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Backpacker Magazine – November 2009

Gear Review: Lodge Logic Deep Dutch Oven

Cook almost anything in this burly outdoor oven.

by: Kristin Hostetter

Lodge Logic Deep Dutch Oven (Courtesy Photo)

Gear
Cookware
Stoves

Five-Star Kitchen
The ultimate car camping setup.

Bake It

Lasagna. Rack of lamb. Pineapple upside-down cake. Or plain old franks and beans. We cooked them all, and our testers believe there is no limit to what you can whip up inside this hefty, cowboy-style cauldron. The technique is brilliantly simple (and clearly explained in the 64-page cookbook that comes with it). First, build a fire with two layers of charcoal. Let the briquettes burn until they're ash-covered, then set the footed pot on a single layer of coals for concentrated bottom heat.

To bake, set the rest of the coals on the lid for surround-sound heat. "I can't believe you made that out here," mumbled one diner between mouthfuls of a steaming, spicy gingerbread while camped near the Wild River in Maine. The ovens come in 1- to 12-quart sizes (our favorite is the 8), but only the "Camp Dutch Oven" models have feet. $44-175; heavy as hell (21 lbs.); lodgemfg.com.

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READERS COMMENTS

Arnold--you learned that trick from sheep?; they must have been some smart flock. Seriously, though, thanks for the tip.
Posted: Nov 26, 2009 Baaah

One of the tricks that I learned from herding sheep when I was young was to take a brown paper bag and cut it so that it is flat. Then place it on top of the oven before you place the lid on top. This seals the lid and when the lid is taken off when cooked it keeps the ashes out of the food. Used it many times and has never failed. The brown bag that sticks out of the lid will burn off.
Posted: Nov 25, 2009 Arnold Scott

I love my dutch ovens! (Yes, I have more than one). Try a dutch oven meal of Cornish Game Hens, carrots & potatoes in one pot, while a blackberry or peach cobbler is cooking in another. Now that's livin! Few things are so simple to use, easy to clean, and completely dependable. Keep it well seasoned (oiled) and it will last for generations. I use mine in camp and at home. Alas, unfortunately it is not ultra-light. But if you have a special place in heart for the nostagia of pioneer life and mouth-watering open-hearth meals, nothing beats a dutch oven.
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 Steve Cash

Of course they're not for backpacking, But for the best meal ever you can't beat the ovens. I've been using them for years on Scout camps.
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 Richard West

There are some really nice dutch oven stands. I saw one on the Lodge website, but it was ery expensive. Then I saw one in the Cabela catalog that was priced much cheaper. I got that one with free shipping. It was a great deal as it is very heavy. You can use your dutch oven even when you can't have a ground fire
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 R Happy

You need to explain that you have to regulate how many briquettes to use on top and bottom and that some do not call for any on top. Too many and the temp is too much and your food will burn. My scout troop does a lot of cooking in dutch ovens and I use them at home also.
Posted: Nov 24, 2009 R K Sellars

oh but the meals you can eat and the smile on the faces of non belivers
Posted: Nov 23, 2009 scott welling