In this guide we’ll look at the best dutch ovens for camping.
We’ve compared size, capacity, design and cost
to give you our top recommendations.
What Is The Best Dutch Oven for Camping?
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More Detailed Dutch Camping Oven Reviews
Lodge L12DCO3 Deep Camp Dutch Oven, 8 Quart
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Lodge L12DCO3 Deep Camp Dutch Oven, 8 Quart Review
The Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven is the best Dutch oven for camping on the market. With a large capacity of 8 quarts, this oven does it all for any number of people. The flanged lid holds hot coals and inverts for use as a griddle, while the integral legs let the oven sit neatly and safely over the campfire.
This Dutch oven is seasoned with soy based vegetable oil and no synthetic chemicals. The more the iron is used, the better the seasoning becomes. It’s ideal for searing, simmering, braising, baking and frying over a fire, with unparalleled heat retention and even heating. Plus, it’s seriously durable, designed for decades of cooking.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 12 quarts
- Weight: 20lbs
- Depth: 5.5”
- Seasoned?: Yes
Camp Chef 12 Qt Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
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Camp Chef 12 Qt Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven Review
The Camp Chef Deluxe is another Dutch oven that’s great for camping trips with family and friends.
This cast iron oven has a built in thermometer notch for perfect food every time, and it’s multifunctional, able to cook a range of foods for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Simply turn the lid over to cook fried eggs, bacon and pancakes, or replace the lid for slow cooked meat or potatoes.
With a 12 quart capacity, this Dutch oven can be used to cook meals for larger camping parties. It comes with a Dutch Oven Starter Booklet with seasoning tips.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 12 quarts
- Weight: 28lbs
- Depth: 5”
- Seasoned?: Yes
Lodge L10CO3 Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven, 4-Quart
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Lodge L10CO3 Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven, 4-Quart Review
The Lodge Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven is specifically designed for use on a campfire or fireplace. It’s fully seasoned and ready to use, with the cast iron lid inverting for use as a griddle.
This Dutch oven has a capacity of just 4 quarts making it great for smaller families or solo camp trips. This also makes it much lighter than many Dutch ovens on the market, weighing just 12.3lbs.
Excellent quality, with a sturdy handle and base, this Dutch oven will survive decades of camping trips.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 4 quarts
- Weight: 12.3lbs
- Depth: 3.5”
- Seasoned?: Yes
Heavy Duty Pre-Seasoned 2 In 1 Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven
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Heavy Duty Pre-Seasoned 2 In 1 Cast Iron Double Dutch Oven Review
This Bruntmor Heavy Duty Dutch Oven is perfect for the great outdoors, with a medium capacity of 5 quarts and a lid that doubles up as a skillet.
Cook casseroles, delicious stews and much more with this easy to use cast iron oven. It boasts fantastic heat retention and evenly heats your food, while the included domed iron cover adds versatility and space for roasts.
With a 100% non stick pre-seasoned surface, your food is protected and free from chemicals. The more you cook on it, the better it gets, and it’s easy to both clean and season after use.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 5 quarts
- Weight: 13.75lbs
- Depth: 6”
- Seasoned?: Yes
6 Qt Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
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6 Qt Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven Review
Keen cooks will love the 6 Quart Dutch Oven by Camp Chef. This brilliant quality Dutch oven comes with a built in thermometer notch and is double seasoned and ready to use. The 10” diameter offers ample space for cooking delicious meals over a campfire.
This cast iron oven will last a lifetime and keep your stomachs happy through decades of camping trips. It’s easy to care for and can be used to cook a range of meals.
The handle is strong and supportive so it’s easy to lift off the campfire or transport from the car to camp. It’s just as good quality as more expensive Dutch oven brands.
Specifications:
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Weight: 16.88lbs
- Depth: 6.8”
- Seasoned?: Yes
Dutch Oven Buyer’s Guide
Introducing the most durable, long lasting and timeless cooking items around – the Dutch oven! These rugged pots are perfect for camping because they can withstand an open flame, are designed to be virtually indestructible, and can make delicious meals over a campfire with minimal effort needed on your part.
But a Dutch oven is a serious investment, and finding the best one for the great outdoors can be tricky.
Fancy bonding with your camp-mates over delicious casseroles or perfectly fried eggs? This buyer’s guide will tell you all you need to know about these miraculous cooking pots.
Size
While size and capacity appear the same, they’re actually two different considerations. A large Dutch oven with thick walls and bulky handles will take up a lot of space in your car. Many people opt for a smaller oven like Lodge Cast Iron Camp Dutch Oven to reduce the weight and space.
Capacity
For capacity, you’ll be looking at quarts. As a general rule, 1 quart will serve 1-2 people, 2 quarts will serve 2-4, 6 quarts will serve 8-12 and 12 quarts like the Camp Chef Deluxe will serve up to 24 people. So, if you’re camping with just one other person, you won’t need a 12 quart oven!
Design
Most Dutch ovens have a similar design, but they will vary in thickness and depth. When looking for a Dutch oven, ensure that it sits flat on a surface to ensure even heating of food. The walls should all be the same thickness, and the handles should be sturdy enough to support both the weight of the oven itself, and the boiling hot stew inside!
FAQ
How to use a Dutch oven while camping
While Dutch ovens might sound intimidating, they are extremely easy to use. First of all, ensure it is seasoned like the Bruntmor Heavy Duty Dutch Oven and 6 Quart Dutch Oven by Camp Chef. Most come already seasoned but if not you will need to use vegetable fat to season it.
Make a good cooking fire, using a hot bed of coals. The heat should come from the coals as opposed to flames for more even and efficient cooking. Prepare the food and set it aside.
Once the coal bed is hot, put the dutch oven on top of the coals with the lid on, then shovel some coals on top of the lid so that the pot is as evenly covered as possible. Try to use larger coal pieces as opposed to ash.
If you are baking, you want more heat coming from the top (so most coals on the top). Roasting can use half on top and half on bottom, while simmering can use mostly coal on the bottom with a few on top. If you are frying, place the Dutch oven onto the campfire like you would a frying pan – with no coals on top.
Remember that your food will cook faster in a Dutch oven than it will in a regular oven, so regularly check on it before removing the oven from the coals to serve using safety gloves.
Conclusion
Dutch ovens remain one of the most popular methods of campfire cooking and are an extremely worthwhile investment. If you’re camping with a large group, the Lodge Deep Camp Dutch Oven is the best on the market thanks to the portability, inverting lid and lifetime durability.