Kitchen

[ScrapHappy]

Considering purchasing a cast iron dutch oven.  If you have one, do you use it often?  Do you find it versatile?  What types of food/meals do you make in it?  TIA!

[msgb]

I do have a dutch oven. It is the Le Creuset that was the TSV from March of 2018. I am glad I have it but I will say that I do not use too often. It is just myself and my husband that I cook for. I was making meals in it for my mother but she recently passed. 
What I normally make are soups and also pasta sauces. 

I know it is a piece that I will use for a long time. I know that others use it for pulled pork and making bread. 

I think it depends upon the materials that your dutch oven is made out of for what to make in it. I have seen that there are cookbooks that are devoted to just recipes for dutch ovens--but I have not bought any.

[FLtricia]

I like mine.  I make pot roast, pork roast, stews, chili on a regular basis.  I find my roasts are more juicy and tender if made in dutch oven.  If you decide to get one I hope you enjoy it too.

[On It]

The cast iron dutch ovens are a very good choice for roasts, soups, and oven use. The only problem I have is being able to lift them when they are hot and full of fresh cooked goodness. They are too heavy for me to use when cooking alone.

[CoffeeNut]

I have a 5qt and 8qt Le Creuset.  I make soups, stews and chili in mine.  Slow simmer is best in cast iron.  

[ciao_bella]

I have two Dutch Ovens.  One is a 5 quart size and the other is larger and I think about 6 quart size.  I use them a lot.  I make soups, chowders, chili, pasta sauces, roasts and even fresh No Knead Breads that come out wonderful!

I wouldn't be without them. They clean up like a dream as well.  

[Sooner]

We have a good collection and use it all the time.  We hardly ever get out a piece of All-Clad stainless now.

We use the soup pots most--we cook everything in them!  We use the round ovens in smaller (5 quart and less) and almost never the oval ones.

We use the grills almost daily for grilled chicken or beef or to make cornbread (they make GREAT cornbread!).  They clean up easily IF you pour in some hot water immediately after you take the food out and let the water sit for a while.

We love ours, and for just two use soup pots and braisers a lot.  Also the skillets are great!  The little one (6" maybe?) is also good for a small packet of cornbread mix.

Check around like Williams Sonoma and others for specials!  You'll save money.  OR call a Le Creuset outlet store to see what they have. 

[millieshops]

@On It   yep, there was a time I really wanted all my pots and pans to match, to be beautiful, etc.  Now I want to be able to lift them and don't much care whether they match - they just have to fit in the my limited cabinet space.

[LilLadyNJ]

I have a Le Cruset Dutch oven that I use for pot roasts, pasta sauce, soups and it's also great for baking bread. 

[Carmie]

I have two of them, both six quarts.  I make pot roast and stuffed peppers in mine.   I really don't use them too often.  They are nice to have, but if I had to buy again, I wouldn't bother.

They are way too small to make soup in.  I use SS pots large enough to give a toddler a bath in.  I make enough to freeze for later. They are also very heavy and not easy to lift out of an oven or off of my range when full.