Many experienced campers can testify to the usefulness of the Dutch oven. The camping Dutch oven is a little different from the Dutch oven you might use at home. This camping oven can be used over a fire, with a tripod, or set right down in the coals. The Dutch oven has been around for hundreds of years and has been used for cooking over an open fire by soldiers, cowboys and pioneers traveling out west. Now, Dutch oven camping books and recipes make this unique appliance a must for any camping enthusiast.
The camping Dutch oven is usually made of cast iron and has three short legs on the bottom to keep the oven up off the coals for hot air to circulate underneath. It has a strong handle to hold the camping oven over the fire on a tripod and to pick it up when food is done cooking. The Dutch oven can be from 3 to 9 inches deep and 5 to 22 inches in diameter. Keep in mind that the camping oven is already heavy and will be heavier when filled with food. A Dutch camping oven can be purchased already seasoned or you may to have season it yourself. Seasoning creates a barrier on the surface of the cast iron which prevents food from sticking. You can season a Dutch camping oven by wiping the inside with vegetable oil and “baking” it in the oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. The Lodge Camp Dutch Oven is an example of a pre-seasoned 8 quart camping oven. Its lid can also be used as a griddle.
A quality Dutch Oven that will cook you the food you want after a long day of camping.
Taking care of your camping Dutch oven is important. You want to get many years of use from it. Never use soap on your Dutch camping oven. Always clean it well with hot water and a stiff brush and dry well with a clean cloth. Wipe down the Dutch oven with vegetable oil after dried and also before you use it the next time. This is vital to keeping rust from forming on the Dutch camping oven. In addition, you should avoid cooking highly acidic foods in your camping oven until it has been used for a few times. Acidic foods can break down the seasoning on the Dutch camping oven. There are Dutch oven camping accessories you can also buy. There are racks and pans you can use inside the camping oven. There are lid lifters and heavy duty gloves you can buy for moving the camping Dutch oven from the fire to table. There is also the tripod you can purchase for hanging your camping oven over the fire. Dutch oven camping tips can be found on many camping websites.
There is an art to camping Dutch oven recipes. You can make complete meals in a Dutch oven or you can separate different parts of a meal with racks in the camping Dutch oven. You can roast, stew, simmer, bake, and even deep fry in a Dutch oven. Dutch oven camping recipes can be found on many internet sites. “The Outdoor Dutch Oven Cookbook” is an excellent resource for finding camping Dutch oven recipes. This book details recipes specifically for camp cooking. One easy example of Dutch oven recipes for camping is Cowboy Stew. You simply heat up the camping Dutch oven, brown ground beef with some chopped onion and toss in whatever canned or fresh vegetables you like including potatoes, corn, black beans, carrots, and maybe some diced tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper or other spices you might enjoy. It is a simple and delicious one pot meal.
The Dutch oven camping oven is so easy to use you might find yourself using it as the only cooking appliance on your camping adventures. It is easy to take care of and the recipes are unlimited. You can make camping Dutch oven recipes the staple of your menu. It is a rustic method of preparing appealing and healthy meals while you’re away from home.