from €24.99*
€105.00*
€105.00*
€95.00*
€95.00*
€85.00*
€19.99*
from €49.99*
€85.00*
Which Dutch Oven size is the right one?
The right size matters – at least when it comes to your cooking experience. Here you can find an overview on the sizes available, so that you know exactly how many hungry stomachs you can fill with the respective Dutch Oven.
The ideal Dutch Oven size for your needs – which Dutch Oven is the right one for you?
Dutch Oven size | Volume | Number of people | Ideal for |
ft0.5 / ft0.5-t | 0.56 l | 1-2 | Ft0.5: Sauces or small desserts such as crème brûlée |
ft1 / ft1-t | 0.93 l | 1-2 | Ft1: Prepper meals such as beans and bacon or rice stew |
ft3 / ft3-t | 1.6 l | 1-3 | Ft3: Soups or casseroles such as layered meat (for 2 persons) |
ft4.5 / ft4.5-t | 3.5 l | 2-5 | Ft4.5: Bread, cakes or large side dishes such as gratins |
ft6 / ft6-t | 5.5 l | 4-8 | Ft6: Stew dishes such as fricassee or chilli con carne |
ft9 / ft9-t | 7.5 l | 8-14 | Ft9: Hay-baked chicken or spareribs |
ft12 / ft12-t | 10.8 l | 14-20 | Ft12: as large roaster for roast goose or legs of lamb |
ft18 / ft18-t | 16.1 l | 20+ | Ft18: to cater for an entire team, stew for 20 adults |
A rule of thumb for you to be on the safe side: better choose one size larger. The Dutch Oven does not have to be filled completely when cooking. If you can not decide between the ft6 and ft9 Dutch Oven, for example, we recommend you get the larger one. Here the contact surface remains the same. The pot is just a little higher and will let you fill an extra 3-4 hungry stomachs if need be. You can also use the space of the larger pot to prepare dishes and freeze the food if necessary. Just make sure not to store the food overnight in the Dutch Oven.




Which is the best Dutch Oven?
On this matter everyone agrees: When it comes to the best Dutch Oven the quality of the material and workmanship are most essential. Therefore, we provide you with a little peek behind the scenes and share our criteria and requirements for our Petromax Cast Iron pots.
Source materials: | 100% self-recycled, so we can guarantee for the materials we use. |
Surface structure of the cast iron: | Uniform and low-cavity casting for a fine-pored surface. |
Uniform material thickness: | Uniform wall thickness for ideal heat distribution and a precisely balanced Dutch Oven. |
Even base: | Consistent roasting and cooking results and easy use on the stove. |
Quality inspections of castings: | Regular inspections and replacement of moulds reduce casting defects and ensure high-quality cast iron. |
Thorough rework after casting: | Chamfered and deburred edges guarantee safe handling. |
Everything must fit: | Smooth-running handle and ingenious extras: We are always reviewing the Dutch Ovens to offer you the best of the best. |

Fire is our passion. We bring in all our expertise, the tradition and the experience since 1910 to the innovative development and production of our Dutch Ovens. Find out which Petromax Dutch Oven is the best for you.
What do I do with a Dutch Oven and how does it work?
A Dutch Oven is a traditional cooking pot. It is made of robust cast iron that is designed to last forever. You can cook almost any dish in a Dutch Oven – stews, roasts and even desserts and bread. Thanks to the material, the heat is stored perfectly, distributed evenly and you achieve the best possible cooking result every time.
When you cook your first dishes, try to avoid acidic foods. You can cook your dishes in the Dutch Oven as usual. Use a little more liquid when cooking over an open fire. During cooking, a patina layer forms all by itself, which increases with each use and naturally prevents food from sticking on.
Whether on the stove or in the oven, you can use the Dutch Oven as a roaster, cooking pot, casserole or baking dish. Over an open fire, for example, hang it on a Cooking Tripod or place it on a Cooking Stand. You can place the Dutch Oven with legs directly in embers and even use charcoal briquettes to provide top and bottom heat outdoors. To do this, place the Dutch Oven on embers and add extra embers on the lid as needed. With the right accessories, smoking is also possible with the Petromax Dutch Oven.
Here is a brief overview of what you can do with your Dutch Oven and how you go about it:
PREPARATION METHOD | PROCEDURE | POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS |
Cooking, simmering: | • Over an open fire | Cooking Tripod, Cooking Stand |
Roasting: | • In the Dutch Oven lid directly on coals or embers (ft3 and larger) | |
Braising: | • Over an open fire with embers on the closed Dutch Oven | Cooking Tripod, Cooking Stand |
Baking and gratinating: | • With top heat (coals on the lid) | Atago, Griddle and Fire Bowl, Dutch Oven Table, Convection Lid |
Steaming and stewing: | • In the Dutch Oven with additional insert | |
Smoking: | • With smoking chips in the Dutch Oven with additional insert | Cast-iron Stack Grate |
Where are Petromax Dutch Ovens made?
Since 1910, the Petromax dragon brand stands for German engineering, tradition and the highest quality. This principle still guides us every day, especially when it comes to the development and manufacture of our products.
For example, the Petromax HK500 High-Pressure Lamp is assembled by hand from over 200 individual parts in our manufacture at company headquarters in Magdeburg. All our products are developed in-house at the company location in Germany. Our product development team of engineers and product designers develops, designs, tests and improves new products every day in Magdeburg. A large part of our cooking equipment is made in Germany, e.g. our Griddle and Fire Bowls, Wrought-Iron Pans, Hobo Stove and the Tripod Lashing.
To meet our high quality and product standards and customer expectations for cast iron, we decided to set up our own cast-iron production line in Asia. The product quality of Petromax cast iron can no longer be offered if produced in Germany. Through our own production lines, we have direct influence on production standards as well as quality and grade control. The development of the Dutch Ovens still takes place at our German site, just like the final certification of our cast-iron products by an independent German institute. That way, you can always be certain of the high quality of our cast-iron pots, pans and moulds.
How much does a Dutch Oven cost?
A Dutch Oven should serve you your entire life. The quality of the raw material and manufacture of the Dutch Oven play a major role in this respect. You should, therefore, consider what criteria a manufacturer meets in the production of cast iron pots. The fulfilment of these criteria is crucial for the durability of your Dutch Oven.
Example: The permanent use of Dutch Oven moulds causes them to wear out. If one continues to use them, the quality of the final product is diminished and material defects, poor fit of pot and lid or stress cracks occur. We pay close attention to these and other factors in our production and replace moulds at an early stage before they reach their wear limit. This requires higher investment costs, but ensures the consistent Petromax product quality.
When considering the cost of a Dutch Oven, you should also take into account the possibility of combining it with other products and suitable accessories. With Petromax Dutch Ovens, we offer you many accessories with which you can perfectly adapt your Dutch Oven to your cooking adventures.
Depending on the size, Petromax Dutch Ovens cost between €24.99 (ft0.5) and €174.99 (ft18).
How to season a Dutch Oven?
When you buy a Petromax Dutch Oven, you want to do everything right. Therefore, it is important to know how to treat your Dutch Oven before using it for the first time.
Petromax Dutch Ovens are already pre-seasoned. You do not have to season the Dutch Oven first – we have already done that for you. Delivered ready to use, you can use it immediately after a short rinse with warm water.
Just in case: If the patina does get damaged or your Dutch Oven has not been stored in a dry place and has developed some rust, it does not mean it is immediately unusable. You can re-season it.
You can find out exactly how to do this here.


How to care for my Dutch Oven?
To enjoy your Dutch Oven for a long time, you should take good care of it. With these three tips, your Dutch Oven will last a lifetime:
- Cleaning: Allow the Dutch Oven to cool down after use and clean it without detergent using a standard dishwashing brush. This preserves the valuable patina.
- Storage: Your Dutch Oven should always be stored in a dry place. Ideally, place a piece of cardboard between the pot and the lid to ensure air circulation. Alternatively, you can place the Dutch Oven in the lid and store it open.
- Greasing: Is the surface of your Dutch oven slightly greasy and shiny in the light? Good, that's how it should be, because this patination protects the cast-iron material from rust. If you notice that your Dutch Oven feels dry and that the surfaces look dull, simply grease it a little. You can use Petromax Care Conditioner for Cast and Wrought Iron for this. If you decide to use cooking oil, be sure to check the shelf life. Oil goes rancid easily and can strongly influence the taste of your food. In the worst case, you will have to re-season the Dutch Oven. With the Care Conditioner for Cast and Wrought Iron you are on the safe side, and it is also ideal for seasoning.
If you are wondering how to remove stubborn food residue easily, you can read about cleaning and caring for cast iron.
You can find out how many briquettes you need for your Dutch Oven here.