Bringing This Trusted, Versatile Cookware To Your Campsite Is Worth The Extra Weight

If you have the right mindset, cooking outside is one of the great pleasures of camping. There's something so primal about boiling water and frying ingredients over an open flame. No matter where you go, you're generally allowed to use a little gas stove, which will heat up instant coffee or cook a can of soup in minutes. Far from the appliances of a modern kitchen, this kind of backwoods preparation can feel like magic. But the real fun starts around a crackling campfire; in places where fire-starting is permitted, the warmth and light from those flickering flames are the centerpiece of any campout. Cooking food in this simple way, as our ancestors did for millennia, strikes a special chord.

There are lots of ways to cook over an open fire pit, from laying items on a grill to toasting them with a stick. Aluminum foil is a versatile staple that makes cooking while camping so much easier. All of these are cheap and easy, and even wire grills come in light and foldable designs. In many established campsites, fire rings come with built-in platforms and grills, so all you need to bring is the grub. In truth, the results can be mixed; the flames and temperature of a regular campfire are hard to control, and it's easy to overcook different items. (You can't just go to the fridge and replace a burnt zucchini). Worse, omnivores might undercook meats, which can cause serious sickness.

One solution: the old-fashioned Dutch oven. This thick-bodied pot can be used in several ways, and many chefs swear by it. The Dutch oven is heavier than most camping cookware, and it'll take a lot of space in your bags. But for many outdoors enthusiasts, the delicious results are worth it.

Cooking pots have existed for millennia, though most of these were made of baked clay; only the wealthy could afford metal. In the early 1700s, a British tinker named Abraham Darby took inspiration from Dutch metal smiths. He developed the concept of a cast iron pot, which was almost indestructible and could be mass-produced, making it more affordable. They could be suspended above a fire, nestled in the heated coals, or placed inside an actual oven. Cooks could prepare a wide range of foods, from stews to pastas to braised meats and vegetables. The so-called Dutch ovens started in Britain and spread across Europe. Settlers carried them to the New World, where they could capably cook in the rustic frontier settings.

Dutch ovens were commonplace among early pioneers, including the famed Louis and Clark expedition. The iron bodies made Dutch ovens heavy, so they often had to rely on canoes, wagons, and pack animals to carry them across the wilderness. This weightiness remains a challenge today, and it's the reason many campers wouldn't think to bring a Dutch oven; some have a circumference that's simply too large to even fit into a backpack, much less lug long distances. When people look for the best camping gifts for the outdoor enthusiasts in their lives, they don't usually think of heavy iron vessels. Today, Dutch ovens are most often used in regular homes, where they perch on gas or electric ranges.

For camping, Dutch ovens are great for groups of hungry hikers. The pot is voluminous, and you can stick a lot of ingredients inside. Using the "stone soup" approach, well prepared campers can each bring a different item: one can carry meats, another carrots, another mushrooms, and so on. This fresh medley, stored and transported properly, is a refreshing alternative to packets of ramen and cans of Chef Boyardee. You can use the "one-pot" approach to cut down on washing, and in the morning, you can heat up large quantities of water for coffee or tea, so nobody has to wait to fire up the Jetboil over and over. The best part of a Dutch oven is the many ways you can use it: Set it on top of the grill, hang it from a tripod, or place coals directly onto the lid.

Naturally, the heft and bulk of a Dutch oven will always be a problem, and most hikers are not eager to haul an extra 10 pounds on their shoulders. Few solo hikers or couples will ever bring one, and if a group decides to have a Dutch oven along, they will probably redistribute other gear to even out the weight. This will all be much easier for paddlers or car-campers, who can stow the oven in their vehicle. Once you've finished, use the Dutch oven to pour water over your dying fire. This is just one of the things you should remember to do before leaving your campsite.