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Here's what you need to know about Dutch Ovens and Dutch Oven (DO) cooking 
 
by Cyndi Allison June 22, 2005

Cleaning a Dutch Oven

If you have children, cleaning the Dutch Oven is a good job to foist off. I’ve never met anyone who really enjoyed cleaning Dutch Ovens.

Once tip to make clean up easier is to scoop out as much food (or particles) as possible. Add water to the Dutch Oven while it’s still over the coals and let the water boil off some of the mess.

Some campers “burn out” Dutch Ovens. This means that they leave the leftover food baking until it’s blackened to cinders. While this does simplify clean up, it’s not really good for the pan. Some of the burned spots may be next to impossible to remove especially if the pan is not fully seasoned. Also, cast iron can crack when exposed to high heat and not filled with food.

Before cleaning your Dutch Oven, let the oven cool. Otherwise, you’re likely to get burned. Cast iron absorbs and holds heat. That’s why it makes such a great cooking pot, but that does complicate clean up.

When the oven is cool, use water and a cloth to wipe out the oven. If the pan is seasoned well, then everything should wipe right out. If some spots won’t clean up, then add a little bit of Pepsi and wipe the area with tin foil. This should do the trick. It should also be a warning that the Dutch Oven needs another seasoning. A simple shortcut (which will work for a while anyway) is to very lightly rub more Crisco on the pot before storage. Don’t rub on too much Crisco, or the pot will smell rancid the next time you pull it out.

Be sure the Dutch Oven is fully dry before storing. If it’s put away damp, then mold can grow and the pot can rust. Putting a small piece of cardboard between the pot and lid helps air circulation and helps prevent rust problems.

Do know that both rancid smelling Dutch Ovens and rusty Dutch Ovens are salvageable. Simply rewash, rub off rust (tin foil or a scratch pad are fine) and reseason.  I’ve only seen one Dutch Oven in over 40 years that I considered beyond revival. It's hard to really mess up a Dutch Oven.

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