What is a Dutch oven?
A Dutch oven is an oven-safe, heavy pot with a tight-fitting lid and two side handles. Its straight sides are vertical and the bottom is wide and flat. Though Dutch ovens can appear in stainless steel or other materials, only cast iron Dutch (sometimes called “French”) ovens work properly with Glorious One-Pot Meals. I prefer enamel-coated cast iron as it will not only absorb, distribute, and retain heat evenly and efficiently but it’s rust-proof and easy to wash to boot. The enamel coating usually makes the pot dishwasher-safe and freezer-safe, and it won’t react with tomatoes or other acidic ingredients. The size can range from 2 quarts up to 10 quarts or more.
When selecting and purchasing a Dutch oven to use with Glorious One-Pot Meal recipes, be sure that you choose one that can withstand oven temperatures of up to 450 degrees and can provide enough for almost 1 quart of food per person served. For instance, the recipes presented her and in the cookbook serve 2 people and call for a 2-quart Dutch oven, though you can use a larger pot.
Some companies only offer Dutch ovens in half or three-quarter-quart sizes; in this case you would want to step down a bit and use a 3.5-quart Dutch oven to feed 4 people, a 5.5-quart one to feed 6 people, etc.
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