Dutch Ovens: Soap, Water, Fire

I have had lots of experience cooking in a cast iron Dutch oven. First, I camp out a lot and use one every chance I get. Second, I also ran a small restaurant in the mountains for several summers. Every Friday and Saturday night we made Dutch oven dinners for lots of people. And Last, as part of our restaurant business we would cater Dutch oven dinners for groups such as family reunions, school reunions, and company parties.

I have heard of several different ways to clean a Dutch oven. Some people burn them out. Some clean them with salt and others wash them out with only water. I prefer scrubbing them like I would a regular pan, with soap and water.

Don't be fooled by people telling you that soap and water will ruin the dutch oven. Even if you have heard this, it isn't true. Well, not completely. I'm going to inform you on a true story about this: There once was an old cowboy that spent a lot of his time out herding cattle. He told about sheepherders who brought along a dutch oven on their trip to make their meals. He said that they had 2 reasons to bring along a dutch oven; for both cooking and cleaning. They would set it on the fire to warm up the water. After that, they would wash their dishes by putting soap in the warm water. This helped them do their dishes in a more convenient and less time-consuming way. Now this is the key. After they finished doing that, they would take the dutch oven and grease it all up so that it would be ready to be used for the next time they needed it.

Now I guess if you were out on the desert without a lot of water you may choose to burn it out or rub it with salt to clean it. I don't like it done either way.

One time, I let someone borrow one of my dutch ovens and forgot to ask how they cleaned it. What a mistake! This person burned it out. When I got it back there was stuck, charred food, charcoal chunks and a black sooty mess inside my oven. I had to scrub for an extremely long time to get it back into a condition that I could use it to cook in again.

Salt has been used by alot of people. In fact I know of someone who says that salt is the best and only way to clean a dutch oven. I really do feel bad for him, especially when I find out how long it takes him to get his dutch ovens ready for cooking. He has to find a way to get the rust out of them and uses fire to do so.

When I am done cleaning my dutch ovens they are pleasant to look at and store free of rust, ready for when I want to cook in them again. I prefer using the old cowboy manner. I heat water right into the dutch oven. By using this method, if there is ever food that just won't come off, heating water in it will soften it up and will allow for much easier cleaning. Afterwards, and this is key, make sure you lightly oil your dutch oven. This will ensure that your dutch oven doesn't get rusted.

Here is perhaps the most important step.

It is also a good idea to put a sheet of paper towel in between the lid and the oven so that the moisture will be absorbed by it.

This manner has worked amazingly well for me. My dutch ovens have lasted a lot longer than those of the people I know. Don't you want the same for you? Whether it be over a fire or some gas camping stoves, this method will always work..

Now you don't have to worry. Now you know that just using water and dish soap is the best way to clean a dutch oven. It's the most easiest and sanitary way. Always remember the most important step: the oiling. If you don't forget that, your dutch ovens will be safely stored away and ready for their next use every time.

M.A. Luke is and independent writer for ioVentures, Inc. If your dutch oven was ruined by improper cleaning, go now to dutchovenpro.com. You will also find camping stoves and cast iron cookware.