Currently, Lodge and Camp Chef make production run Camp Dutch Ovens from 5" diameter (1/2 quart) up to 16" diameter (12 quart).

Maca Foundry in Utah casts heavy duty dutch ovens that go up to 22" diameter (45 quart). They are heavy enough that it usually takes two people to carry them, empty. However, they will do a fine job of cooking a 72 lb turkey, or a deer hindquarter, or half an acre of oats. I've been itching to get me a set of those Macas, except when I think about having to lug them around.

There are also some companies out there making Potjies (African cooking pots), some of which you could bathe in. I am guessing those aren't intended as man-portable cooking devices.

If the scale of my cooking ever gets that massive, I think I'd opt instead for a spit and do a pig roast, or else dig a pit and do it luau style, with all the fixins'.

p.s. Lodge (on-line) is having a 20% off sale on their top sellers, including skillets and 5-qt dutch ovens, for the next few days.

http://www.lodgemfg.com/

Just to muddy up the thread here, I have heard before (maybe on this site) that if you were about to be stranded on an island and you could only take 2 things from the kitchen, what would you take?


A strong case could be made that it is not the Dutch oven, but rather a Wok and a sharp knife. I have a small collection of woks as well, mostly yard sale stuff, and it is one item I am OK to see the label "made in China".

The bacteria scare is largely myth. What you can encounter is a oven with to much seasoning applied and improperly stored go rancid. A little used trick is to give the pot a splash of apple cider vinegar before storage to balance the PH and never store with the lid fully on. For new users a bit of insurance against scorching is a tortilla placed on the bottom. If you see Doug Ritter in the tortila remember to send 50% of the EBAY proceeds to the website.

"...I have never heard nor seen a stainless steel pot burn through on a gas stove..."

My late mother-in-law managed to turn the burner on under my "antique" (my parents used it when I was a kid) SS coffee pot one day, and melted a three inch in diameter hole in the bottom of it. So I can happen...

"...I can roast, fry, parboil, or saute any meat, make crepes, pancakes, omlettes, muffins, coffee cake, any type of quick bread or yeast bread, or flat bread, boil, fry, saute, roast, or bake any sort of vegetable, make custards, quiches, puddings, jello molds, aspics, pasta, rice, beans, casseroles, souffles, cobblers, pies, cakes, doughnuts, cookies, brownies, jams, jellies, syrups and sauces..."

Wow! Can I go camping with you???