What Is a Dutch Oven and Do You Need One?

"A Dutch oven is one of our all-time favorite pieces of cookware thanks to its durability and versatility. It can go from the stovetop to the oven to the tabletop; we use it for braising, frying, searing, and baking bread. However, good Dutch ovens tend to be expensive and so it would be fair to ask whether you need this piece of cookware if you already own, say, a robust set of stainless steel cookware."

"A Dutch oven is a heavy cooking pot with thick walls and a similarly heavy lid. Traditionally, Dutch ovens were made of bare cast iron that required seasoning. While that type is still widely available today, it's often used for campfire cooking, we most often think of the classic Le Creuset variety when we're thinking about Dutch ovens. That is: a cast-iron pot with an enamel coating."

"The important, defining features of a Dutch oven are that it's made of thick and heavy materials, and that it can go from the stovetop to the oven. It should also have a heavy, tight-fitting lid because the cooking vessel's job is to trap moisture and heat; this is what makes it ideal for baking bread or slowly simmering stews. We recommend sticking with the enamel-coated cast-iron variety for reasons we'll go into below."

A Dutch oven is a heavy cooking pot with thick walls and a heavy lid. Traditionally made from bare cast iron requiring seasoning, many modern versions are enameled cast iron (often called French ovens or cocottes). Dutch ovens can also be stainless steel, aluminum, or enameled carbon steel. Key features include heat retention, oven-to-stovetop capability, and a tight-fitting lid to trap moisture and heat, making them ideal for braising, baking bread, and slow-simmering stews. Good Dutch ovens tend to be expensive, but their durability and versatility justify ownership even for cooks with robust stainless steel cookware.

Read at Bon Appetit