Meanwhile, a mini cocotte is good only for single servings and recipe needing some help in keeping form after cooking, like pot pies and puddings. Cuisinart Dinner Casserole Sizes The knob handle on the lid is larger on Le Creuset’s dutch oven, which is ideal when wearing oven gloves, providing a much sturdier and safer grip. And since these pieces typically come in a range of beautiful colors, your Dutch oven can double as serveware on the dinner table or at gatherings. Just be sure to use oven mitts when transporting these pots; they can get hot! Size and Shape With a low price point in this category, the Lodge Dutch oven is an amazing value. You can use it for any type of cooking — stews, soups, sauces, and it’s great for browning, roasting, and even baking as well. It's easy to use and easy to clean, so there’s no learning curve if you’re new to cooking with a Dutch oven. While we love to use Dutch ovens to make hearty chilis and comforting soups, we don’t always love washing a super heavy pan in the sink. Sure, the food may lift away easily, but big, heavy pots are always harder to wash. Not when it comes to the Cuisinart Chef’s Classic casserole. This Dutch oven is designed to be dishwasher-safe. That’s a huge relief when it comes to cleaning up dishes like a long-simmering beef bolognese.

Limited Options — Cuisinart Dutch ovens come in two shapes (round or oval), a handful of sizes (3-qt., 5-qt., 5.5-qt, and 7-qt.), and two primary colors (blue or red). You’ll need to look elsewhere if you are looking for a specific color or size. There are two and three quart capacity Dutch oven that can serve two to three people; others are with five and six quart capacities to serve four to six people.

Drawing on a decade of experience as a seasoned restaurant chef, I’ve learned that the right tools can make all the difference in the kitchen. In this article, I put my culinary expertise to work as we compare two popular kitchen staples: the Le Creuset Dutch Oven and the Cuisinart Dutch Oven. Exceptionally heavy, capacity smaller than advertised, chips a little too easily, limited sizing and availability

After going through the comparison table, you should have a pretty good idea about all the characteristics and differences between the two different Dutch ovens by the two companies. This Cuisinart Dutch oven is easy to clean. Reviewers consistently commented on the ease of cleaning. And since this isn’t regular cast iron, you don’t have to season the pan after each use. Katie Leaird is a freelancer and professional cook who previously worked at America's Test Kitchen. She's reviewed Instant Pots, pasta makers, and more for Serious Eats. For this review, she helped to test some newer Dutch ovens, comparing them to our winners. If you’re willing to treat your Cuisinart Dutch oven with care and you’re willing to accept the minor dings that may come with several years’ use, you should be quite satisfied with this attractive, affordable midrange Cuisinart cast iron oven.

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Nevertheless, the best size Dutch oven for you is the one that can offer you with the greatest versatility in the kitchen. Largest Dutch Slow Cooker Size

Are you roasting whole birds? An oval Dutch oven will better accommodate their length and irregular shape. Baking bread daily? A wide, shallow pot will make lifting bread safer and more accessible. Are you a soup master? Round Dutch ovens have a deeper bowl that is well-suited for soups and stews. When buying Le Creuset, you’re not just buying the product. You’re buying into the history of the brand and creating a tradition among your own family, creating an heirloom that you can pass down to next generation. If a skillet is too shallow for the big pot of chili you might be making for an autumn tailgate, try using something with more depth. Look for one that comes with a lid that helps keep the heat and steam in while the food simmers so all the flavors get to know each other in the pot. As well as my own experience with my inherited heirloom LeCreuset I own many different brands of Dutch ovens. Including Cuisinart, Staub, Lodge, Camp Chef even my trusty little Crofton. There is no one-size-fits-all when it comes to enameled Dutch ovens–it really depends on your cooking needs. That being said, there are some guidelines to help you when deciding.

Vogue red oval casserole dish

These workhorse Dutch ovens are made from high-quality materials so they retain their like-new good looks no matter how many times they are used. Below are some of the best alternatives to a Dutch oven you can use if you do not have a Dutch oven.