How to Care for & Restore Cast Iron Cookware

The Dutch oven is the perfect companion for a cookout. The legs beneath it allow you to place a few charcoal briquettes or campfire coals underneath the pot while you cook. And the ridge on the lid allows you to place hot coals on top, creating heat sources both above and below the food, thus making it an "oven." This means you can cook nearly anything: biscuits, stews, cobblers and, depending on the pot's size, even whole chickens.Common Dutch Oven MythsBefore learning how to restore a rusty pot, let's set the record straight. Here are some of the most common myths about cast iron Dutch ovens:Washing it will ruin the seasoning. A good seasoning on cast iron means the polymers in the oil have bonded with the iron. Some light scrubbing with a little bit of soapy water isn't enough to strip the seasoning.Cast iron cooks evenly. Not even remotely. Cook a pancake in a cast iron skillet over an electric stove and you'll see exactly where the pan is hot. (Hint: It's shaped like the heating element.) Cast iron is, however, a great conductor of heat. When heated properly, it'll stay hot.You can't cook acidic foods on it. Though iron is a reactive material, a well-seasoned piece should have no problem handling acidic foods, such as tomato sauce.Restore Your Cast IronThe following care and restoration instructions apply to any type of cast iron, though here we're focusing on the holy grail of camp cookware: the Dutch oven.1. Remove RustYour first order of business is to strip the seasoning and eliminate any rust. Methods abound on how to do this, ranging from using buckets of lye to rigging a car battery to a fish tank. However, I found that using 60- or 80-grit sandpaper, steel wool, vinegar and good old-fashioned elbow grease will do the job with zero risk of electrocution.Start with the sandpaper, removing any caked-on residue, rancid oil or whatever else is clinging to the pot. You can even use an orbital sander if you want—basically, you can do no harm.After the seasoning is stripped, remove whatever rust and residue are left with steel wool and a 50/50 mixture of water and vinegar. Pay attention to the entire piece, not only the cooking surface.2. Oil Your PotWhen the rust and seasoning have been removed, the metal will be exposed and appear more silver than black. This means you're down to the bare iron. At this point, you need to work quickly to prevent the iron from oxidizing, (a.k.a. rusting) immediately. Rub oil—flaxseed, though expensive, is best, but corn or canola oil will work fine—all over, paying attention to the nooks and crannies on the outside, handles and underneath.3. Bake Your PotPreheat your oven to 400° and place a rack in the middle. Put a baking sheet on a rack below it to catch oil drips. Remove any excess oil from the cast iron and place it directly on the upper rack, upside down, over the baking sheet.Leave it for an hour, then turn off the heat and allow it to cool in the oven. I highly recommend leaving a window open for this, as it's going to get smoky. When you take it out, it should be black, smooth and ready to use.Classic Baked Beans RecipeThere are myriad meals you can prep in your Dutch oven, but we suggest starting with something simple while you get the hang of cooking with cast iron. Here's a simple recipe to get you started.Ingredients3 14.5-ounce cans white beans (Great Northern, navy or other)½ pound bacon, cut into lardons1 yellow onion, diced2 garlic cloves, minced¼ cup ketchup¼ cup molasses¼ cup apple cider vinegar1 tablespoon dry mustard powderDash of hot sauceSalt and pepper, to tasteDirectionsStep 1Start a fire and add logs until you have a mound of hot coals to cook with. (Read more detailed fire-building instructions here.) Place a handful of lit charcoal briquettes or glowing red campfire coals underneath the Dutch oven.Step 2Allow the Dutch oven to heat for about 5 to 10 minutes before adding the bacon. Let the meat cook until it begins to crisp, then add the onion and garlic. Cook until the onion is soft and starting to brown.Step 3Add the beans with their canned liquid, ketchup, molasses, apple cider vinegar, mustard powder and hot sauce. Season with salt and pepper. Cover and add coals or lit charcoal on top of the lid. Let the beans bake for 30 to 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. If too much water boils down, add more until the beans are just barely covered. Remove the lid and simmer until the liquid has become thick and slightly sticky. Remove the baked beans from the heat and serve.[All photos by Nick Cote]