They’ve been around for decades, but Dutch ovens seem to be
rising in popularity once again (thanks Chrissy Teigen), but what is it and why
do people swear by them? You’ve probably seen them in your parent’s
kitchen—heck, you might have received one as a wedding gift that sits gathering
dust in the back of your cabinet—a large, deep pot with a handle on each side
and a lid that tightly hugs the edges of the pot. That is a Dutch oven.
While they are usually made of cast iron which can make them
heavy, Dutch ovens are nearly indestructible. They are great for soups, stews,
and sauces, but can also be used to make almost anything—pasta, braising meat,
even baking bread! And, because they are able to withstand high heat, you can
also use a Dutch oven to deep fry food. The handles on either side make this
pot ideal and easy to handle whether you are cooking on a stovetop or in an oven.
The best thing about a Dutch oven—other than its
versatility—is that it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to own one. Department
stores or kitchen-centric stores may try to convince you that you need one that
cost more than your weekly grocery bill but there are several companies that
make quality and affordable options. Lodge, for example, makes Dutch ovens both
for your kitchen and for camping at very affordable prices. You can even choose
a colorful one like this red one or
this nice Caribbean blue one. Functional
and colorful, a good Dutch oven can even save you dishes as they are
aesthetically pleasing enough to be able to serve dinner straight from the pot
without transferring the food to another dish.
So bring your Dutch oven out of the cobwebs and start using
it as your one-stop cooking pot!
