This 3.8 litre Dutch oven from Valhal Outdoor is the compact size in the range: cast iron with a heavy lid and a flat base, without feet. That means you can put it on the grate of your kamado, straight onto a bed of glowing coals, or simply indoors on the stove. Handy if you're cooking for two to four people and don't want a large pot full.
Cast iron absorbs heat slowly and then releases it evenly. Exactly what you want for stewing, for a pot of beans that can simmer for hours, or for a loaf of bread that holds its own steam under the closed lid.
- Capacity 3.8 litres, weight around 5.5 kg
- Solid cast iron with matching lid
- Flat base without feet
- For kamado, wood fire and stove
- Article number VH3.8L
What you use the 3.8 litre Dutch oven for
Stewed meat, game ragout, chilli, curry, soup and sourdough bread: all dishes that benefit from slow, enveloping heat. On a kamado with a heat deflector you get a stable oven temperature, so you can leave the pot alone for hours. Over a wood fire you hang or set it higher or lower to control the heat.
With or without feet
Without feet, the pot sits flat, which is pleasant on a grate, on a hob and in the cupboard. If you want to set it right in the middle of a pile of glowing coals, a version on feet is more practical, because then air can pass under the base. You'll find that in the larger size, for example the 8 litre Dutch oven with feet.
Maintenance
Rinse the pot with hot water and no washing-up liquid after use, dry it well and rub the inside lightly with oil. That way you build up an ever-better non-stick layer and prevent rust. Also check the other Dutch ovens and the rest of the cast iron for the barbecue.
