Why Is This The Least Useful Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Oven!

Lodge makes some great cast iron dutch ovens, I would argue the best, but that doesn't mean all of them are equally great. There is one that stands out in my collection as my least favorite. In this video I tell you which one, why it is my least favorite and offer up a buying tip.
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[@marzsit9833]

the lodge dutch ovens that don't have legs were specifically designed for residential use. the large one has a small bottom because most residential ranges don't have burners larger than 8 inches.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for the great comment. That is a good thought and that may be the answer, but I am not sure that the design resulted from that since the 9qt Lodge oven of the same style has a much wider bottom and adheres to the standard DO dimensions.

[@olivei2484]

Its a kettle, use a fire place swing or tripod in a fireplace. Great for stews and beans.

[@JW86SH]

This was my thought as well.

[@JW86SH]

I hadn't considered this. Good point. I still feel like it may have more to do with the size of a standard stove eye. I doubt most people are cooking in a fireplace. A fireplace won't care about the dimensions, but a stovetop eye would.@@olivei2484

[@PaulieDetmurds]

Good points made! I have the 3.2 qt combo cooker from Lodge because I don't need any larger. I like the skillet handles both top and bottom has, and easily used like any dutch oven. I think the smaller bottom is so it stays stable on a not so big of a burner, or cooking stand?? I would like the top to be able to hold hot coals, or wood too, this one is rounded up. Good stuff!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

That combo cooker is one that I don't have, but a great size for a couple for sure. We find we use the 4 and 5 quarts sizes most often in both camp and at home, so the big ones are for the rare large groups or big hunks of meat. It may have been a choice for burner size, I am not sure but it really veers away from the standard. The only other pots have seen shaped like this are labeled soup pots or essential pans.

[@pippylou2225]

This made perfect sense to me!! Thank You ❤ for the review! I received a 4 quart camp lodge pot for Christmas ❤❤❤❤ OOMGOODNESS! I GOT TO THE PART ABOUT THE LID…and it fits all my other pans too!!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I am glad you found it helpful. Happy Cooking!

[@meatmeinthebackyard5823]

I learned something new, thank you! Was oblivious to Dutch Ovens before I came across your channel... Love what you do!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for watching and I appreciate the comment. Dutch ovens are a great way to cook and definitely fun to use at camp.

[@meatmeinthebackyard5823]

@@dickinaroundoutdoors8609 I just realized my 10" skillet is a lodge 😏 I'm gonna try out a 5qt Dutch oven and try get a lid for my skillet.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

@@meatmeinthebackyard5823 make sure you don’t get the camp oven, they don’t work the same way.

[@meatmeinthebackyard5823]

@@dickinaroundoutdoors8609 👍🏻

[@darriandumont2971]

Thank you so much for this video! The 5qt doesn’t get enough love and I’m glad I saw this because I was torn between them

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for stopping by the channel. We use the 5 qt for bread and it works perfectly, probably our most used dutch oven other than a 5.5 qt enameled one.

[@AlejandroOlivasMx]

Does the ratio hold for the 9 qt dutch oven?

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

@@AlejandroOlivasMx Yes, the ratio holds for the 9qt Lodge bail handle oven. Thanks for dropping by.

[@eddielittleii8919]

Hey, thanks. That was useful. I took notes. Now I'm onto some of your other videos.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for finding us and I hope you enjoy the channel!

[@maxcontax]

Good and thoughtful comment and observations on one of my most used bits of kitchenware. As you point out,standardizing lids adds huge benefits to owning Lodge cast iron. I would disagree on your. Critique of the 12” DO- it is one of my most used and favourite items. I have never felt compromised using it.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Yes, although I think it is the least useful I tried to express in my video that Lodge doesn't make a bad pot. I use mine frequently as well, it is only when compared to a more traditional shape for the size that the bottom surface shows less space for things like searing or sautéing. Thanks for dropping by the channel and taking the time to comment!

[@jamesd0866]

The larger radius on the bottom corner and wider flare on the sides of the larger dutch oven is to allow better heat distribution to the sides of the dutch oven allowing the whole dutch oven to heat up more evenly and completely.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Perhaps they did design this one a bit differently, but I wonder why they don't do this (any manufacturer) with their other models if that is the case. The more radius on the bottom the easier it is to stir stuff I do find. Thanks for providing your insight!

[@MikeB3542]

The Lodge 5 quart Dutch oven with loop handles (L8DOL3) is, next to my 12-inch skillet, are my "go to" pieces of cookware. The only downside is that the lid doesn't match the skillet, and don't really need a 7-quart Dutch oven.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

yes, we use the 5 qt bail handle DO for bread most of the time. The 5 is a very useful size. We were lucky in that we purchased most of our "new" cast iron during the financial crisis and, at that time, we could buy the dutch oven for the price of the lid.

[@LKN4WAR]

Will the standard camp lids fit on this style of base?

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Great question, sadly the camp oven lids to not fit on the bail handle pots. The bail handle pot lids do fit on the frying pans however, so that my 9qt lid fits perfectly on the 13.25 skillet and the 5 qt on the 10.25. I am assuming the 8qt lid fits the 12 inch but I do not have that skillet so cannot confirm. Thanks for checking us out.

[@Procedentesinvictoria]

That could be- makes sense. Thanks for the great review!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking us out and the nice words. At the end of the day I really do love all of my Lodge cookware and as long as you take care of it people will be cooking on it 100 years from now. I currently still use a pan when camping that was made in the 1890s.

[@CottonWoodBlues]

I just bought one today at a thrift store for 10bucks..looks like your 5 1/2 qt but it does not have a bale handle..would like to get one with feet and a lipped top but I feel lucky to have found this one.. they are not cheap

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Nice find! I hope you have fun cooking some great meals.

[@user-bgw01uykfj]

Mr.it's really nice vidio to figure out how I compose my lodge items in future. Could I ask what size of skilet is perfectly together with 8qt deep camp dutch oven? ps. I bought a 8qt deep camp oven after watching your vidio. :)

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

If you mean what size skillet is a good match for the 8qt dutch oven I would say the 12 inch would be a nice addition (or maybe the 12 inch Blacklock for a bit less weight). I don't know if the lid from the dutch oven would fit though. If I had the 12 inch skillet I would check for you so maybe if someone has both and reads that you might let us know.

[@MarkKratzMC]

I really never thought about it until now. Great video!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out-it is a great size for stews etc but limits the size and volume of items you can sauté or sear.

[@paulgoesoutdoors9616]

Very good info! Thanks for the value to your viewers.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out and I am glad you found it useful.

[@shovelhead8]

Great advice, Dick. Thank you. Stay safe and stay cool

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I appreciate it-you may have noticed I used it for my blowtorch lasagna over the camp burner a month back (missed the deadline for cast iron Wed on that one!) so I do use it, actually the is what made me think of this video.

[@shovelhead8]

@@dickinaroundoutdoors8609 We don't worry too much about deadlines. They take the fun out of things.

[@glendabetels5623]

Interesting video on Dutch ovens.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@Mankitchenrecipes]

Great information on the Lodge Cast Iron Dutch Ovens Dick!👍👊

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@CDNFF82]

Thanks for the video! I was wondering does the Lodge 9qt bail handle hold true to that same 65% ratio or is the walls more verticle like 75%? Thanks

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

The 9qt follows the rules and has the more vertical walls. Thanks for watching.

[@TheBeardedItalian]

Great info!! I have the pit boss cast iron set. Has a 10” camp oven. Is that the same as a Dutch oven??

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for watching. That question sure gets some people riled up but I am going to say it-they are the same AND different. The orthodoxy is that a Dutch oven has a flat bottom and normally a rounded top and is made to use on top of the heat source or placed in any oven. The camp oven, on the other hand, has small legs on the bottom to allow it to sit directly over coals and a flat top with a rim to hold coals on the top. This allows you to use the camp oven using coals from your fire to bake, roast, sear etc all in one unit. The camp ovens also have a wire handle suitable for hanging via tripod over a fire. Now having said that you can use a camp oven in a regular oven or over a burner and you can use a dutch oven over coals on a trivet so I will sum up by saying they could all be called dutch ovens, just different styles.

[@TheBeardedItalian]

@@dickinaroundoutdoors8609 thanks so much. I saw the one you had with legs and was curious about that…thinking pit boss may be calling it a camp oven just to identify with out door cooking. Mine is flat on bottom. I’ve just been calling it a cast iron pot but looked up specs on website. Great information brother. Thank you so much!!

[@wayne8276]

Good to know . Thx .

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out.

[@johnd9279]

The smaller pot bottom might be better fit on some camp stoves.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

It would most certainly do that. I actually chose it for my deconstructed lasagna recipe video for that reason. It is more in the vein of a "soup pot" design and is still a great cooking vessel, just not as versatile as a normal ratio dutch oven.

[@yulichenlu]

can you cook streight enamel in the fire? as a replacement of dutch oven?

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I am not sure what you mean by straight enamel so cannot give you an opinion. I am not really aware of any enamel or ceramic type cookers that would replace a dutch oven though.

[@buddy7485]

You'll ruin the finish. Get a cast iron. May have enameled inside finish

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

@@buddy7485 That may be what the question was about-an enamel coated dutch oven? If so I think my Le Creuset, Staub etc. are rated for 500 degrees F which is probably not high enough to hold up in a camp fire. A camp stove would be fine though I think as long as you follow the manufacturers instructions. Thanks for the comment Buddy.

[@stellygrillsnchills]

I got one that i love that i take hunting fishing and camping

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

If you are referring to the 7qt specifically I use mine often as well. That is why I mentioned at the start of the video that Lodge doesn't make a bad oven. What are your favorite dutch oven cooks?

[@molcs]

Thanks for sharing this great info!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

My pleasure. Thanks for stopping by.

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Something i use very often- Lodge

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Yep, I have enjoyed your videos cooking in the DOs.

[@arom8438]

Thank you, great video

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I am glad you found it helpful-thanks for checking our channel out!

[@GilaMonster971]

Seems to work great for me. I’m not worrying about geometry when I’m cooking I guess 🤣

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

No doubt it works and that was my comment at first that I don't think Lodge makes a bad one, just relative to the other ones this is shaped more like a soup pot (as someone below mentioned). But also remember that all great cooks know the Square Root of their Vegetables! 😁

[@WarrenKimpel]

another nice video THANKS

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Cheers

[@portwolf2293]

In order to understand you need to look at your standard burner sizes.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for dropping by and the comment. Others have mentioned this and it certainly may be the case but it would be odd then, that all of the other ovens (not soup pots etc.) tend to ignore burner side and keep the ratio intact. Maybe we can get Lodge to read this and tell us!

[@NenitaCaay-o6e]

How much ? dutch oven

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I am not sure I understand your question. Sorry

[@kentharper2821]

I do a lot of deep fat frying. I want a heavy pot with a broad surface area. The greater the slope of the sides, the less volume in the pot and the less oil I have to use. 😅

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for dropping by and great comment. Yes there is a trade off in that you can get more depth of oil with less oil but you also give up some surface area which would be a negative with shallow frying. But you bring up a great point for deep fat frying for sure!

[@Procedentesinvictoria]

I’m curious why one 5qt is half the price of 6qt.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I am not sure which pots you are talking about but if just looking at the bail handles they are are 5/7/9 qt. You may be looking at the cast pot vs the bail handle? If so I expect it is the additional cost of installing the handle perhaps.

[@richardliles4415]

Thank you.

[@Ronin_765]

Lodge now makes their enameled Dutch Ovens here in the USA

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Yep, glad to see them jump into the market!

[@DavidMZuckerman]

I looked at their new high end made in USA enameled cast iron and see that it’s a similar design (slightly larger bottom ratio) but not by much. Probably would need to talk to people on the design team to get the full story

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I have not seen the new enamel series, nice to see a second US made choice in that category for sure! Yes, I wish lodge would have commented on the video, but for now I continue to speculate that it was designed to have the 7qt capacity but still use a lid that fit their 12 inch skillet for manufacturing reasons.

[@Maplecook]

This was eye opening!

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out-glad you found it helpful.

[@MrRbillharz]

Dutch oven lids don't normally have ears, skillets have pore spouts and their lids have ears to cover them.

[@jefffrayer8238]

Turns out my new 5 qt. Dutch oven has the cast handle in the center so I can't flip it over to cook in. But it does perfectly fit and even cover the pour spouts on my 10+ yr. old, 10.25 Lodge Skillet that I use several times a week for breakfast. I wonder why there is 2 different lids on the 5 qt. ovens? It was only $50 so maybe I'll buy the other style. Nice review and good info.

[@axiomaddict]

I used to bake in the ground over hot coals with our dutch oven. Many moves, kids moving in and out, etc., I lost track of it. Finally ordered a new one early this morning and it arrived about an hour ago. After your vid, out of curiosity, I went to see if the D.O. lid would fit on my cast iron skillet. After years of making do with other tops… It fits, and fits perfectly. You can’t imagine how happy this makes me.✨

[@carlreichelt8724]

Maybe they did that to accommodate more food fixings..say if u had a roast all your potatoes and carrots wouldn't be right on top of it because the top gives wider space to spread them out so the top of your roast would not have a mushy top

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Interesting thoughts and thanks for sharing them. I am not sure we will ever know the reason and Lodge makes great stuff-I use this oven frequently.

[@salinas831100]

Found this useful

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for dropping by and I am glad it was helpful.

[@russelldevane5434]

The five is perfect for a small family

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

I agree

[@eatsamazingwithsusan]

Amazing share my friend new here see you around too keep safe FR: EAWS

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Thanks for checking it out and I am glad you found it informative.

[@amelliamendel2227]

Wish he would have put them together bottom to bottom

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

Sadly I was not able to do that as I don't have comparable 7qt lodge (or other brand) which I why I gave the bottom to top ratio to express the difference.

[@truthseeker5890]

Yep! This is called - using one’s brain! Great info! Liked and Subscribed!

[@ShepherdsChapelonYT]

Theseasonorg explains the entire bible God bless

[@SuperLuckao]

It's common sense, or should be, to look at size of surface. I always do.

[@dickinaroundoutdoors8609]

This one is styled more in the mode of a soup pot, which works for sure, but not really described or marketed that way.