About Dutch Ovens

[want4rain]

im looking to get one. there are several different kinds available on ebay but im unsure what all of the numbers mean.

for example this is a Griswold. its a #8... what does #8 mean?
Griswold No.8 Tite-Top Cast Iron Dutch Oven / Baster - (item 180139975313 end time Jul-22-07 16:34:35 PDT)

ebay seems to ahve some less expensive ones.... but am i gettign what i pay for? William Sonoma has several large ones running from $150 to $400....

im a beginer cooker and dont really plan on power cooking but id like it to hang around for the kids after i go. what size would be reasonable? i figured a 6qt? enameled or not enameled? make any difference?

uh... anything else you can tell me abotu dutch ovens?? :)

thanks a bunch!!!

-ashley

[Uncle Bob]

Miss Ashley

Welcome to DC!!!!

Griswold is an old line of cast iron cookware. Production was from around 1865 through the 1950's or so. Some rare pieces sell for hundreds of dollars or more. They are both functional, and collectable!

From a purely functional stand point, a tight lid fit is paramount in a dutch oven. Buying items sight un-seen over E-bay can be risky at times. The lid my not match the pot, small cracks may be present etc. So use the old adage. "Buyer Beware"

You may want to research all of the modern day manufacturers, Lodge being one. They make excellent cast iron cookware. They also make some enameled items. Enameled cast iron is nice, and comes with a cost.

You should be able to find a basic oven in the size you mentioned in the $40-$50 range that with reasonable care will last you a life time...

I hope this helps and, again Welcome to the Forum!!!


Have Fun!

[justplainbill]

Originally Posted by want4rain

im looking to get one. there are several different kinds available on ebay but im unsure what all of the numbers mean.

for example this is a Griswold. its a #8... what does #8 mean?
Griswold No.8 Tite-Top Cast Iron Dutch Oven / Baster - (item 180139975313 end time Jul-22-07 16:34:35 PDT)

ebay seems to ahve some less expensive ones.... but am i gettign what i pay for? William Sonoma has several large ones running from $150 to $400....

im a beginer cooker and dont really plan on power cooking but id like it to hang around for the kids after i go. what size would be reasonable? i figured a 6qt? enameled or not enameled? make any difference?

uh... anything else you can tell me abotu dutch ovens?? :)

thanks a bunch!!!

-ashley

My Griswold #8's hold 4 quarts. They're 9.75" in diameter and 4" deep. They get a lot of use and I prefer them for many jobs where I get less spatter than from using a frying pan.

[want4rain]

why thank you Uncle Bob and Just Plain Bill!! what a warm welcome!

my maiden voyage was with peanut butter cookies. i didnt have a real cookie sheet, i forgot to press the fork in the first batch and i had a hard time figuring out what a 1" ball was. but they taste good!!

im sure i will have many many many more questions..... do you guys have a 911 forum??

-ashley

[justplainbill]

I had enough of the WTC with the 1993 bombing.

The #8's total capacity is more like 5 quarts but the useable capacity is more like 4 quarts:

(4 x 3.14159265 x (9.75/2)squared) x .01731602

[Uncle Bob]

Hey Miss Ashley....

I bet those cookies were good!!!! My grandmother used to "fuss" about a cake falling apart! My Granddaddy would say those are the best ones!!

Ya know, I think he was right!

Ask all of the questions ya want. I garontee none of them will go un-answered!!

Have Lots of Fun!!!!

[oldcampcook]

Ashley,
I recently purchased a Lodge #8 from Academy Sports for $28. You might want to check there or at Bass Pro Shops if you have either close by. I bought two 12s at a farm sale for 20 each. You might want to look in your paper for estate sales or farm auctions.

[oldcampcook]

Ashley,
Another thought. Some DO's are made without legs and are intended primarily for use in an oven or on a stove. The lids are usually domed without rims. "Camping" DO's have 3 small legs and the lid has a rim to keep the coals from falling off.
There is even a chart available that tells you how many briquettes to put under the stove and on the lid to maintain various temperatures.

[Constance]

I have one of these, that my mother got for a wedding present, and it still makes the best pot roast. It's also very easy to clean, perhaps because it's so well-seasoned.

WAGNERWARE 6 Quart Magnalite Aluminum Pot - (eBay item 230164555484 end time Aug-29-07 18:27:22 PDT)

The original Magnalite is no longer being made because the brand name is tied up in the courts, but the Chinese are making knock-offs that are not made of the original alloy and calling them Magnalite, so be careful what you buy.
If you can find the real thing, I promise you will be very pleased with it. Magnalite does everything cast iron does, but the aluminum distrubutes heat better, is a lot easier to clean, and not so heavy.

[Fisher's Mom]

Originally Posted by Constance

I have one of these, that my mother got for a wedding present, and it still makes the best pot roast. It's also very easy to clean, perhaps because it's so well-seasoned.

WAGNERWARE 6 Quart Magnalite Aluminum Pot - (eBay item 230164555484 end time Aug-29-07 18:27:22 PDT)

The original Magnalite is no longer being made because the brand name is tied up in the courts, but the Chinese are making knock-offs that are not made of the original alloy and calling them Magnalite, so be careful what you buy.
If you can find the real thing, I promise you will be very pleased with it. Magnalite does everything cast iron does, but the aluminum distrubutes heat better, is a lot easier to clean, and not so heavy.

Thanks Constance. I've been looking at these on ebay but I didn't know anyone who had one.