The Ultimate Guide for Selecting and Caring for a Dutch Oven

The Dutch oven is one of the most versatile and loved pieces of cookware in any kitchen. Equipment is important to any cook, and all of the chefs at The Chef & The Dish agree no kitchen is complete without this piece of cookware. Whether you’re simmering stews, baking crusty bread, or slow-cooking a Sunday roast, this heavy-duty pot can do it all. But to make the most of your Dutch oven — and to keep it in great shape for years — it’s important to know how to use and care for it properly.

In this article

What is a Dutch oven?

What should you look for when buying a Dutch oven?

What is a Dutch oven best for cooking?

What should you not cook in a Dutch oven?

How do you clean a Dutch oven?

What to do if you burn something in your Dutch oven?

But First, What Exactly Is a Dutch Oven?

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled pot, usually made of cast iron, with a tight-fitting lid. It’s prized for its ability to retain and evenly distribute heat, making it ideal for both stovetop and oven cooking.

Dutch ovens come in two main types:

• Enameled cast iron, which has a smooth, non-reactive coating and doesn’t require seasoning. This is the most common and easiest Dutch oven to care for at home.

• Bare cast iron, which needs to be seasoned to maintain its nonstick surface and prevent rust. This is less common in the home kitchen, but fantastic for outdoor cooking.

If you see the word cocotte, this is the French term (used by French cookware brands) for an enameled cast iron Dutch oven.

There are many brands on the market that have made the Dutch oven a kitchen icon, and many of those brands are known for durability, beauty, and performance. But don't let the big brand names sway you, there are lots of fabulous Dutch ovens on the market. Ultimately, which one your purchase is up to a few things.

What Should You Look For When Buying a Dutch Oven?

When you buy a Dutch oven, you're buying a piece that could easily last you a lifetime. Invest in a piece that you'll use frequently with a design and function that stands the test of time. Here's a few pointers:

• Overall Construction: For enameled Dutch ovens they should be smooth and ideally light colored inside. Check the enamel for thickness as a cheap coating may chip leading to rust spots.

• Size and Shape: Size does matter when selecting a Dutch oven. Buy a size that works for what you plan to use it for. Dutch ovens are great for meals that have lots of leftovers, so a 5-7 quart capacity is a great place to start. Consider whether you’ll use your Dutch oven more for stews or roasts. Stews will be better in a round, flat bottomed Dutch oven, whereas roasts may benefit from an oval shape.

• Heavy Construction and Lid: A good quality Dutch oven will be heavy and have a well fitting lid.

• Handles & Knobs: The handles and knobs should be firmly attached and oven safe. It's good to know that there are many places that sell knobs seperately, so you can change it down the line as long as the holes and screws are a common fitting.

• Price: Again, this piece of cookware could easily last a lifetime, so don't be afraid to spend a little more to make sure you have a quality piece. Entry level will be around $75 USD, a mid-range piece will cost up to $200 USD and an heirloom quality piece can go up to $400 USD and higher. What it comes down to is determining how much you will use your Dutch oven and how long you want it to last.

What Is a Dutch Oven Best for Cooking?

Dutch ovens shine when it comes to slow and even cooking. Their ability to hold heat makes them perfect for:

• Braised meats like pulled pork

• Meat and bean stews and soups

• Chili and curries

• Artisan breads (especially sourdough loaves)

• Roasts

• Casseroles

• Deep frying

• Cobblers

Probably the best part of the Dutch oven is their versatility. You can start a dish on the stovetop, searing meat for example, and finish it in the oven without switching pans. It's our go to for beef stew, pulled pork or braised chicken.

What Should You Not Cook in a Dutch Oven?

While Dutch ovens are incredibly durable, but there are a few things to avoid:

• Highly acidic foods (like vinegar-based dishes) for long periods in bare cast iron, as they can strip seasoning. Enameled versions are technically fine, but we still think a traditional stainless steel pot is better for those applications.

• Very delicate dishes, like flaky fish or light sauces, which can overcook in the Dutch oven which retains heat.

• Dry roasting without oil or liquid, which may cause food to stick or scorch.

Very important: avoid metal utensils if you have an enameled Dutch oven, they can chip the surface. Stick with wood, silicone, or nylon tools instead. We prefer wood.

How Do You Clean a Dutch Oven?

Proper cleaning is really important to keeping your Dutch oven in great shape:

1. Let it cool before washing to avoid thermal shock.

2. Hand wash only — skip the dishwasher. For enameled versions, use mild dish soap and a non-abrasive sponge. For bare cast iron, rinse with warm water and use a gentle scrub brush or kosher salt paste to remove residue.

3. Dry thoroughly, for bare cast iron, you should re-season your pot. Rub a thin layer of oil on the inside of a bare cast iron pot to protect it from rusting.

Tip: never soak cast iron for long periods, as moisture can cause rust, even if it's well dried after.

What If You Burned the Bottom of Your Dutch Oven?

It happens to the best of us. Don't panick, it can be fixed.

1. Fill the pot with warm water and a few tablespoons of baking soda.

2. Bring to a gentle boil for a few minutes to loosen burnt-on food.

3. Let it cool, then scrub with a non-scratch pad.

4. For stubborn spots, make a paste of baking soda and water, spread it over the area, and let it sit before scrubbing again.

5. If that doesn't work, we also have used grainy salt. Let the salt sit in the Dutch oven for a few hours, and then scrub with a non-scratch pad.

If you have a bare cast iron Dutch oven, you should re-season after deep cleaning.

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