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What is a Dutch oven?

A Dutch oven is a heavy cooking pot, usually made of cast iron, with a tight-fitting lid. These POTS can be used on the stove or in the oven and are perfect for casseroles. They are also great for slow-cooking foods and are often used in stews or for soups and stews.

Why Dutch ovens?

One of the great benefits of Dutch ovens and cast-iron cookware is that, if done properly, they can last several lifetimes. In fact, they've been around for so long that many families in the 18th and 19th centuries noted in their wills who would inherit their ovens. President George Washington's mother, Mary Bauer Washington, reportedly specified in her will that her "iron kitchen furniture" would be divided equally between her two grandchildren. Adventurers Lewis and Clark carried Dutch ovens during their Western explorations from 1804 to 1806, as did Mormons who migrated to Utah's Salt Lake Valley region in the 1850s.

There are many other examples of Dutch ovens being used throughout history, but the fact is that they are just as convenient today as they were 300 years ago. When properly seasoned and maintained, a premium oven will be almost as "non-stick" as modern teflon or other coated cookware. Cleaning up is very easy -- never use harsh cleaners or scratch-proof pads, and always reapply a light coat of oil between each use.

What to cook

The list of foods that can be prepared in a Dutch oven is endless. They can also make stews or soups; Cook small game or poultry; To make bread or cookies; Prepare breakfast dishes or desserts. Anything you can bake in a modern oven, you can bake in a Dutch oven. My main oven has been used for venison and beef stew, Cornish hens and vegetables, homemade biscuits and cornbread, and too many cakes to remember. They can be used with coal, open fires or modern kitchen stoves.