Oven Reviews

One of the best camping ovens, great for large groups.

This is a big oven, but is a favorite of mine for cobblers and biscuits for a group. It also is great for pizza. Lodge makes good products that season well, are easy to clean, and will last for generations to come. You always see this oven on the chuckwagons to do the big jobs of baking. They are large enough to sit a pan of biscuits in to cook,remove them, and put in another pan without cleaning the oven. This is a piece of history to be passed on with the knowledge of the art of cooking in Dutch ovens.

This Dutch Oven goes everywhere with me. I no longer cook inside. I have a full set for home and a set for camping. They go in my jeep everywhere. I can quickly and deliciously whip up a fantastic meal that is healthy, fun, and stays warm till you can't eat another bite. These ovens last a lifetime. I have one from my great grandmother, of course, it is my favorite. Her pan is how I discovered "Lodge" cookware and cast iron cooking. Cooking outdoors on a daily basis has enriched my cooking experience and changed my outlook on life. It smells great, taste great, and is easy to learn. It never fails to bring shock and laughter to the dinner table when everyone sees you pull their meal from inside the fireplace . . . or from a hole in the ground with burning embers or from a hanging pot. Great fun! Makes the chore of cooking fun and satisfying! Oh . . . and so-o-o-o good! Don't forget your Lodge Dinnerbell to top off the meal with the right atmosphere.

After peeling the coating off innumerable nonstick pans and warping even a legendary Magnalite skillet with excessive heat and use, I came home to cast iron. It is indestructable, formidable, utterly forgiving cookware. A dutch oven and a skillet reside permanently on the stove top and always do a superior job of cooking whatever is tossed in them. Chili, soups and stews come out full of character. The kids are always "frying up" sausages, eggs, pancakes. Cleanup is a breeze, and the seasoning of the pans becomes a labor of love. My other pots basically just sit in the cupboard.

Kiss that Teflon coated cookware good bye. Get yourself a Lodge cast iron Dutch oven for the kitchen and tell me this isn't the best cookware you have ever owned.

I have been using my 5 quart Dutch oven for about two years now and despite it's weight, my food turns out better, tastier and clean-up is a breeze. In addition, cast iron can last a lifetime unlike Teflon coated pots and pans which can and will flake and apparently if in your food, it is unhealthy.

This pot has been used on electrical and gas stoves and with almost identical results. The pot does not require special heat coils or other "technology" to evenly distribute heat, it's built in its structure, it's cast iron. In addition, it can easily go from stovetop to oven for casseroles and other such items. One or two less items to clean at the end of the meal.

I highly recommend cast iron and as time goes on all my Teflon pots and pans will be completely replaced by cast iron.

Sometimes old becomes new again and I foresee that people will look more towards cast iron as their everyday cookware that is relatively inexpensive compared to "professional" cookware currently on the market. You really can't beat something that will outlast even you if you give it tender loving care.

This is my first piece of cast iron, so I was a little (I admit stupidly) surprised at how incredibly heavy this was, especially when the two pieces are combined to use as a dutch oven. The handles are also relatively short, which makes it more difficult to pick up, especially when it's hot. You will definitely need 2 really good oven mitts to handle this!

I also had to re-season it twice, since I used too much shortening the first time, resulting in a sticky film that wouldn't cook away. But once it was properly seasoned, I've loved using it. I use it often enough that the weight is never a factor because I just leave it on my stovetop even when it's not in use. I am amazed at how completely non-stick it is, even though I've only had it a short while. Just make sure the first couple of things you cook in it are fatty, like bacon, and nothing will ever stick to it, ever again.

It gets very hot very fast, and it heats evenly and cooks things VERY quickly, especially eggs. It also stays hot for quite a while longer even when you turn the heat off, which means it keeps cooking, so keep that in mind if you're not going to be moving your dish onto a different plate or bowl for serving.

Clean-up is also incredibly easy: a tablespoon of kosher salt mixed with canola oil to make a paste, scour this around with a paper towel, then rinse with water and dry. It takes less than a minute!

It is a little on the smaller side, which hasn't been a problem for me since I usually only cook for myself and sometimes one other person. But if there was a 5- or 6-quart version, I would probably want to get that one, especially if you cook for more than just yourself. And cast iron only gets better with age, so aside from upgrading in size, I see myself using this pot for a long time to come.

I am a total newbie to cast iron...why did it take me so long to try this?

The lid makes an excellent fry pan, (double duty). Try taking your favorite fish, (I use salmon), season (I use lemon juice, pepper, season salt, a little garlic powder and a hint of dill), sear it on one side, flip it and then put it in a 350 degree preheated oven for about 8 minutes, (till flaky). Oh it is mouth watering! This is so good because it sears the outside for maximum flavor, and the weight of it holds the heat beautifully while moving it to the oven, where it continues to sear the other side and bake the rest.

The non stick quality is unbeatable. I couldn't understand how this could be true...but it is the best!

Clean up takes all of hmmm, how long does it take to wipe a paper towel across it? Nothing sticks to it at all. It doesn't need to be washed...I just preheat it the next time I use it which keeps it bacteria free. And I use it so often I just leave it on the burner, LOL. I just love it!

As far as the bottom part of it...great item too. I use that mostly for deep frying foods, and stir frying. If I could give this one a 4 thumbs up I would, (since it is not just a lid and a pan, it is a lid, a fry pan, a baking pan, stir fry pan and a 3 quart cooker)!

I should note, when I first got this I thought it was pretty heavy. But now that is one of the things I like about it, it is solid and I know that I will NEVER have to replace this or buy another fry pan/cooker. I wont complain it would be like complaining that gold is too shiny.

This is really a handy little - well, not so little - item. Great for camp or home. It's really two pans in one. The lid doubles as a round griddle, great for eggs, bacon, tortillas, fajitas, etc. The large bottom cooker serves in conjunction with the lid as a small Dutch oven, fryer, deep fry pan, what have you for soups, stews, fried chicken, etc.

Seasons readily and reflects the best cast iron quality available today. I don't know how I got by without this item - I can probably do away with a good half-dozen pots and pans now that I have it.

It's a real bargain at the price offered. Now that I've used it I probably would pay twice the price to replace it if anything ever happened to it - but (one of the blessings of cast iron cook ware) - if you don't loan it out and no one steals it, it'll outlast you.

I own two of these Lodge 10" Dutch ovens, as well as other sizes from 5" to 16". The gent that gives it one star should educate himself on the proper use of the oven. He should not judge a product that he knows nothing about. He should sell his DO to a party that appreciates the proper use and quality of the product. The Lodge Dutch ovens are great units if seasoned properly, and are extremely easy to clean with just hot water.

This oven is a great size for cooking side dishes, as well as cakes and cobblers. It is also perfect for RV travel. We cook 10" Sourdough Coffee Cakes to give to friends at Christmas. The smiles are worth it. I am sorry to see it being out of stock. I feel more people should get acquainted with the art of cooking as their ancestors did everyday. It is relaxing as well as historic.

I've owned two of these pots for years, and just bought another. I also use 14-16 other Cast Iron pieces from small to large skillets, griddles, chicken fryers..etc. You can't find a better method of cooking than with Cast Iron whether cooking indoors or out! It's one of the best investments you'll make of both your money and your time to care for it. At least your kids will 'have a relic' from these, unlike most any other cookware!

This is an excellent item if you're going camping somewhere where you will be building a campfire.This is what it is meant for,it isn't designed for use indoors.You can't beat these for campsite stews.They are heavy so backpacking with them wouldn't work.They are perfect if you don't have to carry them very far.