When it comes to cast iron cookware – the Dutch Oven is top of everyone’s list. Its versatility make it an essential tool in any food loving kitchen! Lodge produce a cast iron Dutch oven for just about everyone. From their standard cast iron for home use and camp ovens with legs that are great over an open flame, to stylish enamel coated cast iron Dutch ovens in a range of bright hues, from the Lodge Color cast iron range.
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Lodge Logic Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
The basic “do everything” cast iron Dutch ovens will work at home, or out camping. Though you might find it easier to have one with legs stowed away for camping use, and one without that fits more easily into the oven, for use at home. Both come in a huge range of sizes.
Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
With two hoop handles these go straight from stove top to oven in a hurry. As with all modern Lodge Logic cast iron cookware, these come pre-seasoned so you can use them “straight out of the box”.
Available in 2, 5 and 7 quart sizes, there is also a 5 quart model which has a deeper lid (with loop handles on either side) that can double as a skillet.
You can also find 3, 5 and 7 quart models with tempered glass lids, but personally I prefer the old fashioned styling that comes with keeping the whole thing heavy metal instead.
The spiral handle is also a prettier option if you don’t like the clean looks of the original oven pictured.
Camp Dutch Ovens
Of course, you can use the ordinary Dutch Ovens camping, and they will do very nicely for certain things. But without legs you will need a trivet, to stand them over hot coals.
Choosing an oven designed with camping in mind will give you far more flexibility come meal time. The hoop handle means you can suspend the Dutch oven over the camp-fire, whilst the 3 legs mean you can sit it directly onto the coals. If you plan on baking in the Oven, the recessed lid allows you to maintain an even temperature by providing a nice shelf for you to place more coals onto.
The size range is pretty large, but for camping with friends the 8 quart deep oven is probably the most practical. In addition you could choose a tiny 1 quart oven, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 quart models. The diameter for the 8 quart model can be 12? for a relatively deep pan, or 14? for a more shallow one.
The Camp Dutch Oven lids are flanged to hold hot coals, and seal in moisture, but are also suitable to be used as cast iron skillets or griddles if you turn them over.
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Ovens
There are two much more bright and zingy ranges of cast iron Dutch Ovens from Lodge, with bright enamel coating the strong cast iron. The porcelain enamel means there is never any need to season the cookware, and the bright colors allow cook-ware to go directly to the table for serving with style.
Lodge Color Dutch Ovens
Making enameled cast iron cook-ware affordable has been a great success for Lodge. Just as hard wearing, but at a fraction of the cost of their European counterparts, the Lodge Color range brings traditional cook-ware into a more fun-loving modern kitchen environment.
These are most definitely for home use only, but will safely transfer from stove top to oven.
Available in 3 sizes (3, 6 and 7.5 quart) even buying the whole set would be cheaper than one European version!
The ovens are made with traditional casting in sand molds. This can lead to some small bumps and imperfections, that show their provenance and will not affect the cooking performance. Several layers of enamel are then added to give the finished high glossy, durable look.
Lodge L Series Enamel Dutch Oven
With clean lines and bold colors the L Series offer a more modern take on the traditional Dutch Oven. Again, porcelain enamel coats traditionally crafted cast iron, so the softer looks hide a sturdy kitchen tool.
The stainless steel lid handle will remain cool when cooking at moderate temperatures on the stove so might be preferred by some.
The L Series is currently only available in 4 and 6 quart versions.
Lodge Dutch Oven Reviews
Well, we have seen what is on offer, but how do the products stack up when owned by real people? You can view all customer reviews via the link at the top of the page, but rest assured it seems Lodge are the company to go for if you want a cast iron Dutch oven in America.
The pre-seasoning of the entire range has overall been a hit with customers. Of course, you do have to bear in mind that you might need to re-season the cookware in future. This will most likely occur when someone helps you out by cleaning your Dutch Oven a little too harshly! But since it is simply a matter of wiping on a little vegetable oil and baking in the oven, it really isn’t too much of a hard-ship!
One thing you should keep in mind is that by its very nature cast iron Dutch Ovens are rather heavy, so be prepared, and of course they get very hot, so invest in a good quality handle mit.