Cast iron dutch ovens are excellent investments for both beginner and experienced cooks, and they can be used to prepare a variety of meals and dishes. Cast iron dutch ovens are also very durable, and they can last for years if they are properly cared for. The first step to taking proper care of your cast iron dutch oven is to season it correctly before using it. Before cooking with a cast iron dutch oven for the first time, it is important to season it correctly. Seasoning a cast iron dutch oven helps to protect its iron, and it prepares it for use. After you have seasoned your cast iron dutch oven, you can then use it to cook both indoors and outdoors, making a cast iron dutch oven a very versatile cooking essential. First, you should heat your cast iron dutch oven a burner that is set to medium low heat. After the cast iron dutch oven has gotten hot, you should remove its inner sticker while making sure to handle the hot dutch oven carefully. Next, you should allow your cast iron dutch oven to cool completely before washing it thoroughly with warm, soapy water. After your cast iron dutch oven has been thoroughly cleaned, you should place about a tablespoon of cooking oil in it -- vegetable oil, olive oil, canola oil or whatever you have on hand will be fine. Using a paper towel, you should carefully coat the entire inside of the cast iron dutch oven. After placing on a hot stove, you should then add additional cooking oil until the entire bottom of the cast iron dutch oven is completely covered. Turning your burner onto medium high heat, you should heat the oil while swishing it around the cast iron dutch oven until the entire interior of the cast iron dutch oven has been coated in oil. Last, you should rub the cooled oil all over the interior and exterior of the oven before placing your cast iron dutch oven upside down on a preheated cookie sheet in a 250 degree oven. After allowing your cast iron dutch oven to bake for an hour, you should turn off the oven and allow the cast iron dutch oven to cool completely before removing it.