The Multi Functional Dutch Oven - It Belongs In Your Kitchen!
Do you own a piece of Dutch oven cookware? If you do, I'll bet it's the most used piece of cookware in your kitchen. Wikipedia says a Dutch oven "is a thick-walled iron (usually cast iron) cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid." Dutch ovens are sometimes referred to as French ovens. Dutch ovens are the most versatile piece of cookware. You can boil, fry, stew, and roast in a Dutch oven. Dutch oven cookware is meant to go from stove top to oven to table top for ease of cooking and serving.
Today most cookware manufacturers make a Dutch oven. Staub, Le Creuset, AllClad, Calphalon and Scanpan. Not all are cast iron. Le Creuset is enameled cast iron. AllClad offers a modern polished stainless steel Dutch oven. Calphalon's Dutch oven cookware is non stick as is the Scanpan Classic Dutch oven cookware which is ceramic-titanium with an extra thick cast aluminum base.
If you're considering buying a piece of Dutch oven cookware think about it as an investment. Because you're going to use it more then you even realize buy a well made brand. Also think about size.
Le Creuset offers their Dutch oven in a wide variety of sizes from 1/3 qt. up to 9 qt. The small Le Creuset Dutch ovens are called Mini Cocottes. They are perfect for individual servings. Their largest is a 9 1/2 qt. oval Dutch oven. One may be too small, and one too large for regular use. A good size for most families would be the 5 1/2 qt. Do an online search and you may be able to find some fabulous buys. If you like copper cookware you'll love the Mauviel copper Dutch oven. It's a 6 1/2 qt beauty that is lined with stainless steel. It resists cooking and won't react with acidic ingredients. Mauviel cookware is made in France. You can find this particular Dutch oven through Williams-Sonoma. AllClad offers several Dutch ovens in their product lines. AllClad LTD cookware has a black hard anodized exterior and an 18/10 stainless steel interior. They offer their Dutch oven in a 5 1/2 qt. size. AllClad's newest cookware is their Brushed Stainless Professional. This is a five ply bonded construction which alternates layers of aluminum and stainless steel. This Dutch oven is also offered in a 5 1/2 qt. size. Lodge Logic is another manufacturer of Dutch oven cookware. They have black cast iron pre seasoned Dutch ovens and enamel on cast iron Dutch ovens in sizes that range between 4 qt. and 7 qt. Staub, Magnalite, Mario Batali, Tramontina Sterling II, Chefmate and Farberware offer their own Dutch ovens in a wide variety of materials. The best part of owing a piece of Dutch oven cookware is the fact that you can cook almost anything in them. The large Le Creuset 9 qt. Dutch oven will hold a small turkey! Talk about versatile!
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