Have you ever noticed how some cast iron dutch ovens have little feet on the bottom and some don’t? Have you ever wondered what those little legs are for? Well, believe it or not, those little legs make all the difference in how you go about cooking with your cast iron dutch oven.

For those new to cast iron Dutch ovens, there are two types of ovens you can buy, one with three legs and one with a flat bottom and no legs. Legless cast iron Dutch ovens are best used for indoor cooking because you can use them on the stovetop or inside the oven. Very tasty recipes can be cooked in this type of oven, such as chicken with roasted rice, roast beef with potatoes, and the always popular soups and stews. However, flat-bottomed Dutch ovens can be used over a campfire, but only if they are hung from a tripod.

But now, what about those three-legged cast iron Dutch ovens, what are they for, and how do I cook with those types of ovens? Well, first things first, these ovens are created and best used for cooking over campfires, or to be more precise, campfires. The purpose of those three little legs is to create space between the bottom of the oven and the coals it sits on. That space between the bottom of the oven and the coals is to help create a space for airflow to reach the coals. When using an oven with legs, you’ll want to make a separate fire pit to place the oven in or let your original fire pit burn down to embers so you have enough space between the bottom of the oven and the embers so air can circulate over the embers. . Now, you can use a flat-bottomed dutch oven over a campfire, but you’ll need to set it on some rocks so you don’t burn the bottom of the food inside, depending on what you’re cooking. But sometimes finding a rock is easier said than done, so if you’re truly a lover of cast iron Dutch ovens and an avid camper, an oven with three legs works best.

Just like indoor ovens, there are plenty of delicious recipes you can make with your outdoor oven. The next time you go camping, hot dogs and hamburgers will no longer be the foods of choice. With your new cast iron Dutch oven, you have a world of meal possibilities at your disposal. You’ll be able to cook everything from scrambled eggs for breakfast to delicious roast beef for dinner. And don’t forget about dessert, you can make desserts like apple pie. I have even read that you can make a deep dish pizza with your dutch oven!