Shop our full line of BakeMax restaurant/commercial greade appliances. Choose from our large selection of high quality appliances
Search results
8 hours ago · Pros: Durable AF; polished cast-iron is easy to clean with just soap and water; can be engraved. Cons: Heavy (about 14 pounds with the lid on); among the biggest investments of the bunch. $300 at ...
Sturdy, versatile, and considered the workhorse of all cookware, a cast-iron Dutch oven does the heavy lifting when it comes to slow-cooked dishes like braised cuts of meat or hearty stews. Here are our picks for the best cast-iron Dutch ovens for everyday cooking.
Nov 28, 2023 · Discover the top-rated and most durable cast iron Dutch ovens with our guide, featuring renowned brands and superior cookware for your kitchen adventures.
- The Winners, at A Glance
- The Tests
- What We Learned
- The Criteria: What to Look For in A Dutch Oven
- Our Favorite Dutch Ovens
- The Competition
- FAQs
- Why We’Re The Experts
With wide-looped handles, tough-as-nails enamel, and a broad searing surface, it was no surprise our longtime winner from Le Creuset came out on top again. It’s quick to heat, gets a deep, burnished crust on meats, and the sturdy enamel fends off dings and scratches. This hefty offering from Staub has a wide interior surface area and deeply seared ...
Handling Test: I used pot holders and kitchen towelsto grasp each Dutch oven’s handles, maneuvering the pot from the stove to the oven, and vice versa. I wanted to see if moving the Dutch oven was...Braised Pork Shoulder Test: I seared and braised a five-pound boneless pork shoulder in each Dutch oven.Durability Test: I gently knocked a metal spoon along the rim of the pots to see if the enamel chipped easily.Fried Plantains Test (Winners Only): I made pataconesin the winning Dutch ovens, timing how long the oil took to reach 300°F and seeing how well they fried the plantains.What Is a Dutch Oven?
Dutch ovens are stocky pots often made of enameled cast iron. While there are also stainless steel or naked cast iron options, I focused on enameled cast iron Dutch ovens because they’re the best at the long and slow cooking you’d expect of such a pot. (That said, I did include one ceramic option from Emile Henryto see how it would fare.) Enameled cast iron retains heat nicely, sears well, and is easy to clean. Plus, you can stew acidic sauces and soups without fear of corrosion, which you co...
Which Size Dutch Oven Is Best?
The last time we reviewed Dutch ovens we kept the lineup to pots between five and six quarts. I stayed the course in my tests as well, since this is the sweet spot: A pot of this size doesn’t feel cramped, nor is it so large that everything you put in it looks paltry. It also allows liquids to reduce nicely, neither leaving excess liquid nor evaporating it away to nothing. A five- to six-quart Dutch oven usually serves around six people (depending on how hungry they are, of course). If you ha...
Lighter Dutch Ovens With Wide Handles Were Easy to Move
Handles and weight are important considerations. Since Dutch ovens are versatile pots that can simmer stews on the stove or braise meats in the oven, it should be easy to move the pot about. The Le Creusethit the sweet spot here: It had wide, looped handles and wasn’t too heavy at 11.4 pounds. The KitchenAidwas on the opposite side of the spectrum, with small handles and a hefty 15.6-pound weight; it was cumbersome and took a grunt and a heave-ho to lift. The Emile Henryceramic Dutch oven is...
A good Dutch oven should sear well and not feel cramped. Ideally, it has larger looped handles that are easy to grasp, and it shouldn’t be too heavy—anything over 13.5 pounds was difficult to lift, especially when full of food. Ideally, a Dutch oven should be tough as nails and not prone to chipping; that said, most super sturdy options were also m...
What we liked:Weighing in under 13 pounds, with a cream-colored interior enamel and wide looped hands, the Le Creuset had it all. It heated quickly, searing pork shoulder to a crusty golden brown and braising it down to silky ribbons of meat. While its interior diameter was on the smaller side at eight inches, it didn’t feel cramped whatsoever. Man...
Also Good
1. Made In Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven: This Dutch oven seared really well and was resistant to chipping; it’ll likely last a long time. It was quite heavy, though, and the handles were wide and flat, making them difficult to grip. 2. Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron 5-Quart Round Covered Casserole: This was a budget pick the last time we tested Dutch ovens, and it performed well in my tests, too. While smaller and a little cramped, it still seared well and braised nicely....
Not Recommended
1. Milo by Kana 5.5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven: The Milo by Kana seared well and braised nicely, though it did chip. The price is kinda high for a middling pot. 2. Lodge USA Enamel Cast Iron Dutch Oven, 6-Qt.: This large, wide Dutch oven performed well in all the cooking tests, but it chipped when I put the lid on it. I’d expect better from a $300 pot. 3. Our Place Cast Iron Perfect Pot: The enamel was bumpy all over, but it was especially bad on one of the handles where the glaze lo...
What's the best way to clean a Dutch oven?
While many manufacturers say you can throw the Dutch oven in the dishwasher, it will wear away at the enamel over time. Instead, we recommendhand-washing it with a sponge and soapy water.
Is an uncoated or enameled cast iron Dutch oven better?
To be totally frank, an enameled cast iron Dutch oven is just much easier to use. It doesn’t need to be thoroughly dried and oiled, and you can stew acidic dishes like ragout or chili without the acid stripping the seasoning. An uncoated cast iron Dutch oven is good for baking bread but requires more work when cleaning and has more restrictions when cooking.
How do you season a cast iron Dutch oven?
It’s not that much work, but it involves heating the pot, coating it in oil, and repeating. You can find seasoning instructions here.
She previously tested gear at America’s Test Kitchen and worked in restaurants and bars, too.For this review, Grace tested Dutch ovens by searing and braising pork shoulder in each one. She also used the winners to fry plantains. Throughout testing, she examined how easy the pots were to m...Dutch ovens are perfect for braising meat, baking bread, and much more. We tested the best enameled and raw cast-iron Dutch ovens for your kitchen.
4 days ago · Enameled cast-iron Dutch ovens are naturally nonstick (you may have to scrub a little to get them clean, from time to time), but if you prefer something lighter and flawlessly nonstick, you'll want this Calphalon Dutch oven.
People also ask
What is a cast-iron dutch oven used for?
Are cast iron dutch ovens nonstick?
Which Dutch oven is best?
Is a cast iron dutch oven safe?
What is the best enameled cast iron dutch oven?
Does Lodge make a cast iron dutch oven?
Aug 26, 2024 · To find out, we tested Dutch ovens from 19 brands, like French classics Le Creuset and Staub, and modern alternatives from Ikea, Misen, and Great Jones. Keep reading for our top picks; for the...
Compare 1000s of Items and Find the Best Deals on Dutch Ovens Today. Find the Best Deals on Dutch Ovens Today