Great review. To use the lid as a pan you would typically flip the base upside down and set hot coals on the back. You can then put the lid on the legs and cook on top of the lid. This way you don't destroy any coating inside your pan and keep it clean as well.

Great tips Dan! You mentioned putting coals in the Dutch oven and cooking on the lid underside. You could turn the Dutch oven over, placing coals on the bottom of the Dutch oven, and the legs would support the lid for cooking, allowing the coals not to burnout.

Dan you are so right, with a Dutchoven you can cook anything. I used Dutchovens all my life. I suggest for the people that have never used Dutchovens you should do a part 2 on how to care for them. Dutchovens can last for generations if properly cared for.

Ooh, is that what they are called?! They're a staple here in South Africa, common in making "potjie-kos", pot food, which is a type of stew over coals. :) You gave lots of extra tips for utilizing the whole thing I didn't know about, thanks :)

I went out and bought one immediately after watching you bake bread in one of your videos. The look on your face when you bit into it was priceless and I wanted to experience it myself. Thanks for all the tips.

Great video! Can I add some tips? - If you are going to use your pot, as a base for your coals: 1) You can use some fresh, Green wood, sticks or metal skewers (something that won't burn!). Put these between the rim of the pot, and the lid skillet, to let fresh air in and keep your coals burning. 2) First, place some aluminum foil in the pot, to help preserve your seasoning inside the pot! 3) Turn your Dutch oven, into a Hibachi Grill - Take along a small, round, grill grate, slightly larger that the top of the pot. Put Aluminum foil, and hot coals in the pot. Then add your grill grate on top of the pot! Boom, you are grilling!

Great video. The one complimentary piece if kit for a dutch oven I would add is a pair of welder's gloves or the like - they make handling hot iron safer (fewer accidents, ie., burns, spillage, etc.). Makes hot coal transfer to the lid easy.

You forgot to talk about stacking Dutch ovens. If you have 2 or more you can save on wood/charcoal by stacking. This works best with meals that need a longer cooking time and little attention.

Thanks for this nice introduction into the Dutch Oven. One advice, do not forget your welding gloves or you will get burnt fingers. A lid lifter is a versatile tool, too.

Spot on! I am the King of Colorado Campfire Cooks . My opinion is this is the best video on cooking with a dutch oven I have seen. Curse you, giving away my secrets..well done

A small linked chain ring on the lid works to hold coals on a non rimmed lid, rocks or a trivet for legless pots to raise above the coals

LOVE Cast Iron Dutch Ovens!!! Rimmed Lids and the feet are VERY important. Thank you for your tips. Appreciate you getting everyone up to speed on how versatile Dutch Ovens can be. Also, loved the comment Charles included about stacking the ovens. Sure, they're a beast to lug around, but fantastic for car/truck/trailer camping. Heck, use 'em at home too for good practice. Get out into the woods.

I use a round wire rack/trivet inside as a thermal break and a round cake pan to do pies and cakes, bread in camp, wooden utensils to avoid removing the seasoning

I use my Dutch over 30 years easily and cool trick for almost fool proof baking with is to use 3 aluminium wadedup foil balls about golf ball size. And flatted them to thickness of a large grape and then use a cake pan sitting on those balls inside the Dutch oven. Naturally have put maybe 6 to 8 hot coals on top and about 5. On bottom remember heat rises. Average temperature will be about 350 degrees inside depending on weather conditions. The flavor will always be better than the oven at home. And like the man ANY THING you can cook at home you can do it in a Dutch oven. And if you have several Dutch oven to use at one time, ground permitting double or triple stack to save coals.

One of the handiest DO accessories I have (besides a good set of tongs) is the Lodge lid stand/lid lifter. You've probably seen one, a folding X shaped device. You can set the inverted lid on it, with coals under the lid and cook on it while the bottom half is doing pot duty for something else. Or the newer versions of the device are shaped to easily lift or rotate the lid with coals on it. The "bake kettles" are one item that were important enough to the Lewis and Clark and expedition that they carried them both going and returning. They were not for trade and carefully cared for.

I use a 12 inch around deep dutch oven by putting small pans inside it like with a regular oven. I can cook my vegetables, meat and scalloped potatoes separately that way.

They make a single person Dutch oven. Great for the backpack. Great information as always.

Nothing hotter than a man who knows his way around cast iron! 😁

That lid's a good tortilla warmer 👍🏼😉

That's my favorite size dutch oven! I've used it for everything from meatloaf to biscuits, and of course chili and stew. One of our favorites is chicken and dumplings from scratch. It just tastes better cooked over a camp fire!

Dan - As always, great tips! Thank you sir! I absolutely love me some cast iron cook wear. If you remove the lid, turn oven upside down, coals on bottom, lid on top of the legs, use lid as frying pan. Then you won’t smother the coals as you would by putting inside the oven, can easily add coals if needed and easily remove the lid.

There is no better video on the internet that explains what you just did so succinctly. Great video.

Lid is probably the #1 underrated griddle...

Pre ordered the book, cannot wait to experience more wild adventures and more father son experiences

Back in the 18th century, what we call a Dutch Oven was called a Bake Kettle. It really was used as an oven to bake bread, pies, biscuits, etc. A trivet between the Dutch Oven and the pie pan helps prevent scorching.

Im old school and cook almost exclusively with cast iron. My dutch ovens are indispensable and the perfect vessel. The lip lid is critical when cooking on a outdoor fire. I built an inground oven that my dutch ovens fit into and the oven has a cover and it is the perfect oven. Thanks for this video. ❤

Great video ... and good information. I've been cooking in Dutch ovens long than ol' Coalcracker has been alive. I've served at a judge at the finals of the International Dutch Oven Society. I've also worked as the "cookie" in a professional hunting camp where my employer agreed that my Dutch oven cooking not only pleased his clients, but enhanced our tips. I'm presently at my remote Idaho cabin. Mañana I'll cook and bake bread.

The upside-down trick for pizza is amazing. Cheers brother.

My DO, which I'll be using in the hotel parking lot to bake bread in about an hour, is a Camp Chef "Deluxe" and has the little feet on the lid too, which makes the top into a great griddle. The one drag I ran into with it last summer is that the fire restrictions in the west, which are killing camping for me, include charcoal briquettes too and make it a crime to cook with anything but a gas stove.

Great video, Dan. Nothing like cast iron on a campfire. And the best part about cast iron, is you can get used to cooking with it at home, on your stove/in the oven. Build your season, build your cast iron skills.

What a fun video. I'm good with cast iron how-to but I couldn't resist watching such an upbeat video from you. The bonus: hearing about the new book. My grandboys are gonna love it!

This is why Dan is the guru of bushcraft!!! You should have a TV show BUT, I prefer you here!!

I like Lodge cast iron cookware use it almost daily . Got 10in 12in and 14in deep outdoor dutch oven plus indoor ditches and skillets small to very large. Somewhere in the ballpark of 35 pcs. I'm having a lot of FUN with them. Keep care of them people them will last you a life. Mom a used some for over 70 yrs my older sister has them now. Thanks.

Can you do a “Keeping Cast Iron Seasoned” Part 2 video? It can be really easy for cast iron to become rusted when used outdoors for any length of time if not maintained properly.

I ordered your bushcraft book and I'm looking forward to the material. Great video by the way. I need to do a little Dutch Oven cooking next time I go camping.

Fabulous update, I’ve never tasted a bad “Dutch Oven” meal 🧡 Thank you for sharing

Dutch oven are awesome, anything you can cook in an oven, you can cook in it. Have a good lifting tool is very important so you don’t end with ashes in your meal. I found a framing hammer’s claw can makes a great substitute in a pinch.

Amazing instructions! I’m going to impress my Boy Scouts. Thanks!

I got both types- the round top (which I use on an induction oven) and the one with legs and a rim for the campfire. I learned a lot today. Thank you, sir.

love the tips you have given me some great ideas only comment is i think the nick in the lid and base were put in to allow you to use a thermometer to check inside temp

The clue is in the name……… Dutch OVEN 👍😂😂😂 great video as always much appreciated. Now I realise why I should have bought one with legs! My saving grace is these days most of my cooking is stove top☹️😢 Regards from deepest Dorset England 🇬🇧🇺🇸👍

Stay frosty kids and eat well 🇺🇸👍 As always great video

Hey 👋 Dan To me the Dutch ovens are the best for camping. Learning about hot coals placement is everything. And never fry bacon naked.

I’ve cooked with my Dutch oven for a few years and I was aware of using the lid as a skillet. I was aware of flipping it over to cook things like a pizza on it. I used that method not for the cooking but for putting a pineapple upside down cake out for easier cutting and serving. I’ve never heard of it as a portable-ish grill, not sure that I will need it that way but in case I do it’s in the memory bank. I enjoyed this video a lot, now how about cooking tips / ideas with it. Like a breakfast, a lunch, dinner and a desert.

You just totally blew my mind with the versatility of a freekin' Dutch Oven..... Not only that their great but SOME are even more versatile! I suppose it's obvious that I'm not a bush crafty/ camping aficionado but this info will definitely improve my experiences that are forthcoming! I'm very much enjoying your content and am learning much from your efforts and others.

The dutch oven is extremely popular here in South Africa. The name for it here is a "potjie". They are much bigger and more round. Frequently used in competition and social cooking. here!

I love all my cast iron cookware. I have cooked with it for years . I also use a tripod with it ! I love making pizza , biscuits and gravy. Chicken and dumplings . Great video as always Dan!!! Take care and stay safe my friend!!!

Thank you for the useful, practical information and straightforward presentation.

Got your Book... It is very well written... Outstanding AF

I was going to say with the legs you can stack them and share the top coals of one with the bottom of another, but Charles beat me to it. So I guess I can offer ... line the inside with aluminum foil and then follow the recipe on the box to make a pineapple upside-down cake. This is where the welding gloves come in handy. put a clean piece of foil on the table and turn the dutch oven over gently and shake. The cake and foil will drop out and just gently peel the foil off the cake.

Dan's looking pretty jacked these days sun's out guns out! Lol

Someone gave me a dutch oven just like the one you have with legs and stuff. I do believe I'm finally going to try it out this summer LOL. Should be interesting, fun and most likely really yummy! 😁😎

Excellent insight! But I would expect nothing less from a fellow Keystoner!

Dutch Oven! Named for a Reason! It's an Oven! Heat on Top is more important then the heat below! Slow and steady! The one with the Lip as a recall is of American Decent? Out in the Frontiers Era they Developed the Lip to Help Hold the coals from sliding Off. Yes Very Heavy but, at that time they were Did Not Have an Oven. Fireplace or open Fire! Dutch Oven WILL Cook Everything you can cook in a Today's Oven! Nice Simple Informative Video! Thank You!

Here is another hack. If you carry your Dutch oven with legs in a bag, cut out a round piece of plywood the is the it diameter of the oven. Then the Dutch oven sits on the plywood in the bag, hence saving the legs from breaking. Also the piece of plywood makes a nice trivet if you want place on a table. Cook your pizzas on a sheet of tin foil that over hangs the oven. It lifts out ant keeps the oven clean. Works great. Skillet.

I cook on fires once or twice a week.. cast is the go to! Have one deep and a big shallow. I’m a pro at biscuits and gravy while camping!

Alright..you convinced me that I can't live without this Dutch oven

You said about filling it with coals and using the lid to cook on that's a great idea I think if you could use a grate for separation so the coals can breath it would add cook time

I also use my dutch oven as a portable foot warmer. Fill it with hot rocks from the fire and it will keep warm for 2-3 hours.

And I thought I knew everything about the Dutch oven. I was wrong. Great tips!

Hello from British Columbia Canada 🇨🇦👋👍♥️...I gave a dutch oven withe the flat rimmed lid to my brother...maybe I should have kept it...😎😋🥓

I love my Dutch oven I’ve been using it since I was 12 years old and am 48 now the first years were a little rough 😂😂 things are going good now 😊

Him & Simon, A Bloke in The Woods must be on the same wavelength where Simon just did a how he maintains his cast iron stuff ( including dutch pot) on his YT.

I have one but have never used it. I have used cast iron pots and frying pans. Time to bring it out and cook with it. You have inspired me.

Thanks for posting this. I was just clearing my Caravan and realized how lopsided the floor is. This is a quick, simple, and cheap fix I will try too

My Dutch oven has a domed lid, no legs, no vents, Actually has spikes in the bottom of the lid, so no cooking pancakes, but I've had it forever and love it. I'm going to have to look for one with the featured you mentioned to try it out! great vid as usual!

Cooking on the lid, and some dutch ovens having a steam vent, are new to me. Thanks!

Thanks Dan, you certainly have given me a lot of different ideas when cooking with a Dutch oven.

Thank you. Love Dutch Oven. 🇳🇱💖✨

The charcoal in the pot with the lid upside down sounds like a good idea but I think that depends on your charcoal. Standard briquettes probably have a high percentage of carcinogens in them. I don’t want that anywhere I normally cook my food. I’m sure there is a situation for which that degree of deviation would be acceptable, but as a general rule - I’m keeping the charcoal on the outside of the pan. Unless I’m more likely to die from not eating and I can wait the 7 years for cancer. Other than that….nice work introducing the best pot on the planet. The pot that made settling the west possible.

Thanks for all the tips!

My wife and I just got our first Dutch oven! Thank you for this video!!!

Great video Dan, I've used Dutch ovens for many years and you've just proven that there's always more to learn. Thanks 😊

About to drill a vent hole in my Dutch oven. That's genius.

Hey, Dan, you the man. I've been doing dutch oven cooking for several years and never did I think about turning the pot upside down. Thanks for the tip my friend. You always come up with great ideas.

This is awesome Dan. I really thought I was a campire cooking master but there is always something to learn. Cant wait to show some new skills off around the campfire. Thanks!

Thanks for this. I hadn't thought of how many ways you can use a camp oven before. Now it will be my number 1 go to for camp cooking. Cheers.

And here I thought I was the only one that used the top to cook on when turned over. Great tips thanks for sharing!

folks are blown away when you make biscuits or cobbler pie ect in a Dutch oven lol so fun

Big thank you Dan for the tricks!! And thanks for the nudge to think outside the box! Great video as always! 👍👍

I absolutely loved the truck video ,it’s my dream truck if it was a GMC lol 😄

I live in the outdoors, and, I have a dutch oven, of course I've broken your rules because my lid is domed and there are no legs! LOL, however, I've heard arguements both for and against legs, but my main problem was my domed lid (it was all that was available), I have cut some metal to make a 'fence' around the lid, however, baking bread the other day, and, for the first time putting coals on top, without anything tokeep them there, wow, the few coals I put on were enough to speed up the baking of the bread and actually burnt the top of the loaf in no time. (usually I would fip the loaf three quarters of the way through cooking) but yeah, I completely agree, its the best bit of kit ever (that and my wok that can also double as an oven), got a few decades left in my dutch oven, it's most likely goingto outlast me, so I won't ber changing it, just becoming more adventurous with what I cook with it. Love the idea of cooking pizza upside down!

Excellent video. My camp oven has a flat bottom, so I'm purchasing a trivet to raise it of the fire.

Hmm... I recently picked up a cast iron Dutch oven, and haven't even had a chance to test it out yet. In looking up recipes, etc., I saw that opening under the lid as where people would put their digital thermometers through. Never saw anyone use it as a steam vent! The lid of the Dutch oven I got has legs built into the lip, so it can be used as a frying pan with coals under it, just like the main pot. I would never have thought of using the whole thing upside down. What a great idea. Thanks for sharing!

I bought one that’s obviously for the stove in the house. No feet, the lid has no handle or lip and can be flipped over and is a pan, and no handle/bale at all. My next one with be for campfires. Like yours. I like peach cobbler in the Dutch oven, learned from my old Boy Scout Master.

Great information about the Dutch Oven. I see so many people using them like a pot over a fire that they miss the forest for the trees. I like to look at mine for what it is, an oven. They are so completely versatile and the maintenance is minimal once you get the basics down. Thank you for posting this video as it's truly worthwhile for not only the experienced but for the people getting into this level of cooking some truly amazing meals!

Thank you, Dan! My family is used cast iron for generations, and I thought I knew about it. But that little vent for reductions is something I've never seen before.

Great ideas w/ stuff I didn’t think of.

Thanks for all the great videos.

That steam breather trick is a step up. My little4 1/2" will update mine in no time. Owned DO's for years and you really don't need much else. Great info!

I do have two Dutch ovens and both do have the features you talk about in this video, awesome.

Love your content!!!! Book pre-ordered ……. Cannot wait to receive it 👍

It's amazing how good and versatile a dutch oven is I had not considered flipping the lid the couple ways you mentioned I am going to get one soon for my wander the world rig. It's good to know all the features to look for as well since I have not had or used one but I have had a nice cast iron pan

Totally agree about getting the style of lid with the lip and getting the legs. Yeah I bought the wrong one. Didn’t know about the vent hole either. The lid used as a grill, brilliant! This is a great video, everyone in scouting should watch your video. Thank you Sir 😊

I've cooked a few meals with a Dutch Oven, but you just taught me a few new tricks. COOL. Thank you.😀

This is an awesome set of tips, I just got a lodge 12’ and am gonna use these tips right away. - Thanks!!

Awesome information! Going camping this weekend with our Dutch oven. Greatly appreciate it

Thanks. I am now using this video as a Dutch oven cooking 101 for my scouts!

I have one of these dutch ovens, have not used it much. Thank you, I actually learned a couple more useful tips for it.

I thought with my years of using my Dutch Oven…..I knew all there is to know. Evidently, I was wrong (again). Thank you, great video.