There are several items you’ll need to pick up if you plan on cooking with a Dutch Oven. Remember that you’re playing with and around fire. Be safe and buy the right cooking tools.
1. Gloves – You need a good thick pair of leather gloves. Lodge sells a great pair that hold up well and last for years. If you know someone in the welding industry or a fireman, then you can also get good industry gloves that work for outdoor cooking.
2. Shovel – When you’re cooking with a Dutch Oven, you’ll need to move coals or burning wood around. A folding camp shovel is a good bet, since it takes up less space when traveling.
3. Lid Lifter – Though you may be able to grab the lid loop using a glove, it’s difficult to lift the lid when coals are piled on top. Lid lifters are inexpensive. If you’re buying a Dutch Oven, buy the lid lifter as well. If you have a Dutch Oven and don’t have a lid lifter, you’ll really find cooking much easier if you buy one. One note I’d make here is that some lid lifters work much better with some Dutch Ovens. Try to buy the same brand name so that the lifter fits right in the lid loop and lifts safely.
4. Long Handled Cooking Utensils – Look for solid metal forks, spoons, and spatulas with long handles. If you buy fancy models with wood or other type grips, then these may burn or melt. Short utensils are obviously not a good idea, since your hand will be right in the pot and close the bubbling food. Again, these are inexpensive items and are available in the outdoor sections of most big stores like Wal-Mart.
5. Small Whisk Broom – Since you’re often adding coals on top of the Dutch Oven, you’ll need something to wipe the top. An old rag will work, but again you’re more likely to get burned when trying to wipe off hot coals with something so insubstantial. A little whisk broom works great and is also a low ticket purchase.