but it does work. And easier to clean up.
Dutch Ovens are a big deal here in Utah. The world championship cookoffs are held here yearly.
JudyL says
I have several dutch ovens that I already use in the oven but I think the new ones with the heavier lids and the feet would be hard to use in the oven. I bought the new pots exclusively to use outside and we’ll have plenty of time when our fire danger isn’t too high to use them outside.
Mary Ann Harpe says
My son at 21 has a Dutch oven and loves cooking with it but then he is an Eagle Scout and learned to use it with the Boy Scouts. He has even bought his own cook books. A proud mom!
Jan O says
I love my Lodge Dutch ovens. I have the 12″ diameter size, and we had the feet cut off and sanded so we can use it on the stove and in the oven. I think it holds way more than 4 quarts – that last batch of chili filled four 1-gallon freezer bags after we ate some. I also have a smaller Dutch oven that I use frequently. My son and DIL have asked for a Lodge Dutch oven for Christmas. Can’t beat cast iron cookware!
Cindy from CA says
I love Dutch Oven cooking and Lodge is the best!! I use mine mainly when we go camping. I have made bread in them, baked pies and cakes, cobblers, corn bread and stew — to name a few!
Just type in Dutch Oven cooking on Pinterest and stand back!!
Here are a few links to get you started:
http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=dutch%20oven%20cooking&rs=ac&len=10
http://stealthsurvival.blogspot.com/2011/09/diy-survival-gear-improvised-cooking.html
Jerzydeb says
I cook outside as much as possible – especially in the summer. I have some wonderful cast iron cookware that I use both inside and out. Recently my front load clothes washer went kaput, and when the Sears dude came to replace everything (still under warranty) he replaced the entire metal tub as well. He asked me if I wanted it – and I asked “For what?” He said they make the very best fire pits – just remove the plastic parts inside that keep the clothes turning – easy enough – 2 screws for each. He was right – and I am lucky enough that I ended up with 2 (UPS dented the first one they delivered) They are hard to come by though – the third Sears guy – I think he came because word got out that I had made fresh banana chocolate chip muffins for the first two guys – he really, really wanted one of the unused ones – seems like his neighbor has been bugging him for quite some time. Anyway – in case Vince comes across a used metal tub from a front loader – they make a wonderful fire pit, they keep everything contained (they are perforated so air can circulate) and you can move them if you aren’t happy with their positioning – something not so easy with a permanent fire pit !