Discover the Best Alternative To A Dutch Oven When Cooking
When cooking it is always best to have all the tools and utensils you need to hand. This helps to ensure you can focus on creating the perfect dish rather than trying to work out a solution to a cooking issue.
This can lead you to look for an alternative to the Dutch oven. Although these items are an extremely practical and useful addition to any kitchen, there are still plenty of times when you don’t have one to hand.
The good news is you do have an alternative. For example, this deep oven-proof Crumble skillet may be all you need.
What Is The Dutch Oven?
The Dutch oven has been around since the 17th century when the Dutch created it using cast brass. In effect, it is a heavy-duty pot that can be used on top of your stove or in the oven. The purpose is to brown items while allowing them to simmer for extended periods. This is a great way to get the meat soft and crumbly.
Of course, while its original intent was slow cooking, the Dutch oven can also be used as a frying pan, pasta pan, or even to make bread. The Dutch oven is flexible enough to be your soup pan and durable enough to go in your oven and slow cook your food.
The main quality they bring to the kitchen is their thick walls. These both insulate and help to cook the food inside.
The majority of modern Dutch ovens are made from cast iron. The density of this metal ensures it retains heat and disperses it slowly to the food. It helps to maintain a consistent temperature inside the pan. Of course, being made from cast iron it is heavy. There are slightly lighter versions made from ceramic or stainless steel.
You should note that the best Dutch ovens will have an enamel coating as this makes the Dutch oven easier to clean.
The Alternatives
If you don’t have a Dutch oven handy then there are other options. The question is what are you cooking? If you are looking to slow cook meat and vegetables then the only suitable replacement would be an oven-proof pot. That’s because it will need to spend hours in the oven.
But, if searing and cooking on top of the stove is what is important then the best alternative is a good quality skillet, such as the one mentioned earlier.
This will allow you to sear the meat in the oven-proof pot and finish it in the skillet. You simply need to check everything can be used in a high-temperature environment.
Naturally, investing in a skillet means you can use the pan for a variety of other things, potentially making it one of the best kitchen investments you’ll ever make.
Final Thoughts
A Dutch oven should be considered an essential part of any kitchen and it should be supported with oven-proof dishes and skillets. This will help to ensure you can make any dish to perfection.
