The answer all depends on your menus.
I learned to cook in a dutch oven when I was in Boy Scouts and then used one regularly when I was involved in Rev. War military reenactments. We then camped for many years without using a dutch oven, but got one again when we were helping DW's father clean out the loft in his garage.
A dutch oven opens up a lot of menu possibilities, and not just for baking. Our son uses ours for deep frying chicken and french fries and DW's brother uses theirs at almost every meal.
For us, it's become a must-have tool on most camping trips. Your mileage may vary, but it's worthwhile considering.
John
Depends on how well you like to eat while camping. We got burned out on burgers and hot dogs so I started DO cooking. The possibilities are endless...
This is a Betty Crocker Oven Bake done in the DO:
[img width=640 height=480]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w223/beerlifter/133.jpg[/img]
This is an Apple dump cake:
[IMG]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w223/beerlifter/095.jpg[/img]
My favorite....Lasagna!
[IMG]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w223/beerlifter/2nd%20Oklahoma%20Rally%202008/OklahomaRally2008131.jpg[/img]
DO Chicken:
[IMG]http://i177.photobucket.com/albums/w223/beerlifter/2009%20Trips/Roaring%20River%20SP%20Aug%202009/506.jpg[/img]
and the list goes on and on. We tend to eat rather well when we camp now!!
I think Beerlifter is right....sooner or later you are going to go camping and say "Didn't we eat the exact same thing last time?" That is when you will look for other things to cook and ways to cook them. I am getting to that point but I have to make sure I have something my 2yo will eat.
Matt O 2006 Skyline Nomad 27' travel trailer. Previously owned 1986 Coleman Columbia / 1992 Coleman Senecca / 1989 Born Free Class C RV.
I just started using a dutch oven. I'm still practicing at home. I'm kind of hooked on it and try to cook several times a week in it. I no want to try main dishes and dessert at the same time so will be buying another DO soon.
Beerlifter, how do you do lasagna in it? Happen to have a recipe? Is there any concern with the tomato sauce taking off the seasoning?
Here's some stuff I've cooked in it.
Chocolate Cherry Surprise cake
[img width=640 height=480]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-GxBpcmEF6Ng/T0l8mTAwPfI/AAAAAAAAE7g/JmW3FxWPcVU/s800/20120225_cake_done.JPG[/img]
Coca-Cola Chicken
[img width=640 height=480]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-wBGcHHyii68/T0rWY4aU6GI/AAAAAAAAE8A/-YGXKf98siw/s800/20120226_coke_chicken_done.JPG[/img]
Chocolate chip cookies
[img width=640 height=480]https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-G68kcU9We0g/T013xxxCMNI/AAAAAAAAE8c/9yaXXVz6abk/s800/20120228_cookie_pan.jpg[/img]
Apple pie dump cake
[img width=640 height=480]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FKYkL2NQTTA/T1AasjCjO6I/AAAAAAAAE84/HQocTjBN8j0/s800/20120301_dump_done.jpg[/img]
Easy baked pork chops
[img width=640 height=480]https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-u9MylTVSpXk/T1K5DDMrttI/AAAAAAAAE9k/4wYXATezaZM/s800/20120303_pork_done.jpg[/img]
I'm really enjoying it.
fritz,
Love the beer bottles in multiple pics.
Great Site:
http://papadutch.home.comcast......papadutch/
Pineapple upside down cake is a great treat and fairly easy
[quote author=Go Big! link=topic=1314.msg11468#msg11468 date=1330985611]
fritz,
Love the beer bottles in multiple pics.
Great Site:
http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/~papadutch/
Pineapple upside down cake is a great treat and fairly easy
That's the spot I use to allow the empty home brew bottles to dry after washing them out.
And that's the site that I usually head to for recipes.
Now that my camping situation has changed and the pictures on this posts look awesome, I might have extra time to cook in a Dutch Oven. Where do I start? What size? One with legs or not? Some sure-thing recipes? Lodge or another brand, does it matter?
I've always been worries about it rusting and being a back experience.
I just started a couple of weeks ago. I decided to get a 12" deep Lodge camp dutch oven. The 12" seems to be what most of the recipes are written for. The deep gives more head room so I figured if I was to have one pan, it would be more versatile. Of course now I'm shopping for another DO.
Definitely feet. The ones with the feet are designed to sit over coals.
The first place I go to look for recipes is Byron's Dutch Oven page. But anything that can be cooked in an oven can be cooked in a dutch oven, or so I'm told.
[quote author=JoeCamper link=topic=1314.msg11478#msg11478 date=1331004361]
...Lodge or another brand, does it matter?
I've always been worries about it rusting and being a back experience.
You're not going to go wrong with Lodge. Our new(ish) cast iron is all Lodge and we have some old pieces from flea markets that span a variety of makers.
Once it's seasoned and used, rust isn't an issue. You just have to use common sense in storing it. That said, ours always lives in the camper and we've never had a problem.
John
[quote author=hvac1877 link=topic=1314.msg11549#msg11549 date=1331210639]
A 12" deep lodge can be used for everything. I have a 8" reg.10"reg, 12" reg, (2)12" deep dutch ovens. most recipes on the web are for 10 to 12 DOs. I am starting a chapter of IDOS(International Dutch Oven Soctiey) here in Richmond Va. What ever you want to cook you can in a DO.
I'm going to get another DO. I found that one is not enough when I want to cook dinner and dessert in it.
I saw you mention the IDOS on another forum. Do you know if there's a chapter in Maryland?
I got my dutch oven at Harbor freight and it works just fine. You can use a 20% off coupon that comes in the sunday coupon section to get it cheaper.
http://www.harborfreight.com/1.....44705.html
Sharon
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