The Versatile Cast Iron Dutch Oven

 

Remember seeing cowboys cook with cast iron dutch ovens? Every good camper knows how handy a multi-tool can be when out in the wilderness, but have you ever thought about multi-tool cookware? That is exactly what you could call a cast iron dutch oven, the multi-tool of cookware. Just like how a mutli-tool can do everything from cutting rope to turning into a pair of pliers, a dutch oven can cook everything from a delicious hardy breakfast to even rolls for dinner. Now, you might be asking yourself, how can you cook bread in a dutch oven, with only hot coals, outside, and no oven? Well, to answer the question, it is actually quite simple. First, place the dough in a tin pie pan, then place a couple of small coals on the bottom of the dutch oven, and place your pie tin on top of them. The space between the bottom of the dutch oven and pie tin helps hot air circulate and helps to prevent the bottom of the rolls from burning. For the next step, you will need a dutch oven with a flanged lid, that is a lid with a raised outer border. This border, or, flange, helps to hold hot coals on top of the lid. The coals on top is what helps it to cook like an oven and will give your rolls perfectly browned tops.

Cast Iron Dutch Ovens Are Really Versatile

Cast iron dutch ovens are not just great because you can make a variety of meals in them, but also because you can even cook with the lid. There are not too many lids I know of that I can use as a lid and a cooking device. Cooking with the lid of the could not be simpler. All you need to do is flip it upside down and place it over some hot coals to warm it up. To test the heat of the lid, you can simply sprinkle a couple of drops of water on it. If the water sizzles around, the lid is warm enough. If the water just sits there, it is not warm enough. If the lid is too hot, the water will quickly sizzle away. With the lid turned upside down and properly heated, you can use the lid to cook sausage, bacon, eggs, and even pancakes. Because of the shape of the lid, you will be able to make perfect single pancakes each time. These are just a couple of examples of what you can cook with in your cast iron dutch oven. If you love cooking and camping, then a cast iron dutch oven is the perfect camping tool for you. Your friends and family will be amazed at the delicious meals you create with your dutch oven. The only hard decision for you will be deciding which recipe to cook next time.