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Old 03-28-2016, 06:33 PM   #1
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Shopping for a Dutch Oven and Pie irons

I'm bored at work so of course I'm thinking about our next camping trip instead. I'd like to get a dutch oven and try some new recipes.

I see that Lodge makes dutch ovens that fit on the stove (flat bottoms) and also those for a campfire (has legs). I'm thinking I should get one with legs since I already have one that can be used on the stove (Le Creuset enameled). Or would you normally put a grate on the fire and sit the dutch oven on that, so the flat bottom would make more sense?

Also what size is reasonable? They are so heavy which makes me think smaller is better, but other than the extra weight, is there a reason not to get the larger 7 or 8 qt size?

I also intend to buy a couple pie irons so if you have any thoughts on those I'd love to hear them.
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Old 03-28-2016, 06:43 PM   #2
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You will probably end up adding another 100 lbs of weight to your trailer, otherwise they are nice.
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Old 03-28-2016, 06:48 PM   #3
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If you plan on using the DO in the campfire, don't forget to get the one with the flanged lid. When you flip it over you can use it as a griddle.
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Old 03-28-2016, 06:56 PM   #4
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A 12" camp oven is what most people start out with - DO cook books seem to be geared to that size. Lodge makes pre-seasoned ovens that will get you cooking right away.
Don't forget a lid lifter, welding gloves, long tongs and a charcoal starter.
I always carry a hard anodized aluminum set - 10" with no legs nests inside a 12" with - then add whatever cast iron ovens Norma wants for her menu... we have ovens from 5" to 16".
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:00 PM   #5
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The camp lids can be purchased separately, and are pretty much a necessity for getting charcoal to stay on top during cooking.

Whether the DO has legs or not isn't crucial. I have one of each. The one without legs can be set on a flat rock or directly on the coals. The one with legs probably works a little better, but if you think you might want a DO that you could use on a stove, of course you don't want the legs.

I gotta admit I only carry my DO's occasionally, because they are so heavy, when I'm sure I'll use them (such as at Thanksgiving).
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:08 PM   #6
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A 12" camp oven is what most people start out with - DO cook books seem to be geared to that size. Lodge makes pre-seasoned ovens that will get you cooking right away.
Don't forget a lid lifter, welding gloves, long tongs and a charcoal starter.
I always carry a hard anodized aluminum set - 10" with no legs nests inside a 12" with - then add whatever cast iron ovens Norma wants for her menu... we have ovens from 5" to 16".
Now I understand why Jim says I'll be adding 100lbs to the trailer weight - lots of stuff needed to go with the Dutch oven!

I appreciate the input on the 12" oven. I'll see what I can find on that.
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:14 PM   #7
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Now I understand why Jim says I'll be adding 100lbs to the trailer weight - lots of stuff needed to go with the Dutch oven!

I appreciate the input on the 12" oven. I'll see what I can find on that.
We had a teardrop when started DO cooking.... I took it to a highway scale when it was loaded for a trip one time and it was 1360# on the (1250# rated)axle don't remember how many ovens I took out before we left That's when I became a believer in weighing my trailers....
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:27 PM   #8
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There are so many different ways to cook nowadays that I leave my heavy stuff home, unless I'm traveling intrastate. There is the Cobb grill, or a small smokey joe, also the can cooker, all of them light and all prepare delicious meals. The only heavy cast iron I do carry is a round griddle for the outdoor stove or inside on the stove. Otherwise it is the ss cookware I have.
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:31 PM   #9
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My wife loves Dutch Oven cooking, and has done many, many great dishes, but we only take one for short weekend trips where we know we will use it. It is not something we leave in the trailer.

Pie Irons are a very versatile too. Lots of quick great dishes can be made in them. Many recopies available online. But, we took ours out of the trailer years ago, as it just did not get enough use to warrant hauling it around.

When it comes down to it, there a many, many ways of cooking while camping, just as there are many styles that folks like to employ to best suit their own needs.

For the most part we now prefer to do all our baking in our BBQ, which works great for it.
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Old 03-28-2016, 07:40 PM   #10
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https://www.lodgemfg.com/about-us/lo...ory-stores.asp

I got a great deal on blemished dutch ovens at the South Pittsburg factory outlet - and hail, yes that are heavy
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Old 03-28-2016, 08:11 PM   #11
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Please realize that my comments are my opinion and not meant to be argumentative or inciteful , simply, my opinion.
1. Utah is the epicenter of Dutch oven cooking.
2. The international D.O. Society puts out some great cookbooks
3 study the western New York Dutch oven society web pages and the writings of Dutch Oven Dave ( no relation)
4 a 4 quart unit 10 inch is usually. Big enough for four people
5 Buy a Lodge . For the money best I have used, preseasoned.
6 You can get three pieces of plate steel 3/8 in thick and four inches square to span the bars in a fire place grate.
7 Round pie irons are better than square Rome brand are ok
8 Buy your leather gloves at a welding shop, lots cheaper
9 Check and see if there's a local D.O. Group in your area
10. Google y'all eat yet. Serious about outdoor cooking
I have about 6 or 7 ovens. I like my 14 deep for ham or chicken. Whole.
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Old 03-28-2016, 09:20 PM   #12
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Please realize that my comments are my opinion and not meant to be argumentative or inciteful , simply, my opinion.
1. Utah is the epicenter of Dutch oven cooking.
2. The international D.O. Society puts out some great cookbooks
3 study the western New York Dutch oven society web pages and the writings of Dutch Oven Dave ( no relation)
4 a 4 quart unit 10 inch is usually. Big enough for four people
5 Buy a Lodge . For the money best I have used, preseasoned.
6 You can get three pieces of plate steel 3/8 in thick and four inches square to span the bars in a fire place grate.
7 Round pie irons are better than square Rome brand are ok
8 Buy your leather gloves at a welding shop, lots cheaper
9 Check and see if there's a local D.O. Group in your area
10. Google y'all eat yet. Serious about outdoor cooking
I have about 6 or 7 ovens. I like my 14 deep for ham or chicken. Whole.
Dave
Wow Dave that's an impressive amount of knowledge! I looked up Dutch Oven Dave - I had no idea that dutch ovens had such a following!

Just curious though, why are round pie irons better than square?
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Old 03-28-2016, 09:25 PM   #13
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Just curious though, why are round pie irons better than square?
Are they.....really?
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Old 03-28-2016, 09:42 PM   #14
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Most of the time I make either a little pizza or a cherry pie with my pie irons. I have square ones and round ones too. The round ones I have have a lip that fits into the other side. This keeps the juice inside and is easy to trim around with a knife. The square ones I have, have rims that butt together. They are leaky not all slices of bread are the same size so they don't always trim up like I like it. Call me quirky, everybody else uses more critical terms than that. Like nuts. If you can find old pie irons at garage sales they are usually superior to new ones. And a lot less money. There are some good pie iron cookbooks too. After I eat about a quart and a half of a Dutch oven dish, I'm too full for pie iron frivolity. Castironitis is a real disease but it's mental not physical. It's in the hoarding umbrella.
I'm not a hoarder, I just have an inventory control problem. (Denial)
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Old 03-28-2016, 09:59 PM   #15
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Methinks an intervention may need to be held for Dave. After he gets a chance to cook me a yummy dinner that is.
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Old 03-28-2016, 10:25 PM   #16
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Call me quirky, everybody else uses more critical terms than that. Like nuts. It's in the hoarding umbrella.
I'm not a hoarder, I just have an inventory control problem. (Denial)
Dave


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Old 03-28-2016, 10:35 PM   #17
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Jill ,if you end up with a flat bottomed cast iron oven Not a fancy one with a porcelain finish, just raw cast iron, and you want to cook over charcoal you have to make some little legs.
Cut three or four two inch long pieces of copper pipe an inch and a half in diameter, and set your oven up on them. Pipe is used vertical, not on its side. Ok that's all I got tonight.
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Old 03-28-2016, 11:54 PM   #18
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7 Round pie irons are better than square Rome brand are ok
Agreed. Square irons just grill the bread. With the round ones the bread sticks out and gets pinched together by the irons making a nice sealed edge. Like a pie instead of a sandwich. Which is why we always called them pudgie pie makers instead of pie irons.
Also I like cast iron more than the aluminum ones.
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Old 03-29-2016, 04:44 AM   #19
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Was trying to figure out what a pie iron was, so I turned to Google to find out. (what did we do before Google?) Discovered that we've been using them for years' only difference was that we called them a Jaffle iron.
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Old 03-29-2016, 05:54 AM   #20
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Cracker Barrel always has a nice selection of Lodge cookware.
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