Welcome to my Lodge 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven Review.
Do you like cooking outdoors over a fire or coals? If so, you will probably enjoy having a camp oven.
It’s cast iron and will last forever if you take care of it.
Let’s look at some of its other features as well. And answer some questions you might have.
So, let’s get started.
Table of Contents
Lodge 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven Review
Affiliate Disclosure: 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: Camp Dutch Oven
Brand: Lodge
Price: See Amazon
Size: 6-Quart
Diameter: 12-inch
Depth: inches
Dimensions: 13.93L x 12.43W x 7.37H inches
Material: Cast Iron
Weight: 18 lbs.
Made in: USA
Care: Wash in hot water with or without soap, dry thoroughly, and add a thin layer of oil to the cooking surface
Great for: Outdoor Cooking over a fire or coal
What is a Camp Dutch Oven?
A camp dutch oven is a Dutch oven with legs that is primarily used in outdoor cooking. You can hang it over a fire or cook it in the coals with or without a cooking stand. Camp ovens come in several sizes and in two depths: shallow and deep. Shallow is more versatile and used for most baking and family meals. And you use deep more often when making soups and stews or meals for larger groups.
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
How do I know what size oven to get?
It all depends on how much food each person eats. But here is a general guideline:
- 8-inch for one to two people (2-quart)
- 10-inch for two to six people (4 or 5-quart)
- 12-inch for four to eight people (6 or 8-quart)
- 14-inch for eight-plus (10-quart)
Will I need to oven-season it before I cook in it?
No, your Camp oven comes pre-seasoned and ready to use. However, some prefer to do so to make it more nonstick. Lodge says the best way to make your cast iron nonstick is to use it.
Do I have to have a camp oven to cook outdoors?
No, but having a dutch oven with legs is better for cooking over coals or a fire. Your food is more likely to burn if the oven directly touches the coals or fire with no airflow. However, you can get a trivet, 4-in-1 tool, or cooking stand, which will do the same thing as the legs. You can also use the 4-in-1 tool as a lid or bail lifter.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge 4-in-1 Camp Dutch Oven Tool Review – Outdoor Cooking
Can I use my camp oven inside?
Although the camp oven is primarily for outdoor cooking, it is safe to use indoors. However, you may find it challenging to cook with it in your oven or on the stovetop. It will work best on a wood burner or in a fireplace.
Where can I find recipes and instructions?
Your camp oven will come with both. And you can go to the Lodge website for more recipes.
What is the best charcoal to use?
Many recommend Kingsford, but some think Kingsford burns too fast and prefer slower-burning such as Royal Oak.
Can you get a tote bag for it?
Yes, you can get a tote bag for the 6-quart, 12-inch camp oven on the Lodge website, or it may be back in stock on Amazon.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge Camp Oven Tote Bag Review – Outdoor Cooking
How deep is the oven?
Approximately four inches
What is the overall height with the lid?
7.375 inches
What’s the best way to remove the hot lid?
The best way to remove a hot camp oven lid is with a lid lifter and a pair of leather gloves. Any heavy-duty heat-resistant gloves will do, and I’ve seen someone use a pair of pliers to lift the lid and the bail wire. However, you may want to check out the Lodge lid lifter or leather gloves.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge Leather Gloves Review – Outdoor Cooking
Does Lodge sell replacement lids?
Yes. You can find the 12-inch camp oven lid on their website.
How do you get the charcoal ready for the camp oven?
The best way is with a charcoal chimney starter.
RELATED > > > > > Lodge Carcoal Chimney Starter Review – Outdoor Cooking
Dutch Oven Beef Roast
What Others Are Saying
The Lodge Camp Dutch Oven got very high reviews. People said things like:
- There is just something about cooking with a camp oven over coals
- Well worth every penny
- Nothing will stick if you put down a layer of onions first
- A must-have for camping and outdoor cooking
- I make cobblers, biscuits, casseroles, pulled pork, sear meat, and deep fry in my oven
- It’s best to use more oil when your camp oven is new
- I highly recommend
- This camp oven is the only pot you’ll need when camping
- It’s easy to clean
- I still love my camp oven after six years
- Lodge makes the best camp ovens
- It holds its heat so well
- The Lodge camp oven is an excellent purchase
- It makes a great gift
- I use it for camping and in my smoker
- It’s versatile and well-made
- All you need is a good pair of leather gloves and a lid lifter
A few people were disappointed that the camp oven:
- Came damaged
- Rusted after being left out in the rain
- Was rough instead of smooth
- Had annoying legs
- Was too heavy, especially with food in it
- Came without the cookbook
What Do I Think?
Reading what others say makes me think I want a camp oven. The only problem is we rarely cook outdoors.
Back in the day, we did quite a bit of camping. It was my favorite type of vacation, and we did plenty of outdoor cooking. But I didn’t know about cast iron cookware.
Our boys were in Boy Scouts and used a camp oven on their weekend camping trips. But it never occurred to me that I could too.
That being said, I think this is an excellent product for anyone who cooks over a fire or coals.
Lodge makes quality cast iron cookware, and this Camp Dutch Oven is no exception.
I like how versatile it is. And that cast iron generally makes food taste better.
It sounds like the 6-quart is the standard size for most families. But they do come in 2-quart (8 inches), 4 & 5-quart (10 inches), 6 & 8-quart (12 inches), and 10-quart (14 inches). The 5 & 8-quart are deep camp ovens.
As much as I like this product, I would probably want leather gloves, a lid lifter, a trivet, a charcoal chimney starter, and a 4-in-1 Camp Dutch oven tool. And maybe parchment paper liners.
But that’s just me. I’ve seen others use it without any of these tools. One person used pliers as a lid lifter and wore non-leather heavy-duty gloves. They cooked over fire coals and set their lid on the ground. I don’t know if the bottom of their food burned, but they weren’t using liners or a trivet.
So, as you can see, you can use it with or without all the extras.
Therefore, I recommend the Lodge Camp Dutch Oven if you like outdoor cooking.
Pros
- High reviews
- Reputable company
- Versatile
- Excellent heat retention
- Perfect for camping or backyard cooking
- Great quality
- Multiple sizes to choose from
- Worth the money
- Makes a wonderful gift for the outdoor chef
- Lasts forever if you take care of it
- Makes fantastic meals
Cons
- Heavy
- Needs specialized care
- Will rust if left in the rain
Final Thoughts
Thank you for reading my Lodge 6-Quart Camp Dutch Oven Review.
As you can see, this oven is fantastic for outdoor cooking. You can use it indoors, but the legs might be problematic in the oven or stovetop.
There are so many dishes you can make with the camp oven, and the legs allow for more even cooking when placed over coals.
Lodge is a leader in cast iron cookware, so you know you are getting a quality product. And the camp oven comes pre-seasoned meaning you can use it right away.
So, I highly recommend the Lodge 6-quart Camp Dutch Oven if you like cooking outdoors over a fire or coals.