7 Recipes You Can Make Start to Finish in a Dutch Oven (2024)

FAQs

What are 8 reasons to use a Dutch oven? ›

Try Dutch oven baking, from baking breads to making cheesy pasta casseroles. Dutch ovens are great for frying, braising, simmering and stewing, but did you know you can use them for baking? These heavy-duty pans have tight-fitting lids that trap steam inside, resulting in tender bread and juicy chicken.

What makes cast iron Dutch ovens unique is that they are made in one piece by pouring molten iron into a mold, usually made of sand. The technique was invented in China as early as 800 BCE, and by the 1600s, The Netherlands had developed a reputation in Europe for their cast-metal cookware.

For the uninitiated, a Dutch oven involves farting in bed, then quickly pulling up the sheets to trap your significant other with the smell. It's a decades-old trick that has surely ruined countless relationships, yet many dudes still dare to try it.

But in real life, we make pasta in a Dutch oven, because when you're cooking a pound of pasta, it's the best option you have. If you've never used a Dutch oven to make pasta, that's totally cool. This isn't some new, scary experience you have to prepare for. All you have to do is switch one pot for another.

When you buy from Le Creuset, you're paying for high-quality pots and pans that are designed to stand the test of time. Rather than aluminum or stainless steel, Le Creuset craft their pieces from cast iron, which has a much higher heat capacity.

Prolonged use of a Dutch oven at high heat can break down the seasoning layer on non-coated pots, causing excessive sticking, and discolor the coating of enamel-clad pots.

As to be expected, though, using a Dutch oven often can result in some light dings and scratches, but often the dish is still safe to use. However, if the damage is severe enough that there is actual chipped or peeling enamel on the bottom, then continuing to use the dish is not recommended.

While Le Creuset's enamel is designed to be the most durable on the market, thermal shock may still occur, resulting in cracking or loss of enamel. If there are food residues, fill the pan with warm water and let soak for 15 to 20 minutes before washing.

Fill your dutch oven no more than halfway with oil and then heat to your recipe's prescribed temperature. Submerge your ingredients in the heated oil until cooked, then rest them on a paper towel or wire rack to remove excess oil.

Why bake bread in a Dutch oven? ›

The high heat inside the Dutch oven brings the water inside the dough to evaporate. Because you have the lid on top, the steam is trapped inside and creates a hot and steamy environment. This helps your bread to stay moist and flexible so it can rise and expand easily.

From the start, a Dutch oven can facilitate a perfect golden-brown sear on meats or vegetables before you need to add any broth or other liquid for braising. It holds even heat for a long time, and it can go from stovetop to oven, and then straight to the table for a swoon-worthy and efficient way of serving a meal.

The Dutch oven—or as I like to call it, the analog crock pot—is a favorite among those who love cooking. The hype around Dutch ovens exists for good reason: They are highly effective, beautiful, dynamic, and durable pieces of cookware.

If you cook frequently and for large groups of people, then Casserole pot will be more convenient and versatile for you. It can handle large quantities of food and different cooking methods. If you cook occasionally and you don't care about the weight, you can go with the Dutch oven.

Dutch ovens are great for stews, sauces, soups, braises or any other moist-heat cooking method. This pot can cook a casserole or a whole chicken. You can brown meat and vegetables on the stove and let them simmer away or transfer your pot to the oven to finish cooking there.

Enameled cast–iron has a smooth, non-porous surface and can go from the stovetop, to the oven straight to the table. They should not be subjected to extremely high temperatures, so avoid using your enameled cast-iron dutch oven on a grill or in a campfire.