Serves: 5

Given the choice I prefer to buy products made in America! This includes, of course, Dutch ovens. In recent years I’ve seen DO’s of foreign manufacture appear on the shelves which like most imports have a cheaper price tag. Though I’m just a camp cook and not a trained metallurgist, the difference in quality is apparent. A friend of mine said he’d found a couple worth having after sorting through quite a few. This tells me two things. One, the overall quality is not as good as those produced domestically and two, the quality control process leaves something to be desired.

This past year my wife and I were treated to a tour of the Lodge foundry in South Pittsburg, Tennessee. On one line we saw DO’s manufactured utilizing the same methods used when the foundry opened, and on an adjacent line DO’s were being cast using the latest computer controlled technology. As we walked through the plant our guide would point out different individuals and tell us with pride how long a particular person had worked there and in some cases a person who represented a second or third generation family member to work at Lodge! In the quality control lab we saw Lodge products as well as the imports being subjected to the same tests. The pride and craftsmanship we saw at the foundry are mirrored in Lodge’s entire product line!

My preference for cast iron dates back many years but aluminum DO’s have a niche in my camp kitchen as well. A 12-inch aluminum DO weighs approximately seven pounds whereas a cast iron 12-inch DO weighs 19-20 pounds. The lighter aluminum DO’s are easier to handle for young kids who don’t have the upper body strength of an adult. The weight savings are also a definite factor in my decision to use aluminum Dutch’s for white water rafting and horse packing. Besides being lighter, aluminum DO’s don’t require seasoning and can be washed with soap and water. But, because the iron DO’s weigh more they retain heat longer and will reach the higher temperatures necessary to brown when baking biscuits on a cool breezy day. So, there are pro’s and con’s for each. If you’re considering buying a Dutch, analyze your outdoor cooking needs and purchase the type and size of DO which best suits your requirements.

Spiced with More Tall Tales - Introduction

More Recipes from the Cee Dub's Dutch Oven and Other Camp Cookin' Cookbook:
_A Pinch Of This And A Dash Of That
_Basic Camp Kitchen Lists
_Basic Camp Supply List
_Basic Chuck Box List
_Basic Dutch Oven Equipment List
_Basic Kitchen Equipment & Utensil List
_Budgets For Camp Cooks
_Buying A Dutch Oven
_Cleaning And Storing DO's
_Cooking "Lite"
_Cooking Techniques
_Cooking for VIPs
_DO's Need Love Too!
_DO: Cast Iron vs Aluminum
_DO: Do's And Don'ts & Tips
_DO: Dutch Oven Care
_DO: Selecting And Buying A Dutch
_DO: Selection And Care
_Decking Your Dutch Ovens
_Dutch Oven & Cast Iron Cookery
_Dutch Oven Equipment
_Garbage DO's And DON'T's
_Gettin' Started
_Is It Done Yet?
_Planning Your Menu
_Table of Dutches
_Words of Wisdom I
_Words of Wisdom II
__Last Word