What is a Dutch Oven and How Do I use It? (Answered)

Ever wondered what that big beautiful cooking plate like pot (made with cast iron) you see in some kitchen is? Well, its a Dutch oven or casserole dish. And if you’ve wondered how they are used for cooking, then you have come to the right place because today I will be sharing with you what a dutch oven is, and how to use a Dutch oven on different cook tops.

Dutch ovens seem to carry the same status symbol (pun intended) of a KitchenAid in your home kitchen: They’re a luxurious cookware piece that you can use to add a pop of color to your kitchen and keep on hand for a lifetime of use. For me, I keep mine on my stove top because it’s big and heavy, but also because its Caribbean red hue brings me joy and I love it.

What is a Dutch oven?

A Dutch oven (also known as casserole dish) is a heavy-duty, thick-walled pot with lid designed for browning meat and veggies and then simmering on the stovetop or braising in the oven. This type of sturdy cooking vessel has been used for centuries to slow-cook soups, sauces, stews, breads and more simple tasks like boiling pasta.

Dutch ovens come in different varieties such as cast iron, enameled, aluminum, and ceramic. Popular Brands like Le Creuset and Staub are well known, while others like Lodge and Cuisinart are standouts as well.

What it looks like?

Dutch ovens look like stockpots but have wider bases and slightly shorter but thicker walls that allow for better browning and caramelization of ingredients and retain heat well, as well as doubling as serving pieces that keep food warm on the table. They also have two short handles on either side (versus one long on traditional pans) for balanced and steady transferring in and out of the oven.

Benefits of Using a Dutch Oven

It may surprise you to know that Dutch ovens are very useful, maybe this is due to their versatility. The fact that this pot is made with cast iron means that it keeps food hot for a long period of time since cast iron is a poor heat conductor.

1. Good for slow cooking – An advantage of the poor heat conductivity of a Dutch oven makes it the perfect choice for slow cooking with low temperature.

2. Stews, braises, and soups – Using a Dutch oven for your stews, braises, and soups will give you a satisfactory meal. The reason for this is that these kinds of meals require long minutes of cooking and with low temp. This allows the varieties of ingredients to mix and make the meal flavorful.

Also, this cooking method tenderizes tough eat cuts. Some best braising meats include pork shoulder, beef chuck, cartilage, and fat like spare ribs, oxtails, lamb shanks, and short ribs.

The Dutch oven is also good at softening root vegetables such as turnips, parsnips, and carrots. Hard greens like kale and collards are not exempted. With slow cooking, the flavor of garlic and onion is also brought out.

How Do I Use a Dutch Oven?

You can use Dutch ovens the same way you use stock pots or saucepans. The main thing that sets them apart is that you can get them really hot to sear meat and then ultimately finish cooking by simmer or transferring to the oven.

Here are some of simple ways and tricks for using your Dutch oven:

For a deep sear, first heat the pot, then add a little bit of oil before adding in the meat right away. This will help prevent the oil from overheating and burning. Another option I sometimes use is adding oil directly to the meat instead.
Keep the pot well covered when making soups and other foods you want to cook gently. Be careful, the lid’s handle can get hot, especially if it’s made of metal.
The entire Dutch oven may be placed in the oven to cook for long periods of time. Use the lid to keep in moisture. To prevent burn, remember to always handle with oven mitts or dry dish towels.
Dutch ovens make excellent serving dishes because they keep food hot for a long time, but always use a sturdy trivet and warn guests that the pot is hot.
To preserve the luster of its colorful finish.Clean all your enameled cast iron cookware by hand, regardless of what the manufacturers say.

How to use A Dutch Oven on Stove Top

A crockpot is the closest thing to a Dutch oven but they are different in terms of their use. Unlike a crock-pot, you can smoke your Dutch oven over a stovetop since it is made of cast iron. Your meat can also be browned directly inside. Other ingredients and liquid should be added then the pot covered and temp lowered.

How to use a Dutch Oven in a Conventional Oven

You can transfer your Dutch oven directly from the stovetop into a conventional oven. This step is more convenient when your meat is well browned over the high temp of the stovetop and needs a lower temperature for the next cooking phase.

You may wonder why you should bother transferring to an oven when you can just lower the stove heat. The answer to this is that while lowering the stove heat can be done, and oven heat covers the pot on all sides rather than underneath.

This all-around oven heat makes the ingredients evenly cooked and prevents the items from sticking to the pot’s bottom and burning. A common occurrence with stovetop braising.

How To Take Care of A Dutch Oven

If you purchase a good Dutch oven made with cast iron, you can be assured of its durability. This type is the almost indestructible meaning you will only need one for a lifetime. With this said will be sensible to get a good one once and for all.

Most times when people buy the aluminum Dutch oven it is for camping since they are much lighter but note that aluminum is a good heat conductor hence it may not be able to function as well as the cast iron Dutch oven described earlier.

Dutch oven camping experience is a great one nonetheless whether aluminum or cast. These pots can be easily cleaned due to their enamel coating, although they may lose their color with time. But its discoloration does not mean it is no longer usable. It is just a sign of aging. Also avoid banging the pot lid as the enamel may chip, especially the ones coating the rim.