Did you know that many of the cold-weather dishes you love were likely made in a Dutch oven? The Dutch oven remains a popular kitchen cookware because it is effective, dynamic, and durable.
All those who love cooking tend to swear that the Dutch Oven took their kitchen experience to a whole new level. It is the ideal vessel for braised short ribs, seafood stew, sourdough bread, and countless other cozy delicious meals.
Chances are you already have a Dutch oven sitting pretty in your cabinet but no idea how to cook with it. Don’t be bothered, because this beginner’s guide covers everything you need to know before you can start cooking in a Dutch oven.
What Is A Dutch Oven?
A Dutch oven is a stainless steel or enameled cast iron thick-walled pot with a tight-fitting lid, which allows it to heat rapidly and keep the temperature stable throughout the cooking procedure.
This tight-fitting lid traps the moisture in this oven, which makes Dutch oven cooking the best for various meals such as braises and stews. It can also be used according to your needs since it works on various ovens and stovetops.
Though it may come with a hefty price tag, and maybe a bit heavy itself, it will go a long way in helping you create various dishes using several cooking techniques such as baking, browning, and braising.
How To Cook In A Dutch Oven? (8 Cooking Techniques)
1. Braising
Braising is one of the best Dutch oven cooking techniques, although it can also be done using the braiser. This cooking technique turns rough cuts of meat into tender final dishes using wet and dry heat over a long time.
The Dutch Oven works just like a braiser, by sealing in heat and flavor with its tight-fitting top and thick, high walls. Due to the Dutch Oven’s design, the meat is well-tenderized during the slow-cooking process.
2. Browning
Browning is used to add flavor to meats, but can also be done on vegetables and desserts easily with the Dutch oven. The key with browning is to put a few ingredients at the base of the oven so there’s no drop in temperature and steaming.
To start cooking this Dutch oven with this technique, simply preheat before browning your ingredients and lock in the heat and rich flavors with its tight-fitting lid. The Dutch Oven’s sand-colored enamel helps you keep a close eye on the browning effect as it should not take longer than a few minutes.
3. Frying
Frying in the Dutch Oven is a game-changer because this cookware retains heat well and exposes the food items to a constant heat source. Its huge surface and capacity to maintain heat make it perfect for frying.
The Dutch oven allows you to experiment with various frying techniques, including pan-frying, shallow-frying, stir-frying, and deep-frying. Its thick, high sides prevent cooking oils from splattering while keeping moisture within the pot.
4. Baking
The Dutch Oven makes baking simple by allowing you to make your favorite recipes without much stress. Its rounded base and high walls are the best for fresh dough to rise and make cleanup easy.
The Dutch Oven uses the set-it-and-forget nature of cooking with baking, so you can relax while it does most of the work. The Dutch Oven pot comes in various shapes and exposes the dough to a consistent heat source.
5. Roasting
Roasting is the process of adding flavor to a dish bycaramelizing and browning the exterior of the food then slow-cooking the food low and slow over hours. Unlike conventional roasting pans, the Dutch Oven roasts the meat perfectly using indirect diffused heat.
One of the most popular uses for Dutch ovens is roasting, whether it be a chicken, pig, or some variety of cattle or fish, the pot cooks some proteins and veggies super evenly while holding heat very securely.
6. Simmering
Simmering is a popular cooking technique for soups and stews which works well for grains or meats that require slow cooking.
Simmering works with low to moderate heat to tenderize meats and hardy vegetables while enhancing the dish’s flavors like slow cooking. Using a Dutch Oven allows cooks to simmer their foods perfectly because its tightly sealed lid maintains heat and moisture inside.
7. Stewing
The slow Dutch oven method which resembles braising works best when cooking with a heavy stockpot or Dutch oven on the stovetop or in the oven as well as in a slow cooker.
Simply place your meat and vegetables into the deep stewing pot so flavors can properly merge. For uniform cooking results, all the way through every pea, carrot, and beef chunk ensure they are all the same size.
8. Slow-cooking
A Dutch Oven is specifically designed for slow cooking operations and needs minimal preparation work before meals. The Dutch oven cooking method requires food to be cooked at low temperatures for extended periods.
The Dutch Oven’s thick walls together with its tight-fitting lid maintain heat and moisture inside which creates the perfect slow-cooking environment. The heating inside the pot rises to the top lid while its domed shape prevents moisture loss from the ingredients.
Tips For Cooking In A Dutch Oven
1. Cook Low And Slow
The best benefit of a Dutch oven is its ability to retain heat for a long time due to its lid design which traps steam and retains moisture for more tasty meals. So don’t rush the process and let your braised dishes, depending on the recipe, cook slowly. Also, resist the urge to frequently open the lid cos this will even increase your cooking time.
2. Use High Heat With Caution
Low-and-slow cooking is what Dutch ovens do best, but just because they can be used at high temperatures doesn’t mean they should. Many brands boast temperature thresholds up to 500°F, but the consistent use of a Dutch oven at high heat can break down its seasoning layer causing excessive sticking, and discolor the coating of enamel-clad pots.
3. Avoid Drastic Temperature Changes
Dutch ovens are sensitive to drastic temperature changes, which is the number one cause of cracks in their enamel surface. So before you start your Dutch oven cooking, preheat with enough water, oil, or butter to cover the bottom of the pot. After cooking, allow the Dutch oven to cool before adding cold water.
4. Ensure All Parts Are Oven-Safe
Before using your Dutch oven for bread-baking or any cooking technique that involves a hot oven, confirm its knobs are oven-safe at high temperature. Some brands may have knobs that are oven-safe but other brands have plastic knobs that only stand at a certain temperature. So if you want to use your Dutch oven regularly at higher oven temperatures, you may need to replace the plastic knobs with ones that can withstand high heat.
5. Keep It Out of the Microwave
A Dutch oven with cast iron is not suitable for the microwave. Microwaves can’t even penetrate metal so if the oven doesn’t explode, the food inside a Dutch oven wouldn’t cook either. If you want to quickly warm up your food, put the Dutch oven on low heat or transfer the food to a microwave-safe container.
6. Deep Fry With Care
A covered electric fryer with a temperature gauge is best for deep frying, though you can make a Dutch oven work, it may not be the best weapon for the job. While deep frying, give room for the oil to rise in the pot cos this minimizes the splashing of hot oil, then heat it slowly to prevent scorching and encourage a steady heat.
7. Be Mindful When Cooking Acidic Foods
The protective coating on this cast iron cookware breaks down after you cook acidic foods such as tomatoes and wine-based sauces for more than 30 minutes. After finishing your cooking you should quickly remove the acidic food from the pot then transfer the leftovers to an airtight container before rinsing the Dutch oven.
8. Avoid Using Sharp Utensils And Abrasives
Dutch ovens coated with enamel are prone to scratching, which is detrimental aesthetically, operationally, and health-wise. So to reduce the risk of scratching the enamel coating of your Dutch oven, use silicone and wooden cooking utensils instead of metal ones. When cleaning, also avoid scrubbing with abrasive sponges instead use steel wool pads.
Conclusion
The best thing about cooking in a Dutch oven is its durable ceramic enamel coating which means it’s non-stick and compatible with all heat sources. It’s a multi-purpose item so it also saves you from buying other items that do the same purposes.
The Dutch oven has double-walled lids made from stainless steel that act like thermo flasks, slowing the transfer of heat between the two metals. This makes all the difference while cooking and since it’s so lightweight it’s as easy to transfer from the oven to the table.
If you’re a beginner and you need a utensil that can save storage space, you like to tenderize your cooking, or you like to create new food in the kitchen, then you should get a Dutch Oven. With its lifetime guarantee, even your kids can benefit from this decision.
