Home & Kitchen with Caraway

Why a Dutch Oven Is the Best Winter Time Kitchen Staple

Dutch Ovens are a kitchen must-have for the wintertime. Check out all the reasons why Dutch Ovens are the best kitchen staple for winter.

Long before the hype of newfound kitchen gadgets, we had the classic Dutch Oven. This versatile cookware can do nearly anything a multi-cooker can do; no wonder it’s always stayed a fan favorite.

With the cooler seasons right around the corner, now is the time to buy one—after all, no kitchen is complete without it. No matter what you’re cooking, the Dutch Oven can create that comforting ambiance for the holidays.

Here’s why Dutch Ovens are the best wintertime kitchen staple and a must-have for the upcoming seasons:

What Are Dutch Ovens?

Contrary to the name, and often interchangeably used with French ovens, Dutch Ovens aren’t exactly ovens, per se, but rather a cylindrical, heavy gauge cooking pot with a tight-fitting flat lid. These pots are constructed in a way that provides radiant heat that is constant, even, and multi-directional—the perfect conditions for cooking a plethora of foods.

Dutch Ovens date back hundreds of years ago and have a rich history and background. In fact, Lewis and Clark carried Dutch Ovens in the 1800s when they journey across the American West. Countries and cultures all over the world have also made use of these pots, such as in France, where they are known as cocotte.

Originally, the cookware was designed with feet so it could sit above hot ashes in a fireplace. At one point in time, the Dutch Oven lids were slightly concave so that hot coals could be placed on top to provide additional heat from above as well as below the pot.

However, they don’t look like that anymore. Dutch Ovens have since evolved to become an iconic, pot-like structure that can be used on a stovetop or in the oven. With modern designs, your Dutch Oven can go beyond functional and serve as a part of your home decor.

There’s nothing cuter than presenting food in a stylish, Sage-colored Dutch Oven, especially if your kitchen aesthetic has industrial vibes. You’re definitely going to want to show it off to your family and friends when you get your hands on it. All the credit for what makes these pots so wonderful has to go to the material. Our Dutch Ovens are coated with multiple layers of a natural, mineral-based ceramic non-stick interior coating or cast-iron cookware.

This gives them that heavy quality that sets them apart from your average pot, but moreover, that material makes it possible for the pots to withstand a range of temperatures. Ours, for example, can handle up to 550°F in the oven and are compatible with any type of stovetop.

So, why is that so special? Well, that means you can perform pretty much any cooking task of your desire in these magical pots. What’s not to love about that?

Why Dutch Ovens Are the Best Winter Time Kitchen Staple

Our favorite parts of the holidays include preparing warm, loving meals for our family and friends (while flaunting our matching Cookware Sets). However, our least favorite part of this magical time is the stress of cooking such large meals. Luckily, here comes the Dutch Oven to save the day.

They Are Multi-functional

Whether you’re doing something simple like baking some bread or trying something new and adventurous in the kitchen, the Dutch Oven will be your best friend through it all. Because of its unrivaled heat retention, this piece of cookware is perfect for roasting chicken or even cooking a slow sauce for your Sunday evening meal.

Braising

Braising is a cooking technique in which you cook meat or vegetables by partly submerging them in liquid in a covered pot. It’s a really great way to make a tough cut of meat turn into an Instagram-worthy tender meal. And you can thank the size and heat-conducting skills of a lovely Dutch Oven that got you there.

Browning

When it comes to browning meat or fish, you would probably think to use a skillet. But Dutch Ovens are just as good for this task. There’s nothing worse than having to deal with all the hot splattering of oil that comes with browning on a skillet.

But with the high sides of Dutch Ovens, the problem is solved. This will help keep that super cute Linen Apron super clean and your kitchen pristine as the day you moved in.

Simmering Sauces and Stews

As we’ve already mentioned, the size, shape, and thickness of Dutch Ovens really seem to be the triple threat that makes them so excellent when it comes to cooking anything.

For long-simmering stews, soups, or beans, the heat-conducting abilities of the pots mean that they can keep the food warm for a long period of time. Not to mention, the low and slow cooking method allows starchy ingredients to break down, adding a natural body to the stew.

Steaming Side Dishes

Sometimes, we want some veggies on the side of our dish rather than cooked and submerged in oils, butter, or water. Enter—you guessed it—the Dutch Oven. By placing veggies into a steamer basket above the cooking liquid and protein, they are able to steam under the pot’s tight seal without becoming soggy.

It’s a great way to pair a side with a main dish with less cookware and fewer steps.

Roasting

We’ve talked a lot about using Dutch Ovens on the stovetop, but if you recall, we said you could use it in the oven, too. When it comes to slow-roasting meats and vegetables or cooking chili, beef stew, or pot roast, there’s no greater duo than these pots and your oven.

Dutch Ovens transfer conducted heat to the food inside them from all directions when placed in an oven. Since they are able to hold all of this heat, the pots require less energy for long, slow-cooking methods such as roasting.

Not to mention, the best Dutch Oven has an oven-proof lid that helps to retain moisture and prevents drying—something that is so very possible during long cooking times.

Frying

Yes, you read that correctly. Some Dutch Ovens can, in fact, be used for frying. Why is that? Once again, it boils down to that wonderful heat conducting ability.

When oil is placed in a Dutch Oven, it is heated evenly, which gives you close control of the frying oil’s temperature. What other cooking tool can boil, fry, bake, and roast with such ease?

Bread

Wait a minute, bread? It’s actually not a new concept, though. Dutch Ovens have long been used for baking bread and other goods because they produce a heat that closely resembles the stone hearth of a pizza oven.

And with a lid that locks in the moisture and steam so beautifully, you’ll be left with a soft, fluffy bread with a satisfying, crispy, and beautiful exterior.

Versatile, All-In-One, and Presentable

It probably goes without saying the benefits of having versatile and all-in-on cookware. Whether you’re cooking up an easy, everyday meal for the family or a more complicated recipe for a bigger gathering, you deserve to have a bit of weight taken off your shoulders.

From cooking to assembling and serving, the Dutch Oven is the perfect and easiest cookware to use. On top of that, our Dutch Ovens are oven-safe and have a non-toxic coating, thanks to their ceramic layers. This means you don’t have to worry about chemicals leaching into the food you’re serving for your loved ones.

What’s great about our Dutch Ovens you don’t have to fuss about transferring the food to another cookware or container. They are so attractive, stylish, and presentable that you can move the pot straight from the stove right to the table to serve. Coming in a range of colors, including Sage, Cream, Navy, Gray, and Perracotta, there’s a Dutch Oven to match every kitchen.

Think of it as cookware that doubles as home decor that you can show off anywhere from the stovetop to the dinner table. Just make sure to place a Pot Holder or trivet underneath your Dutch Oven to protect your countertops.

Not sure when to whip out your Oven Mitts to handle your Dutch Oven?

Serves Many

If you have a big family, or perhaps don’t entertain too often, it can be a pain using up so many pots and pans that then have to be cleaned and put away. Lucky for you, Dutch Ovens are the solution. With a diameter of 10.5 inches and the ability to hold up to 6.5 quarts, this cookware will be your saving grace.You don’t have to choose between making simple, quick-and-easy meals and delicious, mouth-watering recipes—it’s possible to have both. Whether you're poaching, deep-frying, or boiling, this popular cookware can be used on a stovetop, in the oven, or even over an open flame at a campfire.

With proper care, this oven is an investment in longevity and durability, as it can last for years and years. The Dutch Oven has your back.

Easy Clean Up

You’re already going to have your hands full with cleaning up several plates after dinner, so why make things harder? The non-stick and naturally slick surface not only makes cooking easy but also means that cleaning is a breeze!

You don’t even have to pop it in the dishwasher; just gently scrub, rinse, and dry, and you’re good to go; say goodbye to rust, mold, and stains. As a side note, be mindful of using metal utensils on your Dutch Oven because the ceramic lining may scratch.

The Perfect Piece

With your kitchen stocked with a brand new, gorgeous Dutch Oven to complement your other matching Cookware Set, you’re sure to be turning heads at every dinner and family gathering this winter.