33 Recipes That'll Make You Love Your Dutch Oven (2024)

FAQs

Why do I love my Dutch oven? ›

Searing, Simmering, and Braising

The Dutch oven is the master of the stovetop. Since it's basically a wider, heavier version of a stockpot, it's a good pick to simmer broth or cook up big batches of beans. The cast iron core can get hot enough to quickly sear chunks of meat and brown veggies.

Don't cook acidic foods

If your Dutch oven is enamel coated, then you can easily use it to cook homemade tomato sauce or any other acidic foods. However, it's not a good idea to simmer these types of foods when you're using any type of kitchen kit made from cast iron.

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.

Dutch oven is a slang term for farting in bed and pulling the covers over your partner's head, sealing in the stench of your gas. This gassy gag is named after an actual cooking device called a Dutch oven: a large metal pot that traps heat (and smells) under its lid.

Rather than aluminum or stainless steel, Le Creuset craft their pieces from cast iron, which has a much higher heat capacity. That means you can cook at lower temperatures for a shorter amount of time and still make great-tasting food.

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.

Don't preheat an empty dutch oven on your stovetop—this can cause your cookware to crack or break. Some bread recipes call for preheating the dutch oven in the oven. This is perfectly safe to do since the heat will be more consistently distributed across the entire dutch oven.

Rapid temperature change, such as if you put your fridge-cold Dutch oven over direct high heat or put a very hot pan into cold water – can cause cracking and warping which will affect your pot's cooking performance. If you're heating it over a stovetop, start with a gentle heat first then gradually increase.

These versatile pieces of cookware are praised by professional chefs and home cooks alike for their functionality and durability. However, they are not always interchangeable, and each type has its own unique features that make it better suited for specific tasks.

In a 4- to 5-quart Dutch oven, cook potatoes, covered, in enough lightly salted boiling water to cover for 20 to 25 minutes or until tender; drain. Return the hot, drained potatoes to the hot Dutch oven. Add the 1/4 cup butter. Let stand, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes.

Why is a Dutch oven funny? ›

Dutch oven means a very specific kind of farting. You fart, under some blankets, then pull the blankets over someone's head, thereby trapping them and the fart in a contained space for a short time. The Dutch Oven is also a cookpot meant to be buried in hot coals for long, slow cooking.

But one of the wonderful things about a Dutch oven is that because it's cast iron, you can get it smoking hot on the stovetop and brown your meat directly in it, then add your liquid (after draining off any excess fat) and other ingredients, cover it, lower the heat and continue braising at a low temperature.

What makes Dutch ovens (also sometimes called French ovens) so enduring is their versatility. The sturdy build helps store and maintain heat, the heavy lid traps condensation and allows for more efficient heating, and the single-piece construction means Dutch ovens move easily between the cooktop and the oven.

The Dutch oven is a must-have for home cooks—it's something you'll use almost daily. Heavy-bottomed, with a tight-fitted lid to help retain heat and moisture for cooking flavorful and tender meals like soups and stews, it's a kitchen workhorse.

If you're dedicated to a healthier diet, ensure your kitchen is equipped with a Dutch oven. Dutch ovens make cooking nutritious meals more manageable and convenient while ensuring food stays free from toxic chemicals.

Dutch oven (practical joke), flatulating on someone and pulling a blanket or cover over their head, based on a slang phrase describing the mechanics of the cooking pot of the same name.