Let me tell you how I really feel about Dutch Ovens. They’re big, relatively obtrusive and require a fair bit prep work and maintenance. They’re also worth every bit of extra effort. But despite the minor downfalls, cooking in a Dutch Oven is in fact very easy, and they have an uncanny ability to make just about any mix of ingredients taste absolutely amazing. In fact, a lot of people are discovering ways to implement their food storage supplies into great Dutch Oven recipes. If you’re like me and lack creativity when it comes to whipping up a meal then your probably grateful for the internet, and for people who possess the ability to invent new ideas for meals.

Find some Dutch oven recipes that can be used with your food storage items and test them out the next time you go camping, or even conduct a cooking experiment in your own backyard.

Like so many techniques that are great for emergency preparedness, it’s a good idea to take a test run with a few recipes and see how they turn out. Don’t just assume that because you found a recipe that sounds good and you have the ingredients that you’re going to like whatever it is you plan on making—and don’t expect that it will turn out the way you imagined on your first try.

If you’re in no hurry to whip one of the best tasting, most satisfying outdoor meals that you’ll ever put in your belly then a Dutch Oven just might be your best friend when it comes to cooking outside. In the traditional sense, Dutch ovens are just cast iron pots with legs and a lid, with the weight of that lid acting as a means to trap steam and help cook the food evenly.

If you’re thinking about buying your fist Dutch Oven make sure the lid fits tight, look to see that the walls are the same thickness all the way around, that the legs supporting the oven are tall enough to give you room to cook over coals or charcoal, and that the bail handle is made from heavy gauge wire and securely attached. Regarding what size you should buy, well, how many people are you going to feed? Refer to the manufacturers recommendations on this one.

Again, if you’re not very inventive when it comes to combining random ingredients into something that’s actually edible then be sure to search around for recipes that incorporate food storage items like rice, ground wheat, legumes or powdered milk. If all else fails, just use that Dutch Oven and whip up some good old peach cobbler. Despite all the odds against me to perform as a cook, this is one dish that’s pretty hard to muck up, and that’s thanks in large part to the Dutch Oven and not my abilities as an outdoor chef.