How to Clean and Care for Camp Dutch Ovens Learn how to use and clean a Lodge Camp Dutch Oven, the ultimate outdoor cookware. How to Clean Camp Dutch Ovens Step 1: Wash 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. Step 2: Dry Dry your Camp Dutch Oven and lid thoroughly with paper or cloth towels. Step 3: Oil While the cookware is warm, rub a very light layer of cooking oil or our seasoning spray onto the surface. Use a paper towel to wipe the surface until no oil residue remains. The Anatomy of a Camp Dutch Oven Whether you're new to camp oven cooking, or a seasoned pro looking for the next piece in your collection, here is what makes a great Camp Dutch Oven: Wire Bail Handle Heavy-gauge wire bail used to hang the oven over hearth or campfire Helps transport meals for serving Flanged lid The flange along the rim holds coals Invert the lid to use as a second cooking surface Small Legs Designed with 3 legs ideal for placing over coals Limits wobbling on uneven surfaces Camp Cooking How to Cook with a Camp Dutch Oven Light It Up The first step is to light the coals or charcoal briquettes. If you're using wood, get the fire going 30 to 45 minutes before starting. If you are using briquettes, ignite them 15 to 20 minutes before they are needed. Pro tip: To get cooking faster, you can reduce the time it takes to heat coals by using a Lodge Chimney Starter, piece of paper, and a match. Using Coals Arrange the charcoal by placing them under the oven in a circular pattern so they are at least 1/2 inch inside the oven's edge. Arrange the charcoal on the lid in a checkerboard pattern. Top or bottom, do not bunch the charcoal. Bunching can cause hot spots that will burn food or damage the oven. To prevent small hot spot problems in cooking, lift and rotate the oven quarter turn every 10 to 15 minutes and then rotate the lid a quarter turn in the opposite direction. Pro tip: The Lodge 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool is an essential to safe Camp Dutch Oven Cooking. It protects your hands, keeps your cookware off the ground, and maximizes your cooking area. Charcoal Chart Use this coal chart to determine how many coals you will need to maintain a given temperature. The top number is how many coals you need to place on the lid. The bottom number is how many coals you need to place underneath the Camp Dutch Oven. Cooking Tips Check your food occasionally to ensure it's not burning, cooking too fast, or not cooking fast enough. Be careful when removing the lid to keep ashes from falling in the Dutch Oven. If it is necessary to add or remove briquettes, replace them in the same proportions top and bottom. Pro tip: Keep your lid out of the dirt and flip it over to use it as a griddle with the Fire and Cook Stand. Lodge Videos How to Use the 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool Camp Dutch Oven FAQs What is a camp Dutch oven? Designed for outdoor cooking, our cast iron Camp Dutch Oven has a flat bottom with three small legs that hold the pot above the heat source. This allows for air to circulate. The lid has a flanged outer edge and a handle for easy lifting. The oven also has a bail handle to lift it off the coals or hang off a tripod. How do I store my Camp Dutch Oven? Store with the lid ajar to keep moisture from collecting inside. Rolled up paper towels are great to keep the lid open during storage. What's the difference between a Camp Dutch Oven and a Deep Camp Dutch Oven? It's generally accepted that the ovens with shallow sides are called "bread" ovens. When baking, the heat source on the lid needs to be close to the object being baked. Your rolls or biscuits will then be brown on the top as well as on the bottom. The ovens with deeper sides allow room to cook meats, vegetables, soups, and stews. What is seasoning? Seasoning is simply oil baked onto the iron, giving you a natural, easy-release finish that will improve with each use. Visit our All About Seasoning page to learn more. Enjoy the great outdoors. Make campfire classics with the durable Camp Dutch Oven. Buy now Still have questions? No worries! Chat with, call, or email our friendly Customer Care Associates. Contact Us
How to Clean and Care for Camp Dutch Ovens Learn how to use and clean a Lodge Camp Dutch Oven, the ultimate outdoor cookware. How to Clean Camp Dutch Ovens Step 1: Wash 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. Step 2: Dry Dry your Camp Dutch Oven and lid thoroughly with paper or cloth towels. Step 3: Oil While the cookware is warm, rub a very light layer of cooking oil or our seasoning spray onto the surface. Use a paper towel to wipe the surface until no oil residue remains. The Anatomy of a Camp Dutch Oven Whether you're new to camp oven cooking, or a seasoned pro looking for the next piece in your collection, here is what makes a great Camp Dutch Oven: Wire Bail Handle Heavy-gauge wire bail used to hang the oven over hearth or campfire Helps transport meals for serving Flanged lid The flange along the rim holds coals Invert the lid to use as a second cooking surface Small Legs Designed with 3 legs ideal for placing over coals Limits wobbling on uneven surfaces Camp Cooking How to Cook with a Camp Dutch Oven Light It Up The first step is to light the coals or charcoal briquettes. If you're using wood, get the fire going 30 to 45 minutes before starting. If you are using briquettes, ignite them 15 to 20 minutes before they are needed. Pro tip: To get cooking faster, you can reduce the time it takes to heat coals by using a Lodge Chimney Starter, piece of paper, and a match. Using Coals Arrange the charcoal by placing them under the oven in a circular pattern so they are at least 1/2 inch inside the oven's edge. Arrange the charcoal on the lid in a checkerboard pattern. Top or bottom, do not bunch the charcoal. Bunching can cause hot spots that will burn food or damage the oven. To prevent small hot spot problems in cooking, lift and rotate the oven quarter turn every 10 to 15 minutes and then rotate the lid a quarter turn in the opposite direction. Pro tip: The Lodge 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool is an essential to safe Camp Dutch Oven Cooking. It protects your hands, keeps your cookware off the ground, and maximizes your cooking area. Charcoal Chart Use this coal chart to determine how many coals you will need to maintain a given temperature. The top number is how many coals you need to place on the lid. The bottom number is how many coals you need to place underneath the Camp Dutch Oven. Cooking Tips Check your food occasionally to ensure it's not burning, cooking too fast, or not cooking fast enough. Be careful when removing the lid to keep ashes from falling in the Dutch Oven. If it is necessary to add or remove briquettes, replace them in the same proportions top and bottom. Pro tip: Keep your lid out of the dirt and flip it over to use it as a griddle with the Fire and Cook Stand. Lodge Videos How to Use the 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool Camp Dutch Oven FAQs What is a camp Dutch oven? Designed for outdoor cooking, our cast iron Camp Dutch Oven has a flat bottom with three small legs that hold the pot above the heat source. This allows for air to circulate. The lid has a flanged outer edge and a handle for easy lifting. The oven also has a bail handle to lift it off the coals or hang off a tripod. How do I store my Camp Dutch Oven? Store with the lid ajar to keep moisture from collecting inside. Rolled up paper towels are great to keep the lid open during storage. What's the difference between a Camp Dutch Oven and a Deep Camp Dutch Oven? It's generally accepted that the ovens with shallow sides are called "bread" ovens. When baking, the heat source on the lid needs to be close to the object being baked. Your rolls or biscuits will then be brown on the top as well as on the bottom. The ovens with deeper sides allow room to cook meats, vegetables, soups, and stews. What is seasoning? Seasoning is simply oil baked onto the iron, giving you a natural, easy-release finish that will improve with each use. Visit our All About Seasoning page to learn more. Enjoy the great outdoors. Make campfire classics with the durable Camp Dutch Oven. Buy now Still have questions? No worries! Chat with, call, or email our friendly Customer Care Associates. Contact Us
