Forget the fancy pricey Le Creuset French Oven when selecting a cast iron Dutch Oven.
This 8 1/2 quart Bayou Classic Dutch Oven with basket the one you want for cowboy cooking and camping, and it comes in handy around the house. It’s perfect for whole chickens or slow braising in the oven or in the grill.
You can even sit it on top of coals and shovel more coals on top of the flat lid with a raised rim, and you can cook classic chili, baked beans, cornbread, casseroles, and even cobblers.
It is 13 inches wide x 7 inches high, weighs 21 pounds and includes a perforated aluminum basket for steaming, frying, or boiling. Many other sizes and brands are available and prices vary accordingly.
Dutch Oven Cooking Chart For Charcoal Briquettes
When cooking in a cast-iron Dutch oven outside with charcoal, here is the approximate number of briquettes to use under and on top of a Dutch oven to cook at approximately 350°F. If you add more briquettes than what’s listed, each additional briquette will raise the temperature by 20 to 25°F. Thanks to Redside, a foundation supporting the outdoor guiding community in the Western U.S. for the info. Click here for meat doneness temperatures and our award-winning food temperature guide.
| Dutch Oven (diameter in inches) | Briquettes Underneath | Briquettes On Top |
| 8 | 4-6 | 6-8 |
| 10 | 6-8 | 8-10 |
| 12 | 8-10 | 10-12 |
| 14 | 10-12 | 12-16 |
| 16 | 12-16 | 16-18 |
Click here to check prices and order cast iron pots and pans on Amazon
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