What Is a Dutch Oven Anyway, and Do You Need One?

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Before slow cookers and Instant Pots and super-powered blenders, there was the simple, unassuming Dutch oven. This big, clunky pot with its tight-fitting lid has been cranking out stews, braises, roasts and even bread for 400 years or so. And if you don't have one, you need to get one. It can travel from your stove to your oven and back again. It's low-maintenance and virtually indestructible. But, you say, they're expensive. Yes, it's true that some are quite expensive. But once you know what you're looking for, we promise you won't have to sell your house, your car and most of your belongings to have one of your very own. Read on below for tips on how to buy and care for your new Dutch oven and what you can do with it.

What Is a Dutch Oven?

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A Dutch oven is, in essence, a big pot with a lid designed to let very little steam escape. (This is useful when you're braising or stewing something and don't want a lot of evaporation.) While Dutch ovens can be ceramic, aluminum or stainless steel, they are most commonly made of cast iron, which makes them heavier than your average pot. Cast iron holds onto heat more readily and more evenly than other metals, which is a huge advantage in a pot that is designed to go from your stove into your oven, and this is why we recommend going with cast iron.

What Can I Make in a Dutch Oven?

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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. (Most all cast-iron Dutch ovens are oven-safe; check your manual for temperature limitations.) Cast-iron Dutch ovens are also the cooking vessel of choice for sourdough and no-knead bread.

What Type of Dutch Oven Should I Buy?

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Which Size?

That all depends on how many people you'll be cooking for and also how much storage space you have in your kitchen. If it's too small, you run the risk of not everything fitting in the pot, and if it's too big, you could struggle to heat it properly. For most people, going with a 6- to 8-quart Dutch oven is a safe bet for most occasions.

Enameled or Not?

The coating on the inside of some pots is there to prevent sticking and to slow down the wear and tear on the cast iron. You can live without it, but you will have to make sure your pan is "seasoned" now and then with a thin layer of oil that's baked onto the pan. With an uncoated pot, you'll also need to thoroughly dry it before storing it (iron rusts at lightning speed).

How Much Will I Have to Spend?

While it's true that a big pretty pot in your favorite color can cost you a few hundred dollars, you can also find one that will perform just as well for much less. Our best-tested Dutch oven is $100, and another top pick is $70. Both high-end and middle-of-the-road manufacturers often offer lifetime warranties on Dutch ovens too, so, in theory, you'll only have to make this purchase once. But make sure you read the fine print to understand what's covered and what isn't.

How Do I Care For My New Dutch Oven?

Pictured recipe: Sausage, Brussels Sprout & Potato Soup

So, you've got your nice new pot, and you want it to last a lifetime. That's not hard to do if you care for it. Each Dutch oven will come with specific care instructions but, in general, one very important rule of thumb is not to heat your cast-iron Dutch oven on high. Cast iron is slow to warm up and equally slow to cool down. Cooking with high heat makes it very hard to prevent burning and can damage the enamel coating and even void that generous lifetime warranty. If your Dutch oven has an enamel coating, avoid scratching it with abrasive cooking and cleaning tools. If it's not coated, don't leave it wet for prolonged periods of time.