A Dutch oven is a type of oven used to cook food that uses an open fire on top, rather than a heating element. They’re used most often in campfire cooking and can be made from steel, aluminum, or cast iron. The method of cooking with the Best Dutch Ovens in 2022 is similar to baking in their use of low heat that sears, browns, and flavors food.
Dutch Ovens are available in various sizes depending on the user’s needs. There are three different types: kettle-shaped for small meals or for burning wood; round with a domed lid; and oval with a straight tube and smaller topside compartment for sauces.
- Kettle-style
Kettle-style dutch ovens are also called camp Dutch ovens because of their ability to burn wood and charcoal. They range in size from 1 quart (1 liter) to 15 quarts (13.3 liters).
- Round
The round Dutch oven is one of the most common, both for camp and home cooking. The oval shape allows food to cook faster while the simple shape allows more heat circulation around food and can withstand high temperatures. Round models range from 3 quarts (2.8L) all the way up to 24 quarts (21.6L), with even larger sizes available at specialty shops or online.
- Oval
These Dutch ovens are best for baking bread, cakes, and other breads with a forgiving lid that doesn’t need to be in the exact place over the fire. Oval shapes range from 3 quarts (2.8L) to 12 quarts (10.5L) in size.
Dutch Oven Cooking Basics
The Dutch oven is usually placed on a bed of coals and then covered with either sand or charcoal and placed full of food onto the coals. The lid is set directly over the food on top of the Dutch oven handle so it can hold the heat while still allowing heat to escape around it. The instant a finger or a spatula touches the lid, it will be scalded. Meat, stews, and soups can be cooked in the Dutch oven with no problem. The most common procedure is to lower the lid onto the food and then turn up your gas or charcoal grill until it is completely set on coals. You can then increase your heat and cook longer to caramelize the top.
The only way to know if your food is ready is from smell inside of your oven. If it smells like soy sauce (burned onions), this means you are burning your food and you need to reduce your heat by turning down or extinguish all gas and/or charcoal.
