Dutch Ovens

Dutch ovens have been around for hundreds of years and are still highly touted as a wonderful way of cooking.  

Although years ago the Dutch oven was mainly used over an open fire, you can now purchase the modern version to cook on the stove-top or in the oven as well.  They are perfect for the individual who likes to cook using the one-dish theme, along with many other types of cooking such as: roasts, all kinds of meat, stews, casseroles, vegetable dishes, rice dishes, etc.

A Dutch oven is a thick-walled metal cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid. You can use them on the stove-top or in the oven. They are typically smooth-bottomed and have two handles. They distribute heat evenly making them well suited for long, slow cooking. They are usually made of bare or enameled cast iron, but may also be made of ceramic or aluminum.  Dutch ovens are a great cookware choice for making savory one-dish meals. In my opinion, the ceramic or enameled Dutch ovens would be excellent choices.

Dutch ovens make your dishes turn out superb and, coupled with that, they also look great in the kitchen!

Visit my new site where you can find information on Dutch ovens.

For loads of interesting tips on cooking and caring for the outdoor Dutch oven visit http://papadutch.home.comcast.net/

For indoor Dutch oven cooking I highly recommend Le Creuset ovenware. They have been making cookware since 1925 and, though a bit pricey, they're constructed to last a lifetime.  If you divide the cost of a well-made Dutch oven by all the delicious meals you are going to cook in it, it truly is affordable!

The Story of Le Creuset

Le Creuset's fine porcelain-enamel cookware has been manufactured in the small French  village of Fresnoy-le-Grand since 1925. Chefs worldwide value Le Creuset's elegance and performance, especially the way the cast-iron core distributes heat throughout the enamel. Gourmets find the complete, basic, nearly indestructible cookware set worth the expense. Le Creuset offers versatility: metal handles allow Le Creuset pots to survive the oven as well as the stovetop, and their refined designs and colors are appealing on the table. Any enamel construction can chip, but such is Le Creuset's confidence in its enameled cast-iron pans that they carry a lifetime limited warranty against defects.

You also might be interested in learning about the fascinating world of the mighty and versatile pressure cooker!

Le Creuset Cookware Characteristics             

Since 1925, Le Creuset's premium cookware has been fashioned in France from porcelain enamel cast iron, giving it a durable weight and a beautiful finish. The benefits to this cookware's construction are many:

• Cast iron distributes heat evenly and requires cooking with only low to medium temperatures
• Cookware is for use with gas, electric, induction, or ceramic ranges
• Flat cookware bottoms sit firmly on heat surface
• Thin shell casings are light but strong
• Porcelain enamel coating is easy to clean and won't absorb odors or flavors
• Lids seal in moisture and flavor
• Knobs are heatproof up to 450 degrees

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