Dutch Oven Care

With some basic Dutch oven care, your cast iron camping Dutch oven can last for generations! Here's what you need to know.

I use a cast iron Dutch oven for camping. I highly recommend cast iron for its durability and non-stick coating.

All of the information on this page refers to cast iron Dutch oven care.

Bringing home a new Dutch oven

Congratulations! You have a new cast iron Dutch oven!

It probably has a protective coating that kept it from getting rusty on its journey to your home. Before you can use the oven, you'll need to remove the coating.

Removing the protective coating.

Follow the manufacturer's directions - or just give it a good scrub with dishwashing detergent and a plastic scrubbie.

You will never again use soap on your cast iron Dutch oven!

Seasoning a Dutch Oven

The first step in Dutch oven care is seasoning. You'll need to do this before you use it.

This will turn your Dutch oven into a fabulous non-stick pot which will be a breeze to use and to clean.

This aspect of Dutch oven care takes some time and effort, but it's worth it! If all goes well, you will have to do this only once.

Season your Dutch oven at home. Don't wait until you get to the campground!

You will need

vegetable oil

paper towels or a clean rag

baking sheets

What to do

Make sure your Dutch oven is completely dry.

Preheat your kitchen oven to 375F/190C.

Use a paper towel or a clean rag to coat the Dutch oven (inside and out) with a generous layer of vegetable oil.

Do the same to the top and bottom of the lid.

Place the Dutch oven and the lid upside down on baking sheets and place them in the oven.

Turn on the range top fan if you have one - or open a window if you don't. There will be some smoke and odor.

Bake for about an hour.

Turn off the oven and allow the Dutch oven and lid to cool slowly. (It's easiest to let them cool overnight.)

Repeat the process: preheat the oven, coat the pieces with oil, place them upside down, bake for an hour and let cool.

You're almost done! Now, just warm the Dutch oven on the stove and coat its interior with oil one more time.

Your Dutch oven is seasoned and ready to use!

The great thing is that each time you use the Dutch oven, you'll be re-seasoning it as you cook! The more you use it, the better seasoned it will be!

  Click here for tips on using your Dutch oven.

Cleaning a Dutch Oven

If you have seasoned your oven well, Dutch oven cleaning is easy!

Do not use soap or detergent!!

Soap will remove the oil seasoning that you worked so hard to apply - and your next meal might have a soapy taste!

Regular Dutch Oven Cleaning

You will need

a metal, plastic or wooden utensil

a plastic scrubbie

paper towels or a clean rag

What to do

Use the utensil to scrape off any food remaining in the pot.

Add some warm water.

Use a plastic scrubbie to scrub off any remaining food.

Rinse with clear water.

Repeat as necessary.

Dry immediately with paper towels or with a clean rag.

Removing Stubborn Deposits

Sometimes regular cleaning won't do the job.

Perhaps the pot wasn't thoroughly seasoned, or perhaps there is burnt food stuck to the bottom.

Here's the trick that I use to remove stubborn deposits:

You will need

salt

a metal flipper

a plastic scrubbie

paper towels or a clean cloth

What to do

Pour some water in the pot.

Sprinkle in a teaspoon or two of salt.

Bring the water and salt to a boil (on a stove or over the campfire). Let it boil for 5 minutes or so.

Use the metal flipper to scrape off any remaining bits.

Pour off the water.

When the pot has cooled, add a bit of warm water and use your plastic scrubber to scour the pot.

Dry the pot and lid with paper towels or with a clean rag.

Take a look at the inner surface of the pot. Is it still black and shiny? If not, reseason it by coating it with oil, and sitting it on the fire. (If you're at home, coat it with oil, turn it upside down on a baking sheet and bake it for an hour at 375F/190C.)

I would love to try this handy device. It's called "The Ringer", and it's basically a piece of chain mail. You use it like a scrubber, and it takes baked-on food right off.

It gets excellent, rave reviews from everyone who has tried it.

It even works on glass baking pans and steel pots, without scratching or damaging the surfaces.

I want one of these!