Dutch Oven Substitute?

Ok folks, I am suddenly running in to a lot of recipes that call for a dutch oven, after NEVER having used one while I was single. Needless to say, I want to make some of these foods, but we simply don't have storage space for every cooking item I would ever want in our kitchen.

Does anyone know of an "easy" conversion from dutch oven to say crock pot that I can apply to some of these recipes?

I don't even know what a dutch oven is

from webster's: Dutch Oven - a kitchen device often found in households within the confines of the European area better known at The Netherlands (formerly known as Holland).

All you need is a big stainless steel pot. Make sure there is no plastic handles or anything and that is has a thick bottom.

I struggled for about a year trying to get a dutch oven and then I realized it's just something that can go from stove to over. A big pot works perfectly fine.

You might be able to get by with a heavy-bottom stock pan with a tight fitting lid. But, really, there is no substitution for a Dutch oven. It doesn't have to be Le Creuset.

But not too tall (like a soup pot.) That's simply a practical recommendation - if it's too tall, you have to lower the rack in the oven, and that's a pain. Think short and wide.

Dutch oven to slow cooker guidelines:

http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2008-...ews-and-chilies

http://www.cookingincastiron.com/files/20080123_slowcooker_to_dutchoven.html

Ohhhh it's kinda like my big cast iron pot that I can put in the oven...

Awww, now I'm ruined. I have to have one. I've often looked at the ones at Macy's sold under the Martha Stewart brand and wondered if they are any good.

I've got a really good set of stainless stockpots and they have done the job just fine but I guess until I've cooked in a Le Creuset or something similar, I wouldn't know the difference.

A true dutch oven is heavy cast iron vessel that is meant to rest on top of a bed of hot coals and to have hot coals placed on top. The best beef stew that I have ever had came from a dutch oven. I have also had peach cobbler made over a camp fire in one that was amazing.

BTW, be careful when searching the term "Dutch Oven" because there is an alternate meaning.....

http://www.amazon.com/Emeril-All-clad-E9645264-Pre-Seasoned-Cast-Iron/dp/B000JZX5DU

I bought this one for my wife she loves it (since it weighs so much she can not clean it and I am stuck cleaning it).

thanks I had to look it up

Somehow I am not suprised that EdAudit gave his wife a Dutch Oven.....

Me either.

She has every cooking gadget known to women. I am running out of stuff to buy.

Have you considered vacuum cleaners?

I really don't think the two comments above yours relate to a cooking gadget!

We have one one each floor and two in the attic.

Have you purchased a REALLY GOOD knife set? What about the really good quality sharpener to go with it?

yup and yup

We even have the ones that sharping when you put them away.

Prepara herb containers, $30, Macys.com if she uses fresh herbs!

Ceramic non-stick frying pan? Just got mine, and LOVE it!!!! (anywhere they sell kitchen stuff)

protective cookbook holder?

corn stripper (really cheap, for taking corn off the cob)

nice bamboo cutting board?

Keep them comming

Mushroom brush?
Zester?
Plane grater?

How do you grate a plane?

Don't be dragging me into this!



I'm in the process of building a new gourmet kitchen in our new house because we ran out of space for all of the cooking gadgets. I had to have an extra pantry put in just for the appliances, Le Creuset's and Microplane products!

Call the FAA...

Strawberry huller?
Egg slicer?

an avocado slicer/pitter?

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product....CFQRnOgoddTsAbA

We have lots of kitchen gadgets too (including an enameled dutch oven), but no uni-taskers are allowed!

We love, love, love our Cuisinart Griddler. Not only is it great for paninis, quesadillas, burgers, or griddled chicken, but it opens flat for pancakes, french toast and such. We use it regularly.

linky dink

of coures

yes but that one looks nice

also have everything with the egg handle on it and started to move up to the ones with the pig, cow, Potato and corn cobb.

Rebekah - I've seen those advertised and thought they looked interesting. I have a griddle on my gas stove for pancakes (and love it), but the sandwiches and other things sound really good.

pineapple corer?
kiwi cutter?
crinkle cutter?
spiral slicer?
mezzaluna?
china cap sieve (chinois)?
ricer?

a substitute for a Dutch oven?

pull my finger and I'll show you

:holds nose:

It's amazing all the gadgets they have out there I have one that takes care of half of the tasks and takes up a fraction of the space.

It's called a knife.

We have three of these--My husband has made BBQ Ribs and chicken, potatoes, mountain man breakfast and lots of desserts.

I purchased an enameled cast iron dutch oven. It is a gorgeous blue. I am giving it to my sister. When I fill it, like with stew, I can barely lift it. She has 3 daughters, with daughters. My daughter would not be interested and this thing will never wear out. But it should only be owned by someone with a kitchen on first floor...not in a New York high rise (like my daughter). It would get tossed if she moves!

I bought mine in a local hardware store. Cast iron has to be seasoned with oil. Your dutch oven will come with instructions.

Macy's is having a one day sale on Wednesday (I think) and they have an enameled cast iron dutch oven in the mailer on sale for $59.

....silicone egg cups for perfect poaching. Great for eggs bendedict.Fish scaler, nutmeg grater, overpriced made in France double boiler, some scary thing that my husband uses to burn sugar toppings on creme caramel,cherry pitter, weird East European machine that takes seesd out of tomatoes and berrie and is great for perfect james and homamade tomato sauce (that is an entirely different story. need to do an inventory of our gadgets, too many and can't find them when we need them and forgot we even had them.

We have had a dutch oven for years, overpriced Le Creuset but I would not part with it. Expect to take it to the next world....We make anything that is best cooked slowly. Perfect for pot roasts, baked beans and soups. We use it in the oven and on the stove. You want one that is cast iron/heavy for good heat distribution.

There's a special grater for nutmeg? Wow! I'm very impressed, Trees.

I have one too, it has a cute little hatch to hold the whole nutmeg.

Yes, it is the cutest thing. Like a miniature coffee grinder.