Selecting a Dutch Oven                                                 
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Size is important.  A two quart oven is usually used for preparing meals for one or two people, or side dishes/deserts for a small group. Four and six quart ovens are well suited for feeding four to ten or twelve people. These are good for large sides like beans, rice, potatoes, etc. You can also bake or cook main meals depending on the number of folks you hope to nourish. The big boys - eight, ten, or twelve quart - can handle cooking big side dishes for lots of people. (Like twenty or more!) You can also use a big oven for baking with an inverted pie plate on the bottom as an air gap. Use the big boys to make whole meal dishes for a family of eight or more. Now, don't get too hung up on size… We've got a nine quart that we have used to prepare meals for just four people. It just wasn't very full and needed a good watchful eye.

The bail handle is important. You will be handling a hot oven with it. The bail handle should be made of heavy gauge wire and attached to molded tangs on the side of the oven. Avoid ovens that have riveted tabs. Also, some oven handles will lay down against the side of the oven in both directions. Look for one that allows the handle to stand up at an angle on one side. This allows for easier access to the handle when taking the hot oven from the fire. (Your knuckles will appreciate you for it!)

The lid is important.  Look for a lid with a loop that is attached to the lid on both ends with a gap in the middle allowing it to be easily hooked. Stay away from the ones that have a solid tab on the lid for a handle. These tabs are difficult to grasp and manage with a load of hot coals. Check that the lid has a lip or ridge around the outer edge. The lip allows you to stack coals on the lid without worry of them falling off or getting into your food.

The legs are important.  You will generally find two kinds of ovens - those with four legs or those with three. We use and recommend an oven with three legs for use outdoors. The four legged ovens just don’t seem to balance as well on an uneven surface.

Shop around. We found a vast difference in prices on Dutch Ovens in stores and online. We found a good quality DO at a remarkable price through The Sportsman's Guide Online. Also, look at yard sales. Many folks today just don’t realize what a treasure a good blackened cast iron is. You may walk away with a DO that’s been seasoned for generations!