---
title: Will a Full Dutch Oven Make My Oven Rack Sag?
date: 2012-10-04T22:18:09Z
modified: 2012-10-04T22:18:09Z
permalink: "https://elizabethyarnell.com/will-a-full-dutch-oven-make-my-oven-rack-sag/"
type: post
status: publish
excerpt: ""
wpid: 2547
categories:
  - Glorious One-Pot Meals
tags:
  - Dutch oven
  - Glorious One-Pot Meals
  - sagging oven rack
author: Elizabeth
---

_Reader question: Anyone have trouble with the oven rack sagging under the weight of the pot? Is there a fix for that? ~ Molly S., Florida_

[![Cast Iron Dutch Oven for Glorious One-Pot Meals](http://www.gloriousonepotmeals.com/images/global/pot_pics/world-cuisine/blue-round_125.jpg "Cast iron Dutch oven for Glorious One-Pot Meals")

](http://www.gloriousonepotmeals.com)Molly- I have never had the problem with the oven rack sagging under the weight of my full [Dutch oven](http://www.gloriousonepotmeals.com/about/q-and-a.htm#dutch "what is a Dutch oven"), but then again, I haven’t ever created a [Glorious One-Pot Meal](http://www.gloriousonepotmeals.com "glorious one pot meals") with larger than a 5 1/2-quart cast iron Dutch oven. Even my [toaster oven](http://elizabethyarnell.com/effortlesseating/2010/06/too-hot-to-cook-use-a-toaster-oven/ "cooking dinner in a toaster oven")‘s rack does not sag under the weight of a full 3 1/2-quart Dutch oven. When I teach cooking classes at [The Seasoned Chef](http://elizabethyarnell.com/events.htm "the seasoned chef cooking classes"), we often have up to five or six 2-quart Dutch ovens on one rack without a problem.

If your oven rack is sagging, you may want to contact the oven manufacturer. Oven racks are made out of very strong steel and should never sag. I can’t imagine how large and heavy your Dutch oven must be to have this effect… I imagine it must be too heavy to lift easily when filled with food! Not to mention how long it would take to cook a huge pot of food in this method…

Other than that, I would recommend using two smaller Dutch ovens when cooking for groups larger than 6. For a family of ten who had this question for me I recommended they purchase two 5-quart Dutch ovens, assemble them simultaneously, and cook them together in the oven for about an hour.