Things I Love
August 28, 2013
Taking the bread out of the oven this morning, it hit me that this wonderfully homely creature is the most-used pot I've got.
I bought my Dutch oven at a thrift store, maybe thirty years ago, for five bucks. Since then I've used it almost every day. It's perfect for baking bread; if you put it in a really hot oven before you put the dough in, it becomes an oven within an oven, shooting intense heat at your dough from all sides so it emerges with a fine, crisp crust.
It's wonderful for braises; the little raised points inside collect steam, returning it as liquid so your meat is constantly basting itself. Nothing makes a better pot roast. On top of the stove it's teh perfect vehicle for stews, soups and sauces.
You could buy a new Dutch oven, but why would you? Thrift stores almost always have a few on hand. It's not just that you're saving money, but getting a little bit of history as well. I like to think about my Dutch oven's last life – and wonder about its next one.
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4 Comments
You can cook bread in a Dutch oven? I definitely going to try this. I have a Dutch oven, but I’ve never used it to bake inside, much less bread. I’m excited to try it!
You can cook bread in a Dutch oven? I definitely going to try this. I have a Dutch oven, but I’ve never used it to bake inside, much less bread. I’m excited to try it! (Oops, re-posting this. Sorry for the duplicate!)
~Emily
http://www.theorangeslate.com
Great tip about the little spikes in the lid! I dont have a Dutch oven yet, but I’ll now be on the lookout with one containing that feature! Thanks!
I have one that I have used for years. The best story is that a few years ago I took a plane trip with it as a carry-on, and inside it was an Appalachian apple stack cake my mom had made. I felt like someone from the Beverly Hillbillies….and not at all embarrassed about the fact.