Yes, you can use the lid of your Dutch oven for some of the cooking chores, and it's just as good as a cast iron skillet. That's because with a camp style cast iron Dutch oven you get a lid that has a smooth inside surface. When you flip it over and use coals under it, you now have a great surface for frying. Nothing is more satisfying at camp than getting double duty out of the gear you packed in.
You can get some great Dutch oven recipes and cooking tips here.
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Which Dutch Oven Lids Work For Cooking On
Not every Dutch oven lid will work like this. I use lids that are matched to my camp style ovens that will work for putting coals on top of the lid. When you flip it over you'll see that it has a smooth, concave surface that's just perfect for a griddle.
On the “bean pot” style Dutch ovens you may see a set of spikes that would render it unusable for a griddle. These actually do have a purpose, though. Here's an excerpt from the website Chowhound.com
Kelli2006 Nov 10, 2006 08:43 PM
The spikes are there to evenly distribute the liquid that is formed when the water vapor(steam) rises and condenses back to water on the lid. If the spikes were not there they would run all the way back to the edge and run down the side and water-log the edges.
Some pots have a set of concentric rings that have been cast into the lid. It is a different end for the same purpose.
That's just one of the differences between campstyle Dutch ovens and the ones called bean pots, which are made more for using inside a kitchen oven or grill. Many of the campstyle models have legs on the bottom which holds them up a little. You can then put coals under the oven without putting them out.
But I have a little trick to get the coals under the lid so they won't go out. Just save the pot racks off of the top of an old cookstove. You can find them at rummage sales and flea markets if you don't have any other way to get one.
Put the pot holder down and nestle the coals inside it. Then put the Dutch oven lid on top, upside down and you have a wonderful griddle, or you can set the bean pot on it and cook with coals on the bottom.
Cast Iron Griddle Buckwheat Pancakes
3/4 c Buckwheat Flour
3/4 c Flour,All-Purpose
1/2 t Salt
1/3 c Dried Whole Egg
1/2 c Nonfat Dry Milk
1 1/2 t Baking Powder
4 T Margarine
1 1/2 c Water
Mix all ingredients, except margarine, with water to make a creamy
batter. Melt margarine and add gradually to batter while stirring.
Save some more margarine to oil the griddle as you fry pancakes. Consider though, that margarine has some water in it, but butter does not. Real butter will make a non stick coating on your cast iron.
Also see this article about cooking beans on the campfire
