The Dutch Oven is among the most versatile pieces of cookware available, serving a variety of purposes you may not be aware of. From how it works and why you need one, to picking the right size and shape, we are here to help you purchase a Dutch Oven.
We know it can be difficult deciding which Dutch Oven you need, but we are here to help simplify your purchasing decision and help you tackle new recipes with ease. A slow-cooking pot by nature, the Dutch Oven is designed to trap flavours within its thick walls, while its tight-fitting lid locks in moisture, creating a self-basting environment for tenderizing ingredients.
Le Creuset’s Dutch Ovens are carefully constructed with enamelled cast iron, offering superior heat retention for years to come. This iconic piece of cookware is built to withstand daily use, accommodating a variety of different cooking techniques. But what exactly should you know before buying a Dutch Oven?
Dutch Oven vs. French Oven
Before answering all your questions, it is important to understand the differences between a Dutch Oven and a French Oven. While these terms are often used interchangeably, the French Oven revolutionized the original Dutch Oven design, replacing the pure cast iron with enamelled cast iron. This subtle switch helps improve heat retention and even heat distribution. It is also commonly referred to as a cocotte.
What to Ask Yourself Before Buying a Dutch Oven
Here are eight of the most important questions to ask yourself before buying a Dutch Oven.
Do I need a Dutch Oven?
The Dutch Oven, also commonly known as a French Oven or Cocotte, is equally suited for beginner home cooks and experienced chefs, offering a versatile piece of cookware for everyday meal preparation. Simply put, if you love to cook, or are attempting to learn new cooking techniques, you need a Dutch Oven.
Le Creuset’s Dutch Oven is easy-to-use and guaranteed for life, backed by a limited-lifetime warranty, making it the perfect piece of cookware to experiment with or to learn to cook with. Its sand-coloured interior enamel is very forgiving for a beginner as it allows you to monitor browning at every step. Plus, the enamelled coating helps prevent sticking and is extra easy to clean.
For the more experienced cook, the Dutch Oven will not only simplify but elevate your favourite recipes. This thick bottomed pot will help you achieve the best sear, and the overall design will help transform tough cuts of meat into tender dishes or even bake fresh loaves of homemade bread.
Whether you are preparing soups or stews, or are looking to get baking, the answer to this question is simple. The Dutch Oven is an essential piece of cookware and is the ultimate kitchen staple, making for a great addition to your Le Creuset collection.
How often will I use my Dutch Oven?
Dubbed the original multi-cooker pot, the Dutch Oven has earned a reputation as a kitchen workhorse. There are an infinite number of recipes and cuisines you can experiment with in a Dutch Oven, helping you expand your skill set in the kitchen. From searing meats, simmering a sauce and making a stew, to frying chicken, and even baking a dessert, this iconic piece of cookware epitomizes versatility in the kitchen.
Built with enamelled cast iron, the Dutch Oven is crafted to withstand daily use, ensuring it is your go-to for years to come. Ultimately, you can use a Dutch Oven as much as you want, no matter the recipe you have in mind. Plus, it goes straight from the stovetop to the oven, making it a convenient piece of cookware to add to your kitchen setup.
How does a Dutch Oven work?
Featuring thick enamelled cast iron walls and a tight-fitting lid, the Dutch Oven is designed to lock in heat and moisture, helping you infuse your dishes with layers of flavours as you slow-cook. Its enamelled cast iron construction helps distribute and conduct heat evenly, delivering restaurant-worthy results with the minimum of fuss.
The Dutch Oven’s tight-fitting lid also plays a crucial role when cooking and, in many ways, allows this piece of cookware to mimic a convection oven. The hot air that rises up to the lid turns into condensation and eventually drops into the food to keep it moist through a natural basting process. This makes the Dutch Oven especially great for slow-cooking, stewing, or when simmering as soup, embodying the set-it-and-forget-it-nature of cooking.
What size and shape do I need?
Le Creuset currently offers four differently shaped Dutch Ovens: the Round Dutch Oven, the Oval Dutch Oven, the Chef’s Dutch Oven, and the Shallow Round Dutch Oven. Ultimately, each shape is best suited to certain ingredients and cooking techniques. For example, the Round Dutch Oven is ideal for stews, one-pot pasta recipes, and baking, as its tall walls are great for holding in lots of liquids and ingredients.
The Oval Dutch Oven, on the other hand, is perfect for cooking large cuts of meat and whole chickens due to its elongated shape. The Chef’s Dutch Oven, arguably the most unique in shape, features sloped sides to help promote the movement of liquid, making it perfect for sauces, soups, pasta dishes, and deep-frying. Finally, the Shallow Round Dutch Oven is the ultimate piece of cookware for stews, braises, and soups, providing a spacious cooking surface particularly ideal for searing larger ingredients.
The next consideration to make is the size of your Dutch Oven. The general rule of thumb when picking the size of your Dutch Oven is that each litre serves one portion. For example, the 4.2 L Round Dutch Oven can serve up to four portions, while the 8.9 L Dutch Oven accommodates a dinner party of nine with ease. Before deciding on the size, you might want to ask yourself how you intend on using your Dutch Oven and for how many people you usually cook for.
Do I have space for it?
When the Dutch Oven is not being used, it can easily be stored away until the next use. Le Creuset’s Dutch Ovens come in fourteen different sizes, offering you the ability to easily pick the best one to suit your home and family size. This versatile piece of cookware is available in a range of Le Creuset’s iconic colours, including Flame, Cerise, and Blueberry, serving as the perfect accent piece in many kitchens.
As a result, many Dutch Oven owners leave it on display on their stovetop or put it on an open kitchen self. This iconic pot can blend in seamlessly with your kitchen decor, or can be the bold splash of colour you were looking for. The Dutch Oven can even be stacked by simply flipping over the lid, allowing for ample storage space.
What can I make in a Dutch Oven?
The Dutch Oven can be used to prepare a variety of your favourite recipes and help you experiment with ingredients and cooking techniques you may not already be familiar with. This versatile piece of cookware is perfectly suited for slow cooking, offering superior heat retention without burning ingredients.
While a slow-cooking pot by design, the Dutch Oven also serves a number of crucial functions in the kitchen. This multi-cooker pot can be used to make stews, reduce sauces, braise and roast ingredients and even bake desserts. Equipped with thick enamelled cast iron walls, a tight-fitting lid, and a natural self-basting design, the Dutch Oven will help you deliver a tender and flavourful final dish every single time.
Whether you are preparing a main course for the whole family, or simply want a simple side dish like this recipe for pommes frites, the Dutch Oven has you covered, accommodating recipes of all sizes.
How do I clean my Dutch Oven?
While extremely durable and covered by a limited-lifetime warranty for life, a little care can go a long way with your Dutch Oven to ensure that it is a favourite for years to come. Le Creuset’s Cookware Cleaner and soft, non-abrasive brushes and pads are typically recommended.
Begin by soaking the Dutch Oven in water and baking soda and let it simmer for approximately eight minutes. Before introducing the water, however, be sure the pot is at room temperature to avoid thermal shock. If food residue remains, gently scrape off stuck-on food with our Nylon Brush.
The next step is to clean the outside of your Dutch Oven using a mixture of hot, soapy water and baking soda. Once the outside is completely clean, simply rinse your Dutch Oven off with hot soapy water and rinse any cookware cleaner that remains. When complete, wipe it down thoroughly with a paper or kitchen towel and let it dry before storing it away.
For more information on cleaning your Dutch Oven, visit our in-depth guide on caring for this iconic piece of cookware.
What other ways can I use a Dutch Oven?
The Dutch Oven is commonly associated with the most popular cooking techniques, including slow cooking, searing, and braising, but now that you are aware of everything you can cook in this piece of cookware, let’s take a look at innovative ways to use a Dutch Oven.
For one, the Dutch Oven makes for bold serveware, going from the stovetop to the table in style. As mentioned earlier, this versatile piece of cookware can also be used as kitchen decor given the wide range of colours it is available in.
While not traditionally used for this, the Dutch Oven also makes for great cold storage, and can be used in the refrigerator to store desserts and other colder dishes such as pasta salads. In addition, this piece of cookware is a must-have come summertime and serves as a convenient ice bucket and pitcher for beverages. Lastly, the Dutch Oven also can be used as a flower vase to display a bouquet for any occasion.
For more creative ways to use your Dutch Oven, visit our blog post for nine conventional and six unconventional uses for this iconic piece of cookware.
Purchasing a Dutch Oven
Purchasing a Dutch Oven may seem like a significant purchase; however, this iconic piece of cookware embodies the buy-it-once-for-life nature of quality cookware. With the Dutch Oven, you truly get your money’s worth!
When it comes to essential cookware, the Dutch Oven ticks off all the boxes: it is durable, easy to use, versatile, and serves a number of unique functions when it is not being used to prepare meals for the whole family.
From picking the right size Dutch Oven, to learning how it works and what you can cook in it, we hope we simplified your purchase of this iconic piece of cookware. For more inspiration, you can always visit our blog or read more about Dutch Oven recipes.
