Storing a Dutch Oven

Dutch Ovens should always be stored out of the weather. There are several canvas Dutch Oven bags for sale, which are nice to have but may be cost prohibitive. If your oven’s patina is too dry, you may want to pour about a silver dollar sized amount of vegetable oil in the oven and rub it around the inside evenly – including the sides of the oven as well as the bottom. The blacker the patina, the better the oven.

The most important thing to remember is that your oven should be clean and dry inside before putting it away. When you store it, make sure to take a paper towel, fold it in half and lay it half in the Dutch Oven and half out before putting the lid on it. This will do two things. First, the towel that is on the inside of the oven will absorb any moisture that may be still in the oven. Second, the paper towel will break the seal between the lid and the oven just enough for the air to not be sealed in the oven. By doing this, you will ensure that your oven does not rust between uses.