15 Foods You Should and Shouldn't Cook in Your Dutch Oven - Purees (2023)

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Fengwillow/May 23, 2023, 4:17pm ET

There's something bold and beautiful about a Dutch oven: It has sturdy handles and a lid that helps seal in flavors and moisture. Plus, it's large enough for family dinner recipes. Classic brands such as Le Creuset offer colorful variations of this iconic cookware. Some of them are so good that you might enjoy cooking with them and showing off your precious pan. Dutch Ovens are ideal for preparing stovetop and oven dishes. Once you realize how incredible your casserole is, it may become a popular kitchen appliance you can't live without.

Dutch stoves are traditionally made of cast iron: if they are unglazed, you can use them outdoors for a fire. The thick walls, wide base, and weight of a Dutch oven make it ideal for heating food to high temperatures and retaining heat. Because of these unique properties of a slow cooker, you can use it to prepare recipes that you wouldn't be able to prepare in a regular heatproof dish or skillet. There are tons of dishes that are perfect for a Dutch oven: it's easy to draw inspiration fromDutch Oven Recipe. While some foods are great for a Dutch oven, others may not work as well. It's important to figure out which foods you should and shouldn't be cooking in your Dutch oven.

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Dutch ovens are great for toasting because they distribute heat evenly. The bread usually comes out of the oven evenly cooked and has a really nice crust. The shape and size of the pan make it perfect for batter. try ourRye Bread RecipeFor a chewy loaf with a dark outside: Simply place the risen dough in a preheated casserole dish. Be sure to place a tea towel or oven mitt on the handle of the pot after removing it from the oven. This will alert you that it's hot, so you don't reach for it without protection.

bakeRustic Sourdough BreadMake sure to keep the slow cooker lid on most of the time. This creates a moist environment in which the dough can work its magic and rise. Be sure to score the dough and leave it open for the last 15 minutes to brown the crust. ourWhole Wheat Bread Recipe from a Dutch OvenIt's easy to follow as no kneading is required. Also, the steaming heat causes the bread to expand before the crust hardens, resulting in a very soft loaf. The secret ingredient is molasses, which gives the brown bread its sweet and savory taste.

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Dutch Ovens are specially designed for stews, giving dishes a delicious melt-in-your-mouth tenderness. Imagine short ribs that fall off the bone: you can cook them nice and slow, or sear them in the same pan. The lid seals in the steam to keep the meat from drying out. The moisture rises and hits the ribs before falling back into the bowl. This creates a pouring effect that ensures whatever you cook stays nice and moist, enhancing flavor and browning ingredients.

Floured and caramelizedRibsSaute in batches before adding vegetables and broth. Rosemary and thyme add flavor, as long as you let the dish rest after cooking so the meat will be juicier when served. if you tryCountry Style Ribs RecipeIn a slow cooker, it's important to make sure the ingredients cook in a single layer so the heat is evenly distributed. Be careful not to let the ribs fall apart as you add the BBQ sauce and continue cooking.

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Place the meat in the Dutch oven, cover and cook slowly for incredible dishes. If you love tender, flavorful pulled meat, a Dutch oven is an essential part of your kitchen equipment. You don't need a lot of ingredients either. Pork, for example, can be wrapped in lard and salt and added to tacos with fresh salsa. try ourPulled Pork RecipeBy adding a spicy, herbaceous, sugar-based rub to pork shoulder or pork tenderloin slices. Serve with apple cider vinegar honey ginger dressing. The chunks of meat and browned spices on Hawaiian bread are delicious, served with pickles, coleslaw, and pickled red onions.

follow ourBarbaco Recipe, roast beef and short ribs in a Dutch oven, and braise jalapeños with garlic onions, adobe sauce, green chilies, and apple cider vinegar. Add the bay leaves, ground cumin and lime juice. The meat is wrapped in tortillas and served with salsa, avocado, and cilantro and it's delicious. Additional feeRoast Magic PorkServe with rice, black beans, or as a sandwich on cucumber brioche bread. It takes about five hours of cooking time in the slow cooker to infuse the slow-cooked pork with a citrus juice, herb, cumin, and coriander marinade.

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You may not have thought of frying dishes in the slow cooker. However, because the Dutch oven distributes heat evenly, even at high temperatures, it's perfect for toasting crispy breaded chicken nuggets, whether dipped in a thick batter or coated with breading or breadcrumbs. One of the big problems with preparing rotisserie chicken is making sure the meat is fully cooked. The trick, of course, is getting the temperature just right while making sure the coating doesn't burn or flake off.

follow ourKFC's Copycat Chicken RecipeMarinate the chicken pieces in the buttermilk and egg mixture for at least 30 minutes. Dip each piece in the herb-flour mixture, then add about 3 inches of oil, heat to 350F, and place in a Dutch oven. Before putting the meat in the oven, lower the temperature. Make a variation of this themeHarissa Brathähnchen hot sauce.First, marinate the chicken in a delicious harissa sauce. Dip in egg and dust with flour before frying. Spread homemade tahini on top of the fried chicken and sprinkle with some black sesame seeds. You want the meat to be at least 165°F.

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One way to roast poultry is to put a whole chicken on some bread, put a pat of butter under the chicken skin, and bake it in a Dutch oven. Your Dutch oven is great for roasting whole cuts of meat. If you're looking for inspiration, you should try Bobby Flay'sRibs RecipeAdd rosemary, shallots, and onion to pot. Once the meat is cooked, prepare the thyme-rosemary sauce with beef broth and red wine in a casserole. For a medium-rare roast, the meat should be around 145 degrees Fahrenheit. There's something comforting and earthy about roasting meat in a Dutch oven: it exudes a traditional, homey feel.

try to doroasted beefPrepare a chuck steak in a Dutch oven with rosemary, thyme, and Worcestershire sauce. Add broth and/or red wine while the beef is cooking. Serve the roast beef over the vegetables and drizzle with some juices. This dish goes really well with mashed potatoes.Joshua Weissman's Mom's Stewis another amazing chuck roast recipe with thyme, garlic and carrots. a... makeStew from Mississippi, char the ground beef, then top with ranch dressing, au jus mix, butter, and paprika.

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Arich stew is probably the most obvious dish you can make in a Dutch oven: it's exactly the kind of dish that can be braised on the stovetop or in a sturdy casserole in the oven. Stews can include beef, lamb and chicken, as well as shrimp and clams.drunk cockis an incredible French dish made with chicken thighs, broth and red wine. Before glazing the casserole, fry the meat in the fat from roasting strips of bacon. Grill the chicken skin side up, making sure the top of the meat is not covered with liquid.

Beef Bourguignonis another French classic served with mashed potatoes or pasta. The steak was lightly steamed in a burgundy sauce with mushrooms and pearl onions. Reduce as much or as little liquid as possible to achieve the perfect consistency. For dark, full-bodied dishes, try preparingGuinness StewServed with boneless chuck steak. The gravy is made on the stove and usually contains stout, coffee and chicken stock, along with soy sauce and sugar. The mixture is then baked in the oven for several hours. Add the parsnips, carrots and potatoes while the dish continues to cook. Pour the delicious contents into a bowl and enjoy with a piece of buttered crusty bread.

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If you have a small Dutch oven or multiple single-size ovens, you might enjoy making soft macaroni and cheese. The best part about preparing pasta is that you can cook it on the stovetop, bake it in the oven, and serve it in a pot. There's nothing like cheesy, carb-laden pasta. And you don't have to limit yourself to tomatoes and cheese.

You can try to prepare ourCreamy French Casserole Casserole.The interesting thing about this recipe is that instead of adding cooked pasta, you cook the pasta in the same pot as the sauce. Caramelize the onions before adding the thyme, mushrooms and chicken stock. The creaminess comes from the addition of the half and half and Gruyere cheeses. The cheesy topping is made by adding Parmesan cheese and moving the casserole from the heat to the oven to melt and brown on top.vodka penis an easy stovetop pasta dish that you can make in the slow cooker. The alcoholic sauce was delicious with al dente pasta.

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Rice is often served as an accompaniment to many dishes such asGround Beef Salad Dressing in a Pan, for example, can be prepared in a Dutch oven. But you can also make rice the star of the show with some traditional and delicious dishes.Parmesan RisottoMade from arbor rice. Typically, preparing this dish requires constant stirring of the pot on the stove. However, this recipe recommends using a dutch oven on the stovetop before cooking in the oven so you don't have to keep an eye on it.

If Stovetop Dinners Are Your Thing, Try Simple DishesChicken and Rice Stew Recipe? You need boneless skinless chicken thighs and jasmine rice. After the meat and vegetables are sautéed, you can add chicken stock and rice. Melted garlic butter, grated Parmesan, and chopped parsley are simmered before being stirred: the result is absolutely delicious. You can probably imagine several different meats and rices in a casserole, and create your own combinations of vegetables, herbs, and spices to add to the mix.

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You can add potatoes to stews, and you can use a Dutch oven to prepare certain potato dishes. Scalloped potatoes are a deliciously creamy dish, and making a batter for gravy is easy, especially if you're using a Dutch oven. The flour and fat in the pan burns easily, but the weight of the dutch oven prevents thisBaked Potatoes RecipeMade with bacon and leeks, sliced ​​potatoes topped with cream.

Other baked potato dishes include:Creamy Dauphine PotatoesandPotato Gratin.While these recipes don't necessarily require a slow cooker, it's definitely worth considering how you can use this amazing kitchen gadget to tweak recipes and cook them differently. You can vary the scalloped potatoes recipe by layering the potatoes, grated cheese, and sliced ​​onions, then covering them with milk in a greased casserole dish. You can also bake potato chips, bacon, cheddar cheese, and onions in olive oil in a Dutch oven.

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Don't limit your thinking by assuming that you can only cook great food in the slow cooker. The classic cast-iron casserole is an indispensable cooking piece when you're camping or grilling in the wild, enjoying meals cooked al fresco over a charcoal fire. When you don't want a gravy meat dish, you can make a fruity dessert like peach cobbler.

All you need are some canned peaches. Cooked peaches in a casserole with some canned juice, some sugar and cinnamon over some coals. Add remaining juice to dry biscuit mixture. Add dough balls of this mixture to the fruit and cover. Put some coals on the lid and cook until the biscuits are cooked and golden brown. Some of the best desserts are the easiest, and incredibly satisfying to cook outdoors.

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If your dutch oven is enamelled, you can cook in it with no problemHomemade Tomato Sauceor other acidic foods. However, it is not a good idea to use cast iron cookware for cooking such foods. This is because the metal in the tomatoes reacts with the acid, which can cause the food to taste metallic. The reaction isn't dangerous, but it doesn't quite bring out the flavor of the dish.

Seasoning a Dutch oven is a way to create a barrier between the acids in the food and prevent it from reacting with the metal. This means adding the oil, rubbing it into the surface, and heating it in a hot oven for an hour. While there's nothing wrong with cooking acidic foods for short periods of time, it's best to avoid prolonged cooking. If lemons or tomatoes affect the color of your cast iron in any way, you can clean the surface with baking soda. It is best to avoid detergents.

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Gordon Ramsay LachsrezeptWith a few twists it's a delicious dish. It comes with a lemon, butter, garlic and thyme sauce with a dash of chilli. Ramsay recommends frying salmon skin-side down after scoring to protect the delicate fish. However, turn the fish during cooking to ensure even cooking. For this recipe, you'll need a large skillet and some olive oil. However, using a slow cooker for this recipe is not a good idea as it can easily spoil fragile foods like fish.

Flaky fish is best cooked in a non-stick pan, although salmon, which is more hardy than trout and the like, may do better in casseroles. The radiant heat from the cast iron is perfect for braising meat, allowing you to brown the surface and seal in the gravy perfectly. However, it's a bit too strong for white fish that needs to be handled with care.

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if you like to eatscrambled eggsFor breakfast, you'll likely use a nonstick pan and spatula to prepare them. This allows you to easily loosen the beaten eggs from the edges and then fold them over while cooking. But it's best not to make yourself overwhelmed by using a Dutch oven to cook your eggs.

The heavy-duty cast iron of a Dutch oven is great for heating to high temperatures that might be too intense for cooking eggs of any shape. It can be difficult to control the temperature in a slow cooker, or to cook simple, quick recipes with delicate foods like eggs. Temperature issues aside, there's a good chance your eggs will stick to a cast iron surface, or even to an improperly seasoned enamel slow cooker. Anyway, do you really want to have your dutch oven on the stove first thing in the morning when you can use a light skillet instead?

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One of the many joys of home cooking is the aromas wafting through your kitchen when you fry something. These scents fill the air and create a sense of comfort, but also leave you hungry and looking forward to a good meal. However, your slow cooker isn't necessarily the best pot when it comes to sizzling, spicy foods like garlic.

The problem is that cast iron can have some of that taste and aroma. If you use a Dutch oven for another dish, it may reflect those tastes and smells in future dishes as well. If you're only using garlic for recipes, that's not a problem, but you probably don't want to taste past ingredients. if you are tempted by usEasy Garlic Shrimp Recipe, and fry the seafood in a pan. That way, the smell of the garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes marinade won't be absorbed by your Dutch oven.

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If you enjoy using your Dutch Oven, you should make sure to take good care of it. A good way to achieve this is to avoid cooking sticky foods, which certainly includes sugary foods that are difficult to remove from surfaces. Sticky ingredients can leave food residue and interfere with the nonstick properties of the cast iron casserole. They also make it more difficult to clean the pan. The taste and color of certain condiments, such as BBQ sauce and honey, can affect all of your future dishes.

if you wantHomemade Caramel SauceForget your beloved slow cooker and use a large saucepan instead. This allows you to lightly heat the butter, maple syrup, and brown and white sugars before adding the cream. Preparing caramel sauce requires special temperature control, especially when you melt the butter, bring the ingredients to a boil, and simmer over low heat.