Which size Dutch oven is best?
Help! I want to order (online) a Le Creuset dutch oven but need help determining which size will be best. I am cooking for my growing family (4 boys, two of whom are either married or about to be, plus my husband and the occasional guest) and often wish I had something big enough to handle a large roasting chicken or cut of beef - figure about 6-8 lbs of meat.
My question is which size will be big enough to handle the meat and any veggies, plus liquids? Is 6 qt enough, or 7...? I want to avoid getting something too small. Which sizes work for those of you who cook for larger families?
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10 Comments:
I have 2 - one 8 qt and one 6 qt (oval) and I use both. The 8 quart holds 4 good sized lamb shanks well but not more. I've done pot roasts, maybe 5-6 lbs? plus veggies. I would buy the biggest you think you can handle, at least 8 qt.
kjgibson at 10:09PM on 12/02/07
Do yourself a favor, though, and go to Williams Sonoma or another retailer and lift the pots in person before ordering one! They do weigh a lot, and when filled, all the more so. One friend of mine has a huge one that she only uses on the stovetop because she can't lift it to put it in the oven once she fills it!
Curlz at 11:23PM on 12/02/07
The six-quart is just slightly too small to braise six chicken thighs or comfortably brown a pound of stew meat all at once, although I have to admit that I do both pretty regularly. The extra squosh of room in the seven-quart would be welcome, I think.
condiment at 8:07AM on 12/03/07
if you're cooking for that many people, you should definitely get the biggest size you can lift. i have an 8 quart dutch oven and it's actually not as big as you'd think.
cybercita at 8:26AM on 12/03/07
I have a 5.5 quart but I am only cooking for myself and my husband and the occasional guest, so it's plenty big enough for us; but you should definitely invest in a larger one if you're cooking for so many - but just as Curlz said, they are extremely heavy once filled. At least 8 quarts though, I would recommend..
mrsbao at 8:51AM on 12/03/07
I have five kids (four of whom are regularly here), plus hangers-on (grin).... I would go eight quarts as well. If you are concerned about lifting it when full, corall some of those kids to help you! Or and this is a bit strange, place all your items in the pot, then place the pot in the stove and add your liquids carefully to the pot. No lifting required!
Maureen at 9:59AM on 12/03/07
I have several. But honestly if you are just going to be cooking for 2 soon buy one that accommodates 2 (4.5-7.25 qt) I personally use my 13.25 qt often. It makes a ton of pasta sauce, huge amounts of chili, soup and stews. I used it to make the stuffing for thanksgiving.
I have my mother's Le Creuset from before I was ever born. It is not pristine but it still cooks wonderfully.
JerzeeTomato at 1:21PM on 12/03/07
I have the big-mother 13 qt. LeCreuset oval oven which I got as a gift. My BF never thought I'd find a use for it but got it for me anyway. I felt like that was a challenge...LOL. I made a huge vat of ragu in it for my daughter's birthday. I used only meatballs and large pork chunks because there were some picky eaters in the audience but that French oven was filled to the brim.
I think a more manageable size for home use is 6 or 8 quarts and that's if you have 4 or 6 people for whom you regularly cook. For a family of 2 or 3, I don't think you have to go past 5.5 quarts.
chiff0nade at 3:22PM on 12/03/07
small
tonyleachsf at 5:10PM on 12/03/07
I love my oval 9 qt. It's perfect for nearly everything. I am tempted by the close out (at the outlet store) of 15 qt.
ExpatChef at 6:00PM on 12/03/07