Looking for a Dutch oven?

Reader question: I don’t know what size cast iron Dutch oven to buy to use with Glorious One-Pot Meals.  My sister said that the commonly available 2 3/4 qt. size is better, for more vegetables for two people, but your recipes say 2-qt and to fill it up.  Also, stores are not carrying the 2 qut anymore.  What to do? – Amy, Denver, CO

Thanks for writing, Amy! Before I can answer this the question to ask is: How many people are you feeding?

Glorious One-Pot Meals generally follow the 1-quart-pot-per-person guideline. This means that you can safely fill the pot up to the brim with food and know you’ll be cooking the right amount for the number of people eating, likely with a little left over, but not a huge amount.

Yes, I like to use the 2-quart enameled cast Dutch oven when cooking for 2 people for a couple reasons: the method works best when the pot is filled to the brim, and I don’t have to think about how much food I’m putting in since I’m filling it to the top. The 2 3/4-quart is barely larger than the 2-quart – you won’t notice much of a difference, maybe a couple more minutes to cook sometimes, certainly room for more veggies or anything else… Depend on your nose to tell you when dinner is ready. It’s also possible to cook smaller amounts in a larger pot with good results, so you’ll have a lot of flexibility to work with whatever size pot you get.

You’re not the first one to tell me that they’re having troubles finding the 2-quart Le Creuset enameled cast iron Dutch oven in stores. I heard it several times this weekend when I appeared at the Englewood Public Library’s Meet the Faces Behind the Books event. I was touched by how many owners of the original edition of Glorious One-Pot Meals sought me out to tell me how much they loved the book and the cooking method. Hearing enthusiastic testimonials from busy home cooks is what keeps me going on the darkest days! 🙂  It was wonderful to see and connect with all of you!

If you’re having trouble finding the perfect cast iron Dutch oven for your cooking endeavors, I’ve added a new page to this site, Dutch Oven Deals, where I can post links, coupons, and recommendations for Dutch ovens. You can always access this from the link on the side column.

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