RE: DUTCH OVENS

[GNAPLUS2]

 
I M LOOKING TO BUY A DUTCH OVEN.  I M LEANING TOWARD THE 8 QT. SIZE WHICH WILL ACCOMODATE ROASTS, WHOLE CHICKENS AS WELL AS PLENTY OF STEW & CHILI.  
 ANY SUGGESTIONS RE: BRAND NAMES, ALUM. OR CAST IRON?  
 THANKS,
 AMY

[mike4947]

 GNAPLUS2
Here s the King of DO s: http://www.lodgemfg.com/
 
 But having said that. CostCo usually has a set of DO, grill plate, frying pan, and lid lifter for what you can buy a Lodge for.
 
 Myself I always go one size larger than I think I ll need as I always forget room for a trivet on the bottom when doing any baking or roasting. Works like the rack in your house oven. Roasting or baking with the food on the bottom usually ends up burning.

[tlhdoc]

 GNAPLUS2
Cast Iron is the metal of choice.  Make sure it has the little legs on the bottom and the rim on the lid so you can put coals under and on it.

[Campaholics]

 GNAPLUS2
We started out with a 10"  cast iron DO.  Worked quite well for four large appitites.
 We bought a 12"  DO for large group camping.  Two of those plus the 10"  will easily feed about twenty people, varing size appitites.
 Then as the kids grew up, it was just the two of us; we found an 8"  DO that is now our perfect size.
 
 While 8 to 10 to 12"  might not sound like much of a difference, the area goes up with the square of the radius.  the 8"  is about 60% smaller than the 10"  and the 12"  25% larger.
 
 IMHO cast iron is the way to go, it holds the heat better.  Then again, my favorite frying pans have always been cast iron.
 
 BTW a pair of channel locks make an excellent lid lifter.
 
 Happy Camping,
 Bob
 

[AustinBoston]

 GNAPLUS2
1)  You want cast iron.  Aluminum is lighter, but it doesn t spread heat as well and they don t develop the seasoning patena of cast iron.  Some people claim to be able to taste the aluminum even after many uses.
 
 2) Lodge is the best, but there are other good brands.  One word of caution...this is one product where the only way to get quality is to buy a D.O made in the USA.  There are cast iron dutch ovens made in China and India and then imported to the US, but because of the weight, there is a high shipping cost.  The only way to deal with that is to use less cast iron (the sides and bottom are thinner) which leads to a number of problems.  Also, the general workmanship is often lacking.  If the CostCo set is the same one as BJ s Wholesale Club (comes in a nice wooden box), it is junk.
 
 3) We started with a 12"  DO and have since added an 8"  and 14" .  We enjoy the adventure of DO cooking enough that in good weather we use the DO more at home than camping!  It s one of the ways to have a big, hot meal in warm weather without heating up the kitchen.
 
 4) Be sure to read my tongue-in-cheek description of how to [Link=http://www.popuptimes.com/members/tm.asp?m=1579&p=3&tmode=1]season a dutch oven[/link] in the [link=http://www.popuptimes.com/members/tt.asp?appid=21&p=3&tmode=1]Recipe Forum[/link].
 
 Austin (who prefers eating to cooking)

[iwantapopup]

 GNAPLUS2
I hate to disagree but I bought one of those sets in a box last year at Sam s and I ve had it side-by-side to a Lodge and so far it can perform the same?  Since it didn t have legs, Tim made a stand for it which works perfectly.
 
 But as far as size, I d go 12" , you will have a oven big enough to use for various recipes.

[whitestar505]

 GNAPLUS2
I like the electric DO myself. If you do to try Presto Pride? 9qt Dutch Oven. Of course this is not the one you want if doing primative camping. Of course you can get a Coleman oven that will hold a nice roast and all the trimming for you.
 
 

[RamblingWreck]

 mike4947
Cabelas carries the Lodge line of Camp Dutch ovens.  They are less expensive to purchase from Cabelas  website than Lodge s.  Cabelas sshipping charges have always been reasonable.
 

[springer02]

 GNAPLUS2
My $0.02 ...
 
 Bought a Lodge last year. Worked well. For much less money I then saw the Costco set and couldn t resist it. Side by side, each works as well as the other. The Costco set came with canvas bags, and I find myself grabbing that one first just for ease of use and storage.
 
 Cast iron is the way to go. Also think accessories, as we seem to do for all things camping. The trivet is a must for many types of cooking. I also bought a tripod this year because I found that for long cooking times, it was a better way to control heat.  And the other thing is to get a lid lifter or something. I struggled through last year, burning up oven mits and using the shovel to move the thing around. Real pain. The lid lifter gets its first use this weekend, but already I m pretty sure it will simplify life.
 
 Anyway, I often have both DUs going at once. Main dish and side dish. Get a book or read up on the related web sites. Remember that the best cooking is top-down.
 
 Dave
 
 

[tlhdoc]

 GNAPLUS2
You can check Wal-Mart for Lodge Dutch ovens too.

[Ron]

 GNAPLUS2
Try   http://www.lodgemfg.com
 There catalog has a lot of good info.

[GNAPLUS2]

 mike4947
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE DO ADVICE.  I THINK COSTCO IS WHERE I LL END UP PURCHASING.
 HAPPY CAMPIN  & THANKS AGAIN.

[GNAPLUS2]

 tlhdoc
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE DO ADVICE!!  I WAS THINKING THAT CAST IRON WAS THE BETTER ONE AS WELL.
 

[GNAPLUS2]

 Campaholics
THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT DO ADVICE!  LOTS OF INFO!  I M DEFINITELY GOING WITH THE 12"  SEEING HOW WE USUALLY CAMP WITH ANOTHER FAMILY AND WE SPLIT THE LARGER MEALS.
 
 THANKS AGAIN!

[GNAPLUS2]

 AustinBoston
HI!  THANKS SO MUCH FOR THE GREAT DO ADVICE!  WE RE GOING WITH A CAST IRON 12" , PREFERABLE LODGE.  THANKS AGAIN!