# Do I want a dutch oven? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2013, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056 "2013-08-01T04:27:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/21 "2013-08-01T19:45:39Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > Well, there was one time I was making a tomato based stew. It didn’t boil over but the dutch oven was filled to capacity. So the condensation on the lid was rather heavy. > > I made the mistake of letting the lid sit overnight. By morning time, when I went to clean it, all that stuff was just caked on there. And there’s no way to scrub it either, if you try to use a brillo pad, it just tears apart because of the spikes. Sounds to me like the Lodge’s is much spikier than the Staub’s. The underside of my lid has about 40 rounded bumps in it–kind of looks like a BB half-way embedded into the lid. ---
**Author:** ![FuriousGeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ecae2f/32.png) [@FuriousGeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuriousGeorge)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/22 "2013-08-01T19:56:50Z")
> [@Johnny\_Bravo](#): > > I believe the spikes are meant to encourage condensation to evenly drip back down into whatever’s cooking in the dutch oven. If your dutch oven has condensated to the point of dripping back down, you have gone waaaaaaaayyyy past the dutch oven… ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/23 "2013-08-01T20:06:34Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Sounds to me like the Lodge’s is much spikier than the Staub’s. The underside of my lid has about 40 rounded bumps in it–kind of looks like a BB half-way embedded into the lid. Yeah, mine looks like a mid evil torturing device. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/24 "2013-08-01T20:23:11Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Came for this, leaving satisfied. 😃 > > /yes, my inner 12-year-old is quite active. And? 😃 My inner 12-year-old couldn’t resist being handed a straight line like that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/25 "2013-08-01T20:37:57Z")
> [@Shakes](#): > > I made the mistake of letting the lid sit overnight. By morning time, when I went to clean it, all that stuff was just caked on there. And there’s no way to scrub it either, if you try to use a brillo pad, it just tears apart because of the spikes. Would a self-cleaning oven clean it or damage it? ---
**Author:** ![D\_Odds](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/d_odds/32/2882_2.png) [@D\_Odds](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Odds)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/26 "2013-08-01T20:41:04Z")
I’ll third (or fourth or whatever) that my Lodge enameled cast iron pan is both fantastic and lacking lid spikes. I did buy a Le Crueset handle to replace the Lodge handle on the lid, as the Lodge handle is not rated for hotter temperatures (such as when baking bread). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/27 "2013-08-01T21:18:56Z")
> [@SeaDragonTattoo](#): > > I love my cast iron dutch oven. For the reasons stated above, plus you can use it as a slow cooker with the oven on low with 500 degree browning at the end, and, especially, no knead bread. This. We use our Rachael Ray 6 qt enameled cast iron dutch oven (with a Lodge knob!) all the time- it’s probably in the top 4 pieces of cookware, along with our 12" cast iron skillet, our 12" All-Clad Saute pan, and our no-name non-stick egg skillet. Oh, and we have the spiky lid for our 12" cast iron skillet, and it gets infrequent use. Most of the stuff we want to braise is either too tall or there’s too much to fit in the 12" skillet, so into the dutch oven it goes. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2013, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/28 "2013-08-01T21:59:45Z")
I bought an enameled cast iron dutch oven from Sam’s Club for $40, I think it was their Member’s Mark brand, and it has been great for braising. I made braised beef short ribs using Anne Burrell’s recipe, and they turned out really good, got rave reviews from the guests. I don’t think it would have turned out the same in a lighter weight roasting pan or casserole. ---
**Author:** ![Jake\_Jones](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Jake\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/29 "2013-08-02T04:04:41Z")
I decided to get the lid sans dutch oven. My cabinets are already mostly full and I don’t think I’d use it much. It was one of those “well, it’s only another $14” kind of things and ultimately I decided that while it might be nice to have once in a while, I don’t think I need to give up the the extra room for a 20 pound cast iron pot. The lid can live on top of the stove with the skillet. Thanks to everyone for their input, though. ---
**Author:** ![LawMonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d6d6ee/32.png) [@LawMonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LawMonkey)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2013, 2:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/30 "2013-08-02T14:36:17Z")
> [@Kenm](#): > > Would a self-cleaning oven clean it or damage it? Running a piece of cast-iron through a self-cleaning cycle will “unseason” it. It’s a nuclear option of sorts for when you’ve gotten your cast iron Very Dirty Indeed. ---
**Author:** ![saucywench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/85e7bf/32.png) [@saucywench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/saucywench)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2013, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/31 "2013-08-04T07:46:59Z")
> [@Jake\_Jones](#): > > Do I want a Dutch oven? Why yes Jake, you do. There’s nothing better for whipping up a big pot of Snert. 😃 [http://images.smulweb.nl/recepten/1406430/low\_res/erwtensoep.jpg](http://images.smulweb.nl/recepten/1406430/low_res/erwtensoep.jpg) > **[Fancy a Bowl of Snert? Try This Easy Dutch Split Pea Soup Recipe](https://www.thespruceeats.com/traditional-dutch-split-pea-soup-1129011)** > > Traditionally served on New Year's Day in the Netherlands, this thick and hearty split pea soup recipe has become emblematic of Dutch winter food. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2013, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056/32 "2013-08-05T04:28:57Z")
I love mine but we call them camp ovens in OZ, well some call them dutch ovens but then you get the kids laughing at fart jokes. I use mine a lot in the bush on the open fire, the curved lid allows me to place coals on top of it. Nothing better than a nice hot stew after a hard day of sitting around in the cold! Great for damper as well… [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-i-want-a-dutch-oven/665056.md?page=1)