What can you cook in a Dutch oven over fire?
Think simmering soups, steaming rice, boiling water for pasta, etc. Sear, pan-fry, sautee: A camping Dutch oven is also a great stand-in for a cast-iron skillet. Anything that can be cooked in a cast-iron skillet can be done in a Dutch oven too, like searing steaks, browning chicken thighs, sauteing vegetables, etc.
Can you cook with cast iron on a campfire?
“Cast iron pans can be used on a camp stove or placed over an open flame,” explains van Vliet. “They can even be placed directly on top of hot embers or coals without damage.” Unlike flimsier pots and pans, cast iron is virtually indestructible.
Can you use a Dutch oven on a campfire?
You can also use a Dutch oven as a heavy-duty, fire-resistant pot and place it over a campfire. Since it’s made entirely from cast iron, there’s nothing that can melt or warp. You can even use it on a camp stove like a regular pot, provided that legs fit through the grate. Like we said above, it’s super versatile!
What can you not cook in a cast iron Dutch oven?
4 Things You Should Never Cook in Cast Iron:
- Smelly foods. Garlic, peppers, some fish, stinky cheeses and more tend to leave aromatic memories with your pan that will turn up in the next couple of things you cook in it.
- Eggs and other sticky things (for a while)
- Delicate fish.
- Acidic things—maybe.
Why do people use cast iron when camping?
Why? It’s so durable, it can withstand laying in hot coals, and can last dozens of years if taken care of, properly. Cooking with cast iron is a skill, and requires a bit more attention than other pans. Cooking with cast iron while camping is the ultimate blend requiring skill and experience.
Is cast iron good for camping?
A cast iron dutch oven is next-level camp cookware, useful if you’re in the same spot for a long time and want to cook low and slow over the coals for a whole afternoon. This is truly great when beach/surf camping in the cold, and you want hot stew for dinner.
How hot does a campfire Dutch oven get?
350°F.
Getting the temperature just right in your Dutch oven is perhaps the biggest learning curve of campfire cooking (especially after you’ve masted these other camping cooking tips). Most campfire Dutch oven recipes (especially those for baking) require a temp of 350°F.
What oils are best for seasoning cast iron?
All cooking oils and fats can be used for seasoning cast iron, but based on availability, affordability, effectiveness, and having a high smoke point, Lodge recommends vegetable oil, melted shortening, or canola oil, like our Seasoning Spray.
What kind of oil do you use to season a Dutch oven?
Vegetable oil or lard. Vegetable oil and lard have high smoke points, so you can get your Dutch oven smoking hot without burning the coating off, which will affect your food’s flavor. Olive oil or butter is not suitable, but peanut, canola, sunflower, or soybean oil can withstand high heat.
Can you ruin a Dutch oven?
I confess to making this mistake for years before I realized the truth. Because Dutch ovens do such a great job of retaining heat, using them on medium-high or high heat is actually too hot. The pot can scorch if it’s this hot and food can burn and actually stick to the surface.
