Dutch-Oven Cooking

Stan Howell and his sister Jan were a dynamic wealth of information and fun facts as they shared recipes, basics, family anecdotes, and hints and tips from their decades of experience cooking with dutch ovens. 

We learned so many great tips, including how to choose, light, and store charcoal. And how to maximize it when using it. Did you know if you’re using multiple Dutch ovens, you can stack them to use fewer coals? And that if a lit coal is completely gray, its life is half over? They are active when just the corners are gray. Once a coal reaches peak heat, it starts losing a degree a minute. So make sure to be ready to swap them out every 30-45 minutes. 

Stan went through the whole process of how to create a “black beauty”, or how to season your Dutch oven so it has the black patina that you want on your oven. And he dispelled the misnomer that Dutch ovens need to be stored with oil in them. He explained that for how often people use them, the stored oil will probably go rancid, and then the meals coming from the Dutch oven will taste like rancid oil 3 or 4 meals later.

And, of course, there were amazing samples. Jan brought some beautiful bread she had cooked in her Dutch oven. We enjoyed delicious stew, and a lovely berry dessert. Two of the main points Stan drove home were how universal Dutch ovens are; you can cook anything in them. And he really emphasized how perfect they are for cooking with in an emergency situation, saying that when others are going to be figuring out what to do with a handful of wheat, he’s going to be eating cinnamon rolls.

Jenelle C. attended the class and sent in this thoughtful review. 

“I attended a fabulous class at Sage and Plow about Dutch Oven cooking. The presenters were experienced cooks and covered topics from purchase and seasoning to cooking and cleaning.

We were fed delicious food cooked in Dutch ovens which included a yummy stew, beautiful bread, and blueberry monkey bread for dessert!

While we ate, the presenters prepared the food again to show us how! We also received a handout with recipes and all of the information.

Wonderful class! Highly recommend this if it is offered again.  Thank you Sage and Plow!”

Holly C. also wrote of her experience attending the class.
“Dear Sage and Plow. I attended the Dutch oven class this morning. It was such a good informative class. An aspect I hadn’t considered of Dutch oven cooking is the emergency preparedness part of it. Another way to feed my family. The recipes were easy and tasty. The class flowed smoothly, Stan and Jan were efficient in their presentation. Thank you for hosting the class. Sincerely  Holly C”