Dutch Ovens

[g4ghb]

After a rather disasterous attempt to cook bread in the embers under a (rather too thin) steel tin I am after getting a dutch oven. I've been searching the internet and have found some aluminium dutch ovens.... has anyone got / used one of these? .... would solve the problem of the Scouts not careing for it i guess

also has anyone found a good cheap source? - any comments recomendations gratefully received

 

[scanker]

Ronnie Sunshine on Ebay is where we bought ours. It's very good. This weekend we made keema naans, pizza, and a huge curry for six!

 

[gunnix]

I don't think an aluminium dutch oven would work at all.. Not like the real cast iron dutch oven anyway.

Scanker, it's strange there's no rim on top of the lid of the dutch oven you linked too, the ones I used always have a rim on top of the lid so it's easier to put coals on top and let them stay on the lid.

On sjovik school in sweden we used them in the last two canoetrips for baking bread and making food in. Really good pots, but I'd only take it on canoetrips or when with a car as it's to heavy to carry all the time I think.

 

[stephendedwards]

They have both kinds. I have a couple and they are just the job. Too heavy unless you're mechanised but nothing cooks like a camp oven.

Jack Absalom the Australian artist and bushman legend has a book on cooking using a camp oven.

 

[British Red]

I have a cast iron dutch oven that I love using. They are brutally heavy though so I can see the attractions of aluminium. I do wonder whether aluminium would hold and spread the heat as well as iron?

Mine sow have a lip for coals...

Red

 

[scanker]

Ours is the type with a lip on the lid, also three short legs on the pot. I can't say we've really used the legs - we normally suspend the pot from a tripod, but the lipped lid is very useful.

Ours looks like the pre-seasoned oven further down the page, but was the price of the ones at the top. You could try dropping them an email, I know a few people on here have bought these from them before.

I'd highly recommend a Dutch Oven, but as BR says they're heavy and for car (or canoe) camping only IMO.

 

[clcuckow]

Have you seen this thread?

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24979

I know that I had a bit of the virbal D$%&*^er but I have no problem baking in mine as I had said I have not seem them in the flesh to see if they are the same as mine but as you can see if there are my 10 1/2 inch cast iron lid fits spot on.

 

[g4ghb]

cheers mate, I did see your thread but yesterday I put an offer in on one on ebay and one - it dosn't have a lipped lid or legs but was cheap

thanks for all the comments peeps - with luck I'll have as much success with my culinary exploits as you have.

 

[stephendedwards]

Ours is the type with a lip on the lid, also three short legs on the pot. I can't say we've really used the legs - we normally suspend the pot from a tripod, but the lipped lid is very useful.
.

This the way one might use an oven like my small one which has no legs or lip, but a big one is used differently (traditionally). You build you fire and place the oven into the fire to warm it up. Then you dig a depression away from the fire into which you transfer coals from the fire. You then place the over over these coals with your food inside and then more coals on the lid - hence the lip. You need to protect it from the wind as this will affect the heat distribution.

The coals are there to maintain the heat, so you need to be careful in the warming up stage.

S

 

[tombear]

I really wish someone was importing these

http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=24367

to the UK as I love mine to bits. It weighs 7 lb and is big enough to use as a stew pan for 6 or more so not an excessive burden if the loads shared out. I can't imagine it ever breaking short of driving a Landy over it.

ATB

Tom

 

[Spikey DaPikey]

Another vote for Ronnie Sunshines here as well

 

[fishfish]

well what ever yer on about isnt a dutch oven!
heres a picture from the 1950 good housekeeping encyclopedia:

and heres a couple from the 1901 mrs beatons cookerybook.: