Troop 1018 Lesson Plan for Dutch Oven Cooking

Overview we will cover:

Whats a Dutch oven
Sizes and types
Seasoning (first time use)
Cooking
Cleanup
Wrap-up
Whats a Dutch oven!
Its an oven provides a means to evenly heat food from all sides !ust like your
oven at home
"reat for#
$oasting% &aking% frying% &oiling% ste'ing
"i#es an$ t%pes
('o &asic types
o )luminum and cast iron
o (roop only has cast iron% so 'e 'ill address that type
Dutch ovens come in many sizes the most versatile are the t'o sizes 'e use in
troop *+*,% the *+- and *.-
/ost recipes are designed for this size oven0 a meal made in a *+ or *.- oven can
feed a patrol sized group
1ets go over the parts#
o 2ven% top
o 3ote that the oven has legs so you can put coals underneath
o (op has a lip to hold coals keeps them from sliding off
o 4ail handle note that it lays flat in one direction and slightly elevated in
the other making it easier to pick up
o 5andle on the lid note the loop that makes it easy to pick up
"easoning
4efore cast iron cook'are can &e used (this applies to all cast iron% not !ust the
D2)% it must &e 6seasoned-
7ou 'ill not normally have to do this as its a one time process
If a piece of cast iron cook'are rusts% it 'ill have to &e thoroughly cleaned and re-
seasoned
(he steps in seasoning cast iron
o 8irst% thoroughly 'ash 'ith 'ater9 If its ne' from the factory% it 'ill &e
shipped 'ith a protective coating that must &e completely removed9 (his
'ill re:uire a lot of scru&&ing9 ;se steel 'ool if necessary9
o 2nce its completely clean% heat the oven in your home oven to make sure
it is completely dry (&e sure to leave the top off in this process to allo'
complete air flo' so moisture 'ill not &e trapped)9
o 3e<t% put a thin coat of vegeta&le oil on all surfaces (include inside and
outside of the oven% including the top)9
o 4ake it in your home oven at =>+? for an hour ('ith the top separate to
allo' for circulation)
o 1et it cool and repeat the oil &aking process another thin coat and
another hour at =>+?9
o When it cools% apply another thin coat of oil the oven is no' ready to
use or store
Cooking
Start the charcoal you can use coals from a fire% &ut its easier to regulate the
temperature 'hen you use charcoal &ri:uettes
o /ethods for starting the charcoal
6@asy light- charcoal
Chimney
Charcoal starter (adult must handle the starter)
8ire starter stick
Alace the charcoal on the D2
o Ill go over the num&er to use in a minute
o Charcoals on top go in a checker&oard pattern
o 4elo'% place a&out .B= of the 'ay from the center
Charcoal heat 'ill radiate in all directions and 'ill tend to
concentrate in the middle if too many are placed there
o 3um&er of &ri:uettes
8or =.>? cooking (standard)% use a num&er of charcoals e:ual to .
times the size of the D2 in inches (for e<ample% use . < *+ C .+
coals for a *+ inch D2)
If the recipe calls for more heat figure on a *+-*>? more for each
&ri:uette added
o Split as follo's#
$oasting# split evenly &et'een top and &ottom
4aking# . coals on top for each * underneath
8rying# )ll underneath
Ste'ing% simmering# . coals underneath for each * on top
8ollo' the recipe
o (here are lots of recipes on line
o We have lots in our li&rary
o )lmost any cook&ook recipe can &e adapted for the D2 (after all% it is an
ovenD)
5ints#
o (he idea is to maintain a constant temperature
If the 'ind is &lo'ing or youre cooking ne<t to a campfire% rotate
a&out E+? every *+ minutes or so0 also% rotate the lid in the
opposite direction a&out E+? at the same time
)lso% if the 'ind is &lo'ing you might 'ant to shield the D2
o $esist the urge to peek9 @very time you take the lid off% you lose heat and
add a&out *+ min to the cooking time
o 8or longer cooking times% replenish the coals
Start another set
Alace ne' ones ne<t to the e<isting ones and let the 6old- ones
light the ne' ones
Cleanup
)&solutely important to clean up a D2 as soon as youre done 'ith it
Cast iron 'ill rust :uickly
3ever clean cast iron cook'are 'ith soap (it 'ill get in the pores and the ne<t
meal 'ill taste like soap)
Steps to cleanup#
o $emove as much food as possi&le
o If its clean at this point% skip to the 6oil- step
o Aour 'ater in the oven (&ut not a hot ovenD)
o 5eat the 'ater and use a plastic scraper or scru&&er to remove remaining
food
o $inse repeat if necessary
o Dry completely (heat until its 'arm to the touch to assist in the drying
process)
o 2il step - place a thin layer of vegeta&le oil on all of the interior surfaces
o Alace some folded paper or a paper to'el &et'een the lid and &ody so air
can circulate and any remaining moisture can evaporate
Wrap&up
) 'ell maintained D2 'ill last a lifetime so maintain it 'ellD
Feep it clean
Safety# ) Dutch oven can &e very hotD Feep people a'ay from it 'hen youre
cooking9 ;se the lid lifter and leather gloves
Dutch ovens can &e stacked 'hen cooking
Alacing the coals on aluminum foil% particularly on damp ground% helps them &urn
and radiates more heat up'ard
1ining the Dutch oven 'ith aluminum foil can help 'ith cleanup
(he Dutch ovens top can make a great griddle
o (urn it over and place coals underneath
o (he slightly concave shape 'ill keep pancakes or eggs from slipping off
When taking a Dutch oven camping% dont forget that you need more than !ust the
oven
o Charcoal
o Shovel
o (ongs (usually in the chuck &o<)
o 1id lifter
o 1id holder
o Gegeta&le oil (usually in the chuck &o<)
o Alastic scraper for cleanup
o )luminum foil
o 1eather gloves
'uestions!!!!