What Size Dutch Oven Should I Buy

Sure, here at Epi we're loyal to our sheet pans and bandage iron skillets, simply nosotros use our Dutch ovens more than than any other pot or pan in our kitchen. Aye, they're an investment—but little touches the Dutch oven in terms of sturdiness, even heating, and versatility. Apply it for everything from baking staff of life, to braising meats, to simmering soups and stews, to frying gilt chicken thighs or finishing your pasta in a glossy sauce.

Since a Dutch oven is an investment that will last a lifetime, yous desire to brand sure you buy the right ane. But, the sheer number of options out there can be overwhelming. Le Creuset alone has over 15 styles (and that's not counting the myriad colors they each come in). Below, we'll delve into important details like what size and shape Dutch oven y'all should purchase based on your cooking needs. For our product review of the best Dutch Oven brands, read here:

Photo of Lukas Volger's baked beans in a Le Creuset dutch oven.

Wait...But What'south A Cocotte?

A cocotte is the same affair as a Dutch oven. Y'all'll see this term used by some brands—it's only the French term for a Dutch oven. Don't go dislocated (or recall it'south fancier if it's called a cocotte!). That'due south just marketing speak.

What Dutch Oven Shape Is Best? Oval vs. Round

Dutch ovens commonly come up in both a perfectly-round circle shape and an oblong oval shape. A representative from Le Creuset tells u.s.a. that the round shape is more popular than the oval shape. "A round fits much better on a burner, which means more even heating," says Senior Food Editor Anna Stockwell.

However, Anna says if you see yourself cooking lots of roasts, at that place are advantages to the oval shape—some cuts of meat, like a leg of lamb, would fit ameliorate in an oval shape.

For versatility's sake, the round shape is the all-time option for well-nigh people as information technology will offer fifty-fifty heating on whatever stove setup and work for a variety of tasks.

What Size Dutch Oven Should I Buy?

Now that we've got shape cleared upwards, permit's talk size. Teeny tiny Dutch ovens can get down to 1/4-quart, while the biggest sizes are effectually 13-quarts. There'southward a use for every size on the spectrum, but given the cost, you'll about probable want to purchase the perfect one and leave it at that. Here, nosotros'll go through the advantages and best uses of commonly-available Dutch oven sizes.

Great for a Beautiful Table: 1/4-Quart Dutch Ovens

The smallest size of Dutch oven offered, these fiddling guys are as much for high-manner table settings equally they are for cooking. Considering of their size and the fact that y'all'll likely use them as individually-portioned servingware, they are really best bought in a prepare: each 1 is but the right size for unmarried servings of shakshuka, bread, mac n'cheese, or cobbler.

Don't look to get much employ out of it besides that though—while you tin employ one to simmer modest amounts of sauce or whisk together single servings of cocoa, information technology's too minor to utilise to cook for a crowd. If coin is no object, purchase a big Dutch oven for cooking the bulk of your foods and a set of tiny ones for cozy entertaining (and so be sure to tag united states in all of your beautiful tablescapes).

Staub Mini ¼-Quart Cocottes, Set of iii

Great for Cooking for Ane or Two: 3–4 Quart Dutch Ovens

This size is just right if yous're cooking for one to three people. Our senior food editor, Anna Stockwell, says her Dutch oven at home is 3-ane/2-quarts and information technology's merely right for her. This size is like shooting fish in a barrel to maneuver (central for taking your Dutch oven from stovetop to oven) but not too big or cumbersome to whip out simply for a bowl of oatmeal for one. Go a bit smaller, and you're relegated to sides, sauces, and reheating single servings of soup. Plus, this Dutch oven is small enough to sit down out on your stovetop about of the time, pregnant yous won't have to haul it in and out of your cabinets and will always have it at the ready for cooking weeknight dinners.