What Can I Use Instead of a Dutch Oven?
The Dutch oven is a classic piece of cast-iron cookery that is often used for cooking over the hot coals of a wood-burning campfire or in your backyard over a charcoal fire. In the days of the pioneers and Western cattle drives, no chuck wagon would ever be equipped without one of these cooking tools.
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Types of Dutch Ovens
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A Dutch oven can be made from either cast iron or aluminum. The cast-iron Dutch oven is heavy and bulky, but lends itself well to the art of slow cooking. Aluminum Dutch ovens are lighter in weight, but need a more even-tempered heat source than the iron models.
Reflector Ovens
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Reflector ovens are lightweight, folding, metal stands that can be used in conjunction with a campfire. They are suitable for cooking biscuits and simple breads. A limited variety of meats can also be cooked with a reflector oven, which is designed to sit right next to the fire and absorb heat radiation from the burning wood or charcoal.
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Build a Horno
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"Horno" is a Hispanic term that describes an outdoor clay oven. Although not mobile, a properly constructed horno makes for an efficient way to cook bread and casserole-type dishes in a slow manner.
Standard Cooking Items
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Some heavy-duty casserole dishes, such as those made from stainless steel or hammered copper can be used over a charcoal briquette fire instead of a Dutch oven. These items are lighter in weight, yet thick enough to approximate the slow-cooking style of the heavier item.
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References
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- Photo Credit campfire image by Ekaterina Shvigert from Fotolia.com
