How to Season a Dutch Oven for Easy Care Camping

Before you use a Dutch Oven, it is important to follow a few easy steps to season it. This will help make it easier to clean your dutch oven and help it heat more evenly for a lifetime of use. Dutch oven cooking is a real pleasure and learning to take care of your oven will make it a snap to clean.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dutch Oven
• Cooking Oil
• Cloth or paper towels
• Oven or other good heat source

1. 
    

   1
   A new dutch oven is often sprayed with a protective clear sealant so it won't rust before it is seasoned. Wash the camp oven well in warm soapy water. Any rust spots should be removed with light steel wool or a fine wire brush. I knew a man who would boil a bit of dry hay in his oven for 20 minutes before he seasoned it. He said it removed a slight metallic taste. I have never done this step however.

2. Dry the Dutch Oven thoroughly. When dry place in an oven or on a heat source. This can be a also be a hot fire or gas grill. An oven should be heated to 400 degrees.

3. While the Dutch Oven is still hot remove it from the heat and rub the entire oven with a very thin coat of vegetable oil. Do this inside and out the first time. Do the lid also. Later you usually just do the inside occasionally after cleaning. (I will also write an article on cleaning your Dutch Oven and cast iron cookware properly).

4. When your oven has been lightly coated with cooking oil, return it to the heat source placed upside down. It should smoke some. Leave it on the heat until it stops smoking.

5. 
    

   Remove the oven from the heat and wipe with another light coating of vegetable or cooking oil and let it cool. If you do this properly your oven will turn a nice dark shiny black and have a great surface for a lifetime of cooking. If you don't season an oven it will be very hard to clean.

6. When it has been lightly coated with cooking oil, return it to the heat source placed upside down. It should smoke some. Leave it on the heat until it stops smoking.

Tips & Warnings

• I prefer an oven that has legs and a deep rimmed lid. This makes it easier to control coals and more versatile.
• Always wear oven mitts or use hot pads when working with a hot Dutch Oven.

[FrazzledNanny]

on 2/17/2009 I don't have a dutch oven but I want to get one. Thanks for the helpful article. 5*

[momandpopoften]

on 11/7/2008 I've always thought it would be great to cook with cast iron but with my size family and the sheer weight of the dishes I prepare it is impractical for me to use one.

[iamageniuster]

on 10/15/2008 Good tips. Great article! Thanks for sharing. 5 stars!!!