Another dutch oven question
Another post about dutch ovens got me thinking. I'm wanting to ask Hunny for a Le Crueset dutch oven for Mothers' Day. What size seems to be the most useful, in others' experience?
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9 Comments:
a big one.
dearrie at 1:06PM on 04/04/09
I have one that is about 5-6 quarts, which is big enough for just about anything you want to do. I've used it for large casseroles, soups, chili. There's plenty of room for a whole chicken. There is a larger one, but I don't think you need it and they are heavy!!
Bunnee at 1:17PM on 04/04/09
How many do you usually cook for, and do you freeze things, like the other half of a soup or stew?
lemons at 5:01PM on 04/04/09
Buffy, my single most used dutch oven is a 7 1/4 quart Le Crueset round pot. It is certainly the most versatile one, as far as I'm concerned (there are only two of us, but I don't know not to cook for an army, so it should be fine for you).
brooke29 at 7:04PM on 04/04/09
Le Crueset is certainly the Rolls Royce and gold standard of dutch ovens, but I have a 6 quart round Lodge in a really pretty blue color, for a better price and I love it. and yes, these things are exceedingly heavy. very happy with mine and like another commenter, encourage you to think along the lines of mass preparation and freezing.
Then you always have something lovely to take out of the freezer when you don't feel like cooking. I hate eating the same thing for 3 days.
Kath the cook at 8:46PM on 04/04/09
Whatever size you think you need, get the next biggest. I know Le C is good, but like Kath the cook, I have no complaints with my Lodge and I have a lot of cash left to fill it with.
dmcavanagh at 9:09PM on 04/04/09
I have the 5.5 quart, as well as some smaller ones, but I use the 5.5 as my "go to" cooking pot. It's just 2 of us; the pot holds enough to make plenty for us plus leftovers. If company is coming, it usually holds enough for them too. I use it for soups, etouffee, stews, red beans, braised lamb shanks, etc.
I'd like to have a bigger one on occasion, but I think I would use it only for extraordinarily big cooks.
Remander at 11:21PM on 04/04/09
We have two of these (that's what happens when you merge households). This is the size I'd recommend for you. It's big enough to accommodate a large batch of stew or soup but not so big you won't use it.
BF got me this one as a gift. I've lusted after it for as long as I can remember. Let's just say the planets were aligned that day. BF had a coupon for 20% off his entire purchase (get on their mailing list) and that particular oven had been marked down. Add to this we were told it was being discontinued...SOLD!
therealchiffonade at 6:44AM on 04/05/09
I have a 7 qt bouillabaisse pot and I bought my brother a 5.5 qt round. We both LOVE ours. I say minimum is 5, but you'll love it regardless how big you go. I actually just finished using mine for yet another glorious soup a little while ago.
meem21 at 9:19PM on 04/05/09