Comparing Dutch Ovens For Size and Quality

It is tough to see photos of pots online and get a sense of size.  The tiniest LeCrueset pans are sugar bowl size, and quite honestly, that is about all they could be used for.  If I am going to make a one-pot meal, I need my food to all fit in one pot.

Most people don't cook meals for one.  I cook only for myself, but I make recipes for four people.  That way I can eat the food for more than one meal and freeze leftovers.  Unless you have a big family, or make some really big recipes, the 5-6 quart size should be perfect.  

Remember that recipes can be cut in half, and they can be doubled, as needed.

Oval shaped dutch ovens may hold whole chickens or roasts better, but I chose the round shape for cooking on the stovetop.  An oval pan will not fit correctly on a burner. 

Search online for "no knead bread" and you will likely find lots of blogs showing how they made scrumptious bread in their dutch oven.

I have tried some bread recipes and share my tips on the page link below.

Some of the best known dutch ovens are made in France.  LeCreuset has been a long time favorite of mine (in looks - I've never owned any until now).  

In my search for the perfect Dutch oven, Staub is one I researched.  They have a unique cover design with little "self-basting spikes" that collect condensation which causes it to drip down over the food inside.

I did not choose Staub because I wanted a light color inside the pot, and the Staub pots are usually black inside.  The shape is distinctive, and it is really personal preference.

Now you may be wondering what the difference is between a crock pot / slow cooker and a dutch oven.  

I've use a crock pot for many years and food comes quite good.  But meat is never brown, unless I first sear it in a separate pan on the stove.  So a dutch oven saves that step because the same pot is used to brown and then cook. 

Most dutch ovens are made entirely of cast iron which distributes the heat evenly while cooking.  

Lodge brand cast iron is a favorite among cast iron pan lovers.  I personally have frying pans of many sizes made by Lodge.  And I now have two dutch ovens, which are coated with enamel.

The Lodge brand dutch ovens can be purchased for far less money than the LeCreuset pots.  I paid  $240 for my ONE LeCreuset, and these two Lodge pots (shown in my photo below) cost less than $100 total.  The smaller red one is perfect for making gravy or small batches of soup and stew.  It would be perfect for a single person, cooking for one.  The larger pot is 6 quarts and will hold a lot of food.  I used it to make turkey stock from my Thanksgiving turkey.

 But the quality difference is definitely there.  Already I have seen rust on the edge of the red pot, and the cover doesn't seem to fit totally tight.  (Olive oil takes care of the rust problem.)

Whereas the coated cast iron is known for being easy to clean, the black, uncoated type is also easy to clean.  But uncoated pans often need seasoning and must be stored with a coating of oil.

Always let the pans cool before washing.  

Uncoated pans need hot water and NO SOAP - which is perfect for camping.  Soak for a short time in very hot water for stuck on food.  Otherwise, simply wash and rinse in hot water and dry thoroughly.  Cast iron can rust, so be sure to add oil - immediately after drying - to the clean pan to keep it coated.

Emile Henry is yet another name brand with a very good reputation.  I own individual pie plates by this company, but nothing else.

I've seen lots of bread baking posts online which use the tall bread / potato pot.  No Knead Bread is simple to throw together and place in a heavy cast iron or ceramic pot to rise and then bake.  It gets rave reviews.

Bread can also be baked in a regular dutch oven.

My kitchen is very small, but I consider it to be the perfect size for me.   As I was raising a family, I would never have spent hundreds of dollars on a fancy dutch oven.  I would have chosen the Lodge Brand pot.

Until very recently I never owned a Dutch oven, which is also sometimes called a French oven.  Because of my love for soups and stews and one dish meals, and the fact that I am cooking only for myself these days, I splurged on one nice pot.

I did shop around, but I did not check eBay, or local shops for sales.  If you are in the market for quality cookware, shop around and keep an eye out for specials and sales.

I am happy with my LeCrueset purchase, and plan to use this pot often.  Because I also wanted a larger size, I chose Lodge for my second pot.

The smaller size is perfect for cooking smaller meals, and the pot cleaned up very easily.  I had leftovers to eat the next day.  The LeCreuset will last a lifetime and one day I will pass it along.