Dutch oven help

[reinreb]

Birthday is coming up soon and a really heavy package arrived at the door this week, I think I may be cooking on a DO soon.

Here is the total package on DO cooking and recipes
MacScouter: Cooking for Scouts and Scouters

[ready2rock]

Cooking with DO sounds like the way to go. I am new to it and will give it a try. Curious though - Cast Iron or Cast Aluminum?? Which is best?

[62car9]

If you want to control the temp charcoal is the way to go. there's "an app for that" if you have a smart phone go to market and search Dutch Oven and you can download Dutch Oven Calculator. When you use it you type in pan size, degrees, and cooking method (simmer, bake, roast, or fry) and it will tell you how many briquettes to place on top and under.

[HondoPatrick]

Originally Posted by ready2rock

Cooking with DO sounds like the way to go. I am new to it and will give it a try. Curious though - Cast Iron or Cast Aluminum?? Which is best?

I am a traditionalist and much prefer the cast iron models. They are heavier for sure, but I believe that a properly seasoned cast iron DO imparts a flavor into your prepared dishes like no other.

Now, if you intend to do some backpacking, then a cast aluminum is an absolute must if you want to cook with a DO.

[kanati]

Cast iron by lodge in South Pitsbiurg Tennessee is the way to go. I have four and the 25 yr old one is the most seasoned and cooks the best. You might aak why four.
You can stack them and cook for a whole scout troop plus parents.

[adanguy]

Originally Posted by ready2rock

Cooking with DO sounds like the way to go. I am new to it and will give it a try. Curious though - Cast Iron or Cast Aluminum?? Which is best?

Cast aluminium

[cheese53073]

I'm a cast iron guy. yes it is heavy but thatis a benefit. it holds the heat the best, an take high heat and one meal a day cooked inn iron gives you your daily supply of iron.

[akcampr]

I have a couple anodized aluminum, and several cast iron ovens. they all cook good. I find myself grabbing the aluminum more often, just because they are lighter and easy to carry. One nestles inside the other, and I keep them in a nylon carry bag along with all the supplies I use like spatula, spoon, mini torch, zip-lock bag of charcoal, cleaning scraper, welding glove and mini-shovel.

[j2detroit]

we have made many things in our do over an open wood fire we have always used a tripod to hang ours from and use the distance as well as the amount of wood fire we use the recipe we like the best is a beef chile cooked for about 4 hrs the you take and make cornbread dumplings on top of the chile ,cover and alow to cook for another 5or 10 min until the dumplings are done then remove from heat take off the lid and tell the neighbors to bring their own bowls and buds we'll supply the crackers

[ready2rock]

Thank you everyone for this great information. We are going to try some DO cooking this season for sure.