Dutch Oven Pizza Recipes, Whats Cooking America (2024)

FAQs

What is the point of a Dutch oven? ›

A Dutch oven is a heavy-duty pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. It can also be used for soup and more simple tasks like boiling pasta. It's often used to make bread as well.

Using a Dutch oven, you can sauté, simmer, braise, sear, fry, and bake – if you can imagine it, you can make it! Simmer, boil, steam: On a basic level, a Dutch oven is just a heavy-duty pot with a lid. So any cooking method that can be performed in a typical pot, can be done in a Dutch oven as well.

The best Dutch ovens are good for so many things: braising meat, stews, sautéing, deep-frying, heck, even baking bread. And while we think you should consider getting a stainless-steel stockpot, one of these will work in a pinch. Regardless of which one you choose, though, a Dutch oven will prove an investment.

Bare cast-iron: Dutch ovens have stood the test of time for a reason: The material retains a consistent heat for a long period of time, which makes it perfect for cooking something low and slow.

Be Mindful When Cooking Acidic Foods

In an enamel-coated Dutch oven, prolonged cooking with acidic ingredients may discolor the interior coating but doesn't erode it.

Shorten cooking time

In Linda Carucci's Cooking School Secrets For Real-World Cooks, she notes that testers for a short rib recipe in the book finished the recipe as much as 30 minutes faster using Le Creuset Dutch ovens than they did when they used less sturdy pots.

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.

At its core, a Dutch oven is a casserole dish with thick, high walls and a tight-fitting lid. The heavy lid is crucial to lock in moisture, as it results in more flavorful food.

Can you cook everything in a Dutch oven? ›

What Is a Dutch Oven? Essentially a Dutch oven is a heavy-duty cooking pot with a lid. You can use a Dutch oven to cook delicious meals in a wide variety of cooking methods: Dutch ovens can sauté, simmer, braise, sear, fry, and even bake food. Not only are Dutch ovens heavy-duty; they are virtually all-purpose.

There's something more to the brand that others have yet to do—maintain a durability that can be passed on through generations. Romilly explains that Le Creuset's products, especially its classic Dutch oven, stand the test of time in terms of quality and versatility.

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.

Cast iron dutch oven sizing FAQs

The 1.5 quart dutch oven is perfect for side dishes and desserts, but we recommend a 3 quart or 4.5 quart for people living alone and cooking mostly for themselves. The larger size will fit most recipes for 1-2 people and can better accommodate one-pan meals.

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.

Some common substitutes include using a slow cooker, a casserole dish with a tight-fitting lid, or even a heavy-bottomed pot with aluminum foil as a makeshift lid. Some substitute techniques may require a longer cooking time (like a slow cooker) but may be more convenient to dump and go.

It can be used as a frying pan, a serving tray, and as a pot, as well as being used to keep cooked food hot before serving. For first-timers, cooking with a Dutch oven may seem daunting but it's actually much easier than it looks.