Welcome to my Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Lid Lifter Review.
Lid lifters are good to have when you are cooking outside with a Dutch oven. Or with any cast iron cookware that you need to lift the lid while it’s hot.
Some people make do with something they already have or make their own “lid lifter,” while others prefer to have the real thing.
So, what’s the difference? And what are the benefits of having a Lodge lid lifter?
In other words, what do I need to know about this product?
Let’s find out.
Table of Contents
Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Lid Lifter Review
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using the affiliate links below, I receive a small commission.
Product: Lid lifter
Brand: Lodge
Price: See Amazon
Material: 9 mm bar stock
Dimensions: 2.5L x 4.35W x 14.2H inches
Weight: 0.9 lbs.
Features: T-bar design, fits all Lodge Dutch ovens and the Cook-It-All, hanging loop, heat-diffusing spiral handle, high-temperature black finish
Made in: Cambodia
Great for: Outdoor cooking, lifting, rotating, and moving a hot lid
Warning: P65
What is a camp dutch oven lid lifter?
A camp dutch oven lid lifter is a tool to make it easier to remove the lid of your dutch oven when it’s hot and has coals on it. Generally, lid lifters have a hook and two or three prongs at one end, and a handle. They come in different lengths, and some have a T-bar for added stability when moving the heavier pot. Some even come with a spring for grabbing the handle of the lid. All help keep your hands away from the hot lid and coals.
A Little About Lodge
Lodge Cast Iron is a family-owned business in South Pittsburg, Tennessee.
Joseph Lodge founded this company in 1896 and originally called it Blacklock Foundry.
However, after the building burned down in 1910, Joseph rebuilt and renamed the company Lodge Cast Iron.
Over the years, Lodge survived several economic downturns and thrived even when other foundries closed down.
And as business continued to grow, they built another foundry. The new foundry enabled Lodge to increase its manufacturing production by seventy-five percent.
Lodge makes cast iron and carbon steel cookware, though cast iron remains their primary production.
They offer a large variety of cast iron, including classic, enamel, chef, and Blacklock.
Additionally, Lodge carries bakeware, and several series, all of which are cast iron.
They also have many accessories and a line of cast iron grilling cookware.
Lodge continues to be a leading manufacturer worldwide and makes close to 2 million cast iron pans every month.
Answering Your Questions
Will it work on other dutch oven brands? (add related on camp do review)
More than likely, it will. However, there are some lid designs for which it won’t work.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven Review – Outdoor Cooking
What’s the best way to lift the lid with coals and ashes on it?
Most people lift the lid straight up to keep the coals from falling off. But doing it that way risks ashes getting into your food. A better way is to raise the lid just a little and to the side slowly.
How well does it work overall?
It works great! You have a hook and two prongs at the bottom for stability. The lifter can stand on the lid and be left there for a bit while you do other things, but it will also get hot quickly. When lifting the lid, there is little chance of dropping it. You also have a T-bar which is useful when moving the heavy camp oven by the baling wire. The lid lifter will keep your hands away from the fire and coals, but I recommend wearing heat-resistant gloves because you will still feel the heat.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge Leather Gloves Review – Outdoor Cooking
Does it have any other uses besides lifting hot dutch oven lids?
Yes. Here are some suggestions:
- Fire poker for a wood stove
- Moving logs around in the fire pit
- Generally tending the fire
- Moving the coals around
One person wanted to move a manhole cover with it, but in that case, it would depend on the size and how much it weighed.
Will it really keep your hands from burning?
It depends on how long your hands are near the hot coals or fire. You might be okay for a quick move, but it’s probably best to wear gloves. Or Lodge sells a 16-inch version.
What other tools could I use if I don’t have a lid lifter?
Although a lid lifter is ideal, you can use a pair of pliers, a claw hammer, welding gloves, a stick, or a heavy-duty oven mitt if you don’t have one. I’ve even seen someone using deer antlers or people making their own lid lifter.
Does it have any indoor uses?
It doesn’t have indoor uses unless you cook in your fireplace or want it as a poker for your wood stove.
How is the T-bar useful?
The T-bar gives you a better grip when lifting the heavy Dutch oven. When finished cooking, you hook it on the baling wire, grip the T-bar, and move the oven off the coals. It’s also good for rotating the lid.
In the video below, you will briefly get to see a man using the lid lifter. And at the same time, get a delicious breakfast recipe.
Mountain Man Breakfast in a Dutch Oven
What Others Are Saying
The Lodge lid lifter got very high reviews overall. People said things like:
- It’s exactly what I needed
- It worked great on my 12-inch camp oven
- I’m so glad I got this tool
- It will make a great gift
- You need this tool if you cook in a dutch oven
- The lid lifter is very sturdy
- It’s small enough to store easily
- I used it so many times on just the first day
- My hands never got hot
- It makes dutch oven cooking so much easier
- I like the length
- It will last forever
- We also use it as a fire poker in our wood stove
- I wish I’d gotten one sooner
- It works fantastic for lifting and rotating the lid
- It’s well-made
- I didn’t know it could also pick up the pot
- It’s worth the money
- The weight is good
But a few people were disappointed. They said things like:
- It’s a poor design
- It doesn’t grip the lid firmly enough
- The twisted braided handle isn’t comfortable
- I wish the handle had a silicone sleeve
- It’s awkward to use
- A lid lifter isn’t necessary
- I wanted it to be longer
Some who had positive things to say about the lid lifter didn’t think it was long enough. And many people didn’t understand why Lodge didn’t make it in the US.
What Do I Think?
I would want a lid lifter if I cooked outdoors in a dutch oven. I think a claw hammer or pair of pliers would work but not as well.
The design looks alright to me, and the weight and price seem reasonable.
However, I probably would want it to be slightly longer even though several people said their hands never got hot.
I also like that the lid lifter is versatile, and you can use it in other ways around the campfire. For example, moving logs around or stoking the fire.
And I’m confident that it will last a long time.
In other words, the Lodge lifter seems like it’s good quality.
So, based on the reviews and my research, I recommend the Lodge Lid Lifter for anyone who cooks outdoors with a dutch oven. Unless you think it’s too short. In that case, you might want to look for a longer one.
Pros
- High reviews
- Reputable company
- Well-made
- Sturdy
- It makes an excellent gift
- Versatile
- Long-lasting
- Good price
- Functional
- Dutch oven cooking is easier
- A suitable length for keeping your hands from burning
Cons
- Not long enough for some
- The design doesn’t work for everyone
- Not made in the US
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading my Lodge Camp Dutch Oven Lid Lifter Review.
As you can see, a lid lifter is an ideal tool to have when you are cooking outdoors with a dutch oven.
Primarily, you use this tool to lift the lid off the pot while it’s hot and has coals on it or to rotate it for more even cooking. However, you can also hook it on the baling wire to move the dutch oven off the coals when the food is ready.
Or it also comes in handy if you need to move some logs around or stoke the fire. On the other hand, you might not even have a fire if you are just using coals.
Overall, the Lodge Lid Lifter is a tool that will make dutch oven cooking easier. Therefore, I recommend getting one if you cook in a dutch oven outdoors.