The American story is littered with references to cooking and the pioneers use of Dutch ovens. Spurned by those who want modern fads and TV dinners the Dutch oven is revered by those who appreciate great outdoor cooking and wonderful flavors in their food.

Buying a Dutch oven makes great sense but you really should invest in a good one; you’ll probably do best by going online as here the choice is great as is the value compared to the local stores

First decide whether you want to use your Dutch oven on a campfire or on a grill. For the campfire chose a Dutch oven with 3 legs and a lid that allows coals to be put on the top; but for the grill chose a flat bottomed version.

What is it that really defines a great Dutch oven?

1. It should be of a good consistent, standard thickness throughout; inconsistent thickness of the walls can lead to hot or cold spots, warping or even a crack. Inconsistency is a sign that the oven is poorly made. If however the oven has a rough texture this is not a problem as over time this will be smothered out by seasoning; too smooth a surface and the seasoning cannot take effect because there’s nowhere for the grease to set within; too smooth a surface is therefore not good!

2. A Dutch oven should be made of well constructed heavy gage metal; especially the legs if you’re going for the outdoor fire version; thin legs near the base will not last;

3. The quality of the lid is especially important; it should fit snugly and tightly; if it doesn’t you’ll have problems when cooking; it should have a good lip for stopping materials falling into the dish when its lifted; and it should have a properly formed loop so it can be lifted with a lid lifter;

4. Don’t go for a Dutch oven that have been riveted; they are heavy and riveted handles can break when the oven is fully laden;

5. Price isn’t a good predictor of good quality but if the price is low then its doubtful that you’re buying quality! Usually heavy gauge cast iron is going to be relatively expensive;

Now you know what type to buy you have to decide what size you need. Most people buy 2 or 3 so that a mix of needs can be met. Basically you have to think about: what am I going to be cooking with my Dutch oven and for how many people will I be cooking?

As a newbie and some one who is unsure a 8.5 quart is probably a good choice for starters. Its ideal great for family roasts, vegetables, stews & bread; but for larger groups then a 12 quart oven might be better. If however you’re only going to be cooking small amounts of vegetables, desserts and sauces for 2 or 3 people or small roasts then a 2 quart or 4 quart oven will be okay. Do note that over 12 quarts the ovens are heavy handle. But this said if you’re cooking for larger groups they will be just the job.

Finally buy yourself: a pair of loose fitting heavy duty, wrist high, leather gloves; a lid lifter so as to make light work of picking up the hot heavy lids and some briquettes; go for the best quality, the difference is worth the money.