Dutch Oven size recommendation

I'm not an expert by a long shot, but we settled on and a 12 inch. With a 14 inch we had hassle finding a cover bag we liked. With a 10 inch we found that many recipes almost over flowed. We usually only carry the 12 inch because everything we need takes up space.

I am by no means a DO expert but would think that a 10-12 qt pot (lid and base combined) was a bit too large for baking purposes. What is the next size down? And is this a deep base or the shallower version?

I'm theorizing that a deeper oven would better simulate a S+B oven with it's "cook on lower/middle or higher shelf" instructions.

I think most recipes are written for 12's, if that is any help.
We have a 10" which makes way more than enough for the two of us, but we always have to adjust the recipes and the number of charcoal briquettes because they are written for 12 inch ovens.

I'm not sure how to interpret the volume capacity of the lid. We've never cooked anything or any liquids on top of the lid, only used it for holding the charcoal, or very rarely, turning it upside down and frying something on the underside...but I'm always up for learning new things.

Go with the 12". That holds enough for your 4-6 people. As mentioned, most DO recipes are sized to the 12".

Personally I always recommend folks buy 2 of the 12". DOs aren't that expensive and while making your main course, you can use the second one to bake biscuits, breads or desserts. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. I found out quickly many years ago that once you start using DOs at campgrounds, you'll find you become very popular with your neighbors.

Welcome to the world of Cast Iron Chefs.

magnusfide wrote:
Go with the 12". That holds enough for your 4-6 people. As mentioned, most DO recipes are sized to the 12".

Personally I always recommend folks buy 2 of the 12". DOs aren't that expensive and while making your main course, you can use the second one to bake biscuits, breads or desserts. Trust me, you'll be glad you did. I found out quickly many years ago that once you start using DOs at campgrounds, you'll find you become very popular with your neighbors.

Welcome to the world of Cast Iron Chefs.

Most recipes are 12" that is a good point. Leaning towards the 12", as no one has suggested bigger(14") is better. I found a 10" Dutch oven of mine(garage sale), but no legs and curved lid, thus not a charcoal type.

Thank you for thoughts.

Dean

DeanRIowa wrote:

magnusfide wrote:

Welcome to the world of Cast Iron Chefs.

I found a 10" Dutch oven of mine(garage sale), but no legs and curved lid, thus not a charcoal type.

Thank you for thoughts.

Dean

One can take aluminum foil and create a rim for the edge of a rounded lid. That raised portion lets juices drip back into the rest of the recipe.

:C

X3 on the 12" size. I have both a regular Lodge and the deep 8 qt. Lodge. As noted above most recipes are geared for the 12". Having the deep 8 qt. is great for crowd feeding.

Little Kopit wrote:

DeanRIowa wrote:

magnusfide wrote:

Welcome to the world of Cast Iron Chefs.

I found a 10" Dutch oven of mine(garage sale), but no legs and curved lid, thus not a charcoal type.

Thank you for thoughts.

Dean

One can take aluminum foil and create a rim for the edge of a rounded lid. That raised portion lets juices drip back into the rest of the recipe.

:C

You can also get a wok ring (if you can find one) and set that on top of the rounded cover to corral your charcoal. They work well and are light weight.

I'm starting with a 8 qt unfooted Griswold DO mostly because it's what I "gifted"(read stole)self with from my mother's apt.

I'll be using a foil mod like Lil Kopit suggests atop and a CI trivet below to compensate when cooking on an open fire.

I realise that most recipes are geared for a 12" but find it's not much of a stretch to scale a recipe down by a 1/4. When I look at the pot's size I can imagine being able to cook for 4-6 or even 8 people in it.
Or to put it another way, that's up to 2 quarts of food per person when cooking for 8 people.

Now baking is a different animal but since I can make bisquits/johnny cakes for 5 in a 12" CI skillet and the base of an 8 qt DO is bigger thinking I'll be fine.

I should point out that along with starting to RV in a small TT, I also car camp so there are times weight and size is important to me.
This could account for my belief that an 8 quart DO would be fine for 4-6 people.

I ended up going with the 12" dutch oven. I will probably get a 10" sooner or later as well. Thank you all for the recommendations.




thanks,
Dean