Dutch oven on campfire; photo by Jason Slemons (used by permission).
Official State Cooking Pot of Utah
The Dutch oven was designated the state cooking pot of Utah in 1997. Dutch ovens were a basic necessity for early pioneers; it's also a state symbol of Texas (state cooking vessel) and Arkansas (state historic cooking vessel).
These cast iron pots were among the most cherished possessions of explorers, mountain men, settlers, and cattle drive cowboys. Chuck wagon cooks used two or three Dutch ovens when preparing chow. Americans still gather around campfires after a meal made in the same kind of Dutch ovens used by our pioneer forbears and tell stories of our history and ancestors.
Dutch ovens are used for baking, roasting, boiling, braising, frying, simmering, steaming, and other campfire cooking methods to make dishes such as biscuits, cornbread, appetizers, entrees and desserts. Modern campers are still using the durable and flexible Dutch oven and cooking contests are popular in many places.
