Full Answer
What is the best rated Dutch oven?
The 5.5-quart oven is made from enameled cast iron, which means it should thoroughly and evenly conduct heat. Like most Dutch ovens, I found the wide cooking surface to be ideal for searing short ribs.
What are the best Dutch ovens?
- Weight: How much does it weigh, and does it seem too heavy or too light?
- Diameter of pan: How many inches is it across?
- Depth of sides: We measured how deep each pan was and whether the sides were sloped or vertical. ...
- Handles: Were the handles comfortable or ergonomic? ...
- Lid: How heavy was it? ...
- Quality of materials: Was the surface smooth? ...
What are the top 5 Dutch ovens?
Best Dutch Oven Overall Runner-Up: Le Creuset 5.5-qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven At first glance, there might not seem to be much difference between this Le Creuset Dutch oven and the Lodge. The ...
What kind of Dutch oven should I buy?
The Best Option for Most People: 5–7 Quart Dutch Ovens. A 5–7 quart Dutch oven is the sweet spot for most home cooks. This size is great for cooking for four people (often with leftovers).
What size is a 5 quart Dutch oven?
9 Quart1 Quart Cast Iron Dutch Oven5 Quart Cast Iron Dutch OvenDimensions8.5" L x 6.75" W x 4" T12.56" L x 10.43" W x 7.14" TWeight4.12 lbs12.78 lbsGreat Forside dishes and dessertsone-dish wondersPrice$34.95$54.953 more rows
Is a 5 quart Dutch oven considered large?
A 5–7 quart Dutch oven is the sweet spot for most home cooks. This size is great for cooking for four people (often with leftovers). Representatives from both Staub and Le Creuset tell us that their most popular size is 5 1/2-quarts, and that's the size most Epi editors have at home, as well.
What fits in a 5 qt Dutch oven?
5 and 6-quart Dutch oven sizes are also popular as, unlike the smaller sizes, they provide enough room for roasting joints of meat or whole chickens, and also it'll be large enough to bake bread (remember, bread needs plenty of space to rise).
How much can a 5 qt Dutch oven hold?
5–7 qt. This is the most common Dutch oven size and usually the best option for small families. It is ideal if you are cooking for four people, making about 6–8 servings, and allowing for a few leftovers or seconds for hungry kids. It's not too heavy to take out of the oven, weighing roughly 13 lbs.
How do I know what size Dutch oven to buy?
The general rule of thumb is to plan for one quart per person, and then round up. One quart roughly translates into a typical serving size for most people. So for a family of four, you would want something that is a minimum of 4 quarts.
How do I know what size my Dutch oven is?
Along with the size number, the letter embedded on the bottom of the pan is there to match the correct sized lid to the right cooking pot, pan, braiser, skillet, or Dutch oven.
What size is considered a large Dutch oven?
What is the size of a large Dutch oven? It is generally considered that Dutch ovens between 7 and 9 quarts is considered 'Large'.
How many quarts is a 12 inch Dutch oven?
A 12-inch Deep Dutch oven holds 8 Quarts/32 Cups.
What is the advantage of a Dutch oven?
The ability of the cookware to hold this heat means that less energy is required for long, slow cooking methods. The ovenproof lid helps retain moisture and prevents drying during long cooking times. This makes Dutch ovens perfect for slow roasting meats or vegetables.
Is a Dutch oven worth it?
While you can certainly feed yourself without owning a Dutch oven, a handful of factors make them a worthwhile investment. If you enjoy cooking or are eager to streamline the process, Dutch ovens are a great tool thanks to their versatility. They can be used in countless ways to make an unlimited amount of dishes.
What is a mini Dutch oven used for?
These mini cast-iron cocottes are a great way to serve individual portions of shakshuka, fruit crisp or braised greens. The enameled cast-iron sides and the mini lids keep the food warm on the table. Plus, the 1-cup capacity is the perfect single serving.
How many people will a Dutch oven feed?
The standard size Dutch oven is around 6-Quarts and will feed four people with leftovers. What is this? A 9-quart Dutch oven is a cooking pot for the entertainer. It has the ability to feed one of your awesome casseroles or stews to a number of guests or a large family.
What can I cook in a small Dutch oven?
Short Ribs. Sort of the original “set it and forget it,” a Dutch oven is just the thing for a long-simmering braise. …
What is the best thing to cook in a Dutch oven?
Dutch ovens are the workhorses of pots. They go from stovetop to oven with ease, making them ideal for braises, soups, bread, and more. Even better, Dutch ovens can be covered to keep foods warm or to transport a hot dish over to a sick friend.
Can you put a Dutch oven in the oven?
Dutch ovens are oven-safe, making them ideal for braising meat or baking bread. If you’re baking on high heat, beware: your pot is probably heatproof, but the knob on the lid often has a heat limit below 400º. Simply twist off the knob and bake without it, or use a metal knob.
Can you bake in a Dutch oven on the stove?
You can use an enameled cast iron Dutch oven on the stovetop (whether it’s electric, gas, or induction), oven, or grill. … When you’re using your Dutch oven on a direct heat source, like the stovetop or grill, make sure that your temperatures are not too hot or you could scorch it.
What size Dutch oven is best?
A 5–7 quart Dutch oven is the sweet spot for most home cooks. This size is great for cooking for four people (often with leftovers). Representatives from both Staub and Le Creuset tell us that their most popular size is 5 1/2-quarts, and that’s the size most Epi editors have at home, as well.
Is a Dutch oven worth it?
A Dutch oven is perfect for braises because of how heavy it is, which helps it retain and distribute heat evenly—ideal for searing meat at high heat and maintaining low-and-slow temperatures for a long time. You’ll wonder how you ever got through these miserable winter months without one.
How do you season a Dutch oven?
To do that, place an aluminum foil-covered baking sheet on the bottom rack of your oven, and place the Dutch oven upside down on the top rack. Bake at 400° for an hour. Once the wax is melted off, you can begin the seasoning process.
What Is a Dutch Oven?
A Dutch oven is a heavy, wide, fairly shallow pot with a tight-fitting lid. We tend to think of enameled cast iron casseroles with two small handles and a lid as the only pot that qualifies as a Dutch oven, but that isn’t the case.
What Is a Dutch Oven Used For?
The truth is, anything you can cook in a pot you can cook in a Dutch oven.
What Is the Best Thing to Cook In a Dutch Oven?
There isn’t a best thing, but there sure are a lot of amazing things to cook in a Dutch oven. In addition to everything mentioned above, Dutch ovens are great for one-pot meals.
Why Is It Called a Dutch Oven?
The story goes that a man from England visited the Netherlands and saw round, fairly shallow pots being made by casting molten iron in molds made from sand. That’s why it’s called cast iron. The Dutch part was to honor the people who were making them.
What Size Dutch Oven Is Best?
Only the cook can decide what size Dutch oven is the best, and it's helpful to think about what you'll be using it for the most. (Of course it's nice to have a few different sizes, but that’s where the cost can become an issue).
What Can Be Used Instead of a Dutch Oven?
Enamel cast iron Dutch ovens from countries in Europe are beautiful, but they are also expensive. Here are some alternatives. There are companies in the U.S. making them and they’re just as beautiful and effective. There are also heavy ceramic Dutch ovens: the glazed earthenware bean pots from Mexico come to mind.
How to Care for a Dutch Oven
There are a few rules to follow when caring for an enameled Dutch oven. Do not put a hot Dutch oven in cold water or it may crack. Wash with hot soapy water and a gentle sponge, as a metal scrubber or steel wool can scratch the enamel.
Wait...But What's A Cocotte?
A cocotte is the same thing as a Dutch oven. You'll see this term used by some brands—it's just the French term for a Dutch oven. Don't get confused (or think it's fancier if it's called a cocotte!). That's just marketing speak.
What Dutch Oven Shape Is Best? Oval vs. Round
Dutch ovens commonly come in both a perfectly-round circle shape and an oblong oval shape. A representative from Le Creuset tells us that the round shape is more popular than the oval shape. "A round fits much better on a burner, which means more even heating," says Senior Food Editor Anna Stockwell.
What Size Dutch Oven Should I Buy?
Now that we've got shape cleared up, let's talk size. Teeny tiny Dutch ovens can get down to 1/4-quart, while the biggest sizes are around 13-quarts. There's a use for every size on the spectrum, but given the cost, you'll most likely want to buy the perfect one and leave it at that.
The Best Option for Most People: 5–7 Quart Dutch Ovens
A 5–7 quart Dutch oven is the sweet spot for most home cooks. This size is great for cooking for four people (often with leftovers). Representatives from both Staub and Le Creuset tell us that their most popular size is 5 1/2-quarts, and that's the size most Epi editors have at home, as well.
Over 7 Quarts
Don't go larger than a 7-quart oven unless your family has six or more members, or you love to batch cook. If you're in either of those camps, make sure you can lift a full one, and that it fits in your oven comfortably. Staub's 9-quart would be just the size for a big pot of chicken and tomato stew for a crowd.
