How to Choose the Right Dutch Oven for Campfire Cooking

So, you want to try Dutch oven cooking when camping? Most Dutch ovens for home use aren’t suitable for campfires. Here’s a no-BS guide to what you really need to look for when choosing a Dutch oven for camping.

Note: I’m all for saving money by buying generic brands, but this is one case where you want a reputable brand. Otherwise, your Dutch oven might crack if put directly on flames. Lodge is the leader when it comes to cast iron Dutch ovens and their products hold up for decades. Camp Chef is another good brand. They are more affordable but still hold up well.

1. Only Use a Non-enameled Dutch Oven

A lot of home Dutch ovens have an enamel coating for easier cleanup. These cannot be used when camping because the enamel can break if exposed to extremely high heat or direct campfire flames.  You will need to get a non-enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

2. Which Size Dutch Oven for Camping?

Dutch ovens are typically sized by their capacity (in quarts). As a general rule, you will need 1 to 1.5 quarts per person. For most campers, this means a 5-8 quart Dutch oven is the best choice.

Sometimes Dutch oven sizes are listed by their diameter. For example, most recipes are written for 12″ Dutch ovens. Bear in mind that the depth of a Dutch oven will affect capacity.

Depth:

• Deep: Anything above 6 inches tall is generally considered “deep” for a Dutch oven. The depth makes them great for cooking things with the heat source from the bottom, such as soups or stews.
• Shallow: With a shallow Dutch oven, heat from the lid can get to the top of the food better. This makes them better for baking. However, they can also be used for stews and soups, so are more versatile than deep Dutch ovens.

Tip: Large Dutch ovens may seem like a better deal. However, they get HEAVY. Don’t get a large Dutch oven unless you are camping in a big group.

Dutch Oven Size Guide

Shallow Dutch ovens are better for baking biscuits and breads

3. Does a Camping Dutch Oven Need Legs?

Legs are a very useful feature to have on a camping Dutch oven because you can:

• Set it on over coals.
• Push fresh coal underneath.
• Stack multiple Dutch ovens on each other

However, the legs can also be problematic for packing, such as if you need to carry it on a raft.  If your Dutch oven doesn’t have legs, don’t worry. You can always prop a leg-less Dutch oven on some rocks to serve as legs.

If your Dutch ovens have legs, you can use them for stacked cooking

4. The Lid Matters

Rimmed or Non-Rimmed Lid? 

First, decide whether you want a rimmed or non-rimmed lid.  It’s hard to get coals to stay on a lid without a rim. So, unless you only make soups and stews, you probably need a rim.

The downside is that most rimmed lids can’t be used as frying pans. You are also usually limited to a looped top handle, which is hard to pick up without a pot lifter tool.  The bottom part typically just has a wire bail handle, which some people love and others hate.

The rim makes it easier to keep coals in place when lifting the lid.

Handle Types on Non-Rimmed Lids 

If you go with a non-rimmed lid, you’ll have more options for handle types. They are:

1. Stick handle
2. Top looped handle
3. Side handles

Of the three options, I like stick handles best for camping. The stick handle makes it easy to use the lid as a frying pan. However, a stick handle is not ideal for large Dutch ovens. Those get so heavy that you really need a handle on each side. Lodge solves this by adding a looped handle opposite of the stick handle.

Top looped handles have the benefit of being easy to pick up, especially with a “handle grabber” tool. However, you can’t turn them upside down to use as a frying pan like a lid with looped side handles. You might not be able to stack multiple Dutch ovens with this handle type. So, side handles are often preferred for this reason.

Handle types on some of Lodge’s camp Dutch ovens

5. Other Supplies

In addition to the actual Dutch oven, you will also need these tools and supplies for campfire cooking and baking:

• Heat-resistant gloves: These are crucial and make it easier to handle the Dutch oven without dropping it. “Pit mitt” gloves are great. Or, if you are a wuss about heat like I am, get welder gloves.
• Tongs: For moving coals. You can also use a small metal trowel.
• Lid lifter: Unless you only plan on making stews or frying with your Dutch oven
• VERY long fire-resistant utensils: So you can stir food without burning your arm!
• Whisk/broom: To brush ash off the lid before lifting it.

You do NOT need a tripod. It just complicates things. Likewise, you probably don’t need a special cooking table. Those are only useful if you have back problems, or will cook frequently, and don’t want to crouch down to tend the Dutch oven.

The one extra worth considering is a lid stand. It can be useful as it gives you somewhere to put your lid when you turn it over. The stand also comes in handy if you want to use the inside of your Dutch oven lid as a frying pan.

Image credit:
“IMG_4993” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by harmonjeff,
“Breakfast in Camp” (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by gharness,
“Dutch oven baking” (CC BY-NC-SA 2.0) by becky_mckimmy,
“Birthday Cake” (CC BY-NC 2.0) by goofyat210