Daiso's small "Dutch Oven" is just to be thrown in! It was just right for ajillo

The size is exquisite! Practicing ajillo that just needs to be thrown in with Daiso's 1100 yen Dutch Oven. This is a report on the experience of "surprisingly better than the price."

Watching the pot beside the fire is the enjoyable Dutch oven time

Cooking while camping is a mysterious thing; more than the elaborate recipes or good techniques, it is the time itself spent watching the pot by the fire that allows you to slowly enjoy the flow of the evening.

The pot I chose to put over the fire is Daiso's "Dutch Oven" (1100 yen). When I heard the price, I thought, "The size is modest, so it would be difficult to use it seriously."

Still, thinking, "If I can just throw it in and wait for a dish to be completed," I decided to place it beside the fire with a relaxed mindset.

A small Dutch oven, modest but might be just right

There is a preconceived notion that traditional Dutch ovens are "heavy and difficult to handle." This Daiso Dutch oven was quite different from that image.

The main body weighs about 1.5kg. When I lifted it, it did feel substantial, but not to the point where I needed to adjust my grip. The action of moving it over the fire is also manageable without stress. Although it looks small, its size is just right so you don't have to worry about where to place it. Compared to so-called professional items, its presence is modest. However, I felt it was the perfect size to "just put it over the fire."

When I put it on the fire, it was "surprisingly proper"

The ingredients used for making ajillo are just garlic, frozen seafood, salt, and olive oil. There was almost no preparation, and it felt more like just putting it on the fire than actual cooking. Now we will heat it.

This time I placed firewood on top of the lid as well, gently applying heat from both top and bottom. After a while, the oil started to quietly ripple, and the aroma of garlic rose up. True to its cast iron Dutch oven nature, the temperature rise was gradual.

On the other hand, I felt there were surprisingly few temperature inconsistencies, with no part of the pot's bottom burning. It might be an excellent match for dishes like ajillo, where you don’t have to manage the heat too strictly.

Not heavy, not overly sealed, thus easy to handle.

What I was concerned about was the weight of the lid. The actual measurement is about 591g. Compared to a typical Dutch oven, it is definitely lighter. If you only look at the airtightness, it doesn't reach the level of a professional-grade one. However, this lightness is not just a disadvantage.

・The lid opens and closes easily and casually
・You can check the contents several times
・It's easy to make fine adjustments while watching the heat

In cooking with charcoal or firewood, "being able to check the situation" leads to a sense of security. I felt that this Dutch oven prioritized ease of use over heaviness.

The ajillo I made this time didn’t involve any special tricks; I just put the ingredients over the fire. Even so, the sight of the oil quietly simmering in the pot and the rising aroma changes the atmosphere of the place.

With a capacity of about 0.7L, it can accommodate two servings depending on the dish. It's just the right size for a snack to nibble on with a spouse or a friend. It should be usable without being particular about fuel, stove, or burner.

One more thing I can do at the campsite has increased.

I don’t think this Dutch oven is an all-purpose tool or an item that you will use for a lifetime. However, at the price of 1100 yen, I now have a reason to want to place a pot near the fire. Waiting while watching the fire becomes something you can naturally enjoy. After finishing the meal, I was already thinking about what to make next.

Without feeling awkward to handle, it’s neither too big nor requires excessive preparation. Including the price, it’s a tool that can be used without putting pressure on your shoulders from the start. Heat it up, observe, and take it off the fire. In that flow, a dish was naturally completed. I think the reason I was able to enjoy the time just being close to the fire without worrying about mistakes was because of this sense of size and ease.

It’s not a big change, but it certainly added one option to how to spend the night while camping. I think this time it was sufficient. What I got for 1100 yen might have been not just the cooking itself, but that kind of time.

Product name: Dutch Oven
Price: 1100 yen
Material: Body: Cast Iron, Surface Treatment: Sunflower Oil (Seed: Sunflower, Genus: Sunflower), Handle: Stainless Steel
Size: Body: 16.5×12.5×11.5cm, Handle: 19×0.3×0.3cm
Inner Diameter: 11.5cm
Weight: 1.5kg
Capacity: 0.7L
● Daiso

Interviewed and Written by: SYURI

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