3 Main Reasons:

• They are easy to clean and maintain
• They are virtually indestructible and can last a lifetime
• They are versatile and can be used to cook a variety of different foods.

Every kitchen needs a versatile heavy duty iron pot for cooking dishes which require long cooking times and low temperatures.

A casserole or Dutch oven is a heavy cooking pot made of cast iron, sometimes with a hard colourful glaze over the cast iron. The pot usually has a pair of handles and a tight-fitting lid. A casserole has a heavy-duty construction and its versatility makes it one of the most useful pieces of cooking equipment, and one that every home cook should have in their kitchen.

Cast iron is a poor conductor of heat, which means that once it gets hot, the pot stays hot for a long time. This is a wonderful way of cooking stews, soups and braised meats.  Your cast iron Dutch oven is also the way to soften root vegetables like carrots, parsnips, and turnips in stews, as well as the more hardy greens like kale and collards. Slow cooking is a perfect way of, helping to bring out the sweetness of pungent allium such as onion and garlic.

The versatility of a Dutch oven is also useful for deep frying and baking a loaf of bread in the oven and excellent for saving money on the cost of utilities.

A Dutch oven can be used for one pot cooking on the stove top.  Your meat can be browned /seared directly on the stove before adding other ingredients, cover and then simmer to develop wonderful flavours and preferred texture. Another huge benefit of cooking in a Dutch oven is that the whole pot with the lid can go directly from the stove-top to the oven. This is convenient for when you've finished browning your meat on the stove-top over high heat and are ready for the second, low-temperature phase of cooking. This helps the ingredients cook evenly, and prevents items on the bottom of the pot from burning and sticking, which could happen with stove-top braises since the pot has to sit over the heat for such a long time.

Long cooking times and low temperatures allows the various ingredients to fuse into delicious flavours and tenderises cheaper tough cuts of meat which “fall off the bone” which can ultimately cost you less!

Caring for Your Dutch Oven

When you invest in a quality cast iron Dutch oven, you'll only need to buy one once in your life. That being the case, it makes sense to get a good one. 

An enamelled cast-iron Dutch oven made by Chasseur will last for the rest of your life and beyond. The enamel coating makes it easier to clean, although it may become discoloured over time. This is a result of years of use and is a sign that your Dutch oven was a worthwhile investment! Some individuals actually prefer the worn look and the patina of age that develops. The enamel can chip, especially around the rim, so try not to bang the lid down onto to the pot base. 

But if you choose a pure cast iron Dutch oven, go with pre-seasoned cast iron such as Lodge Blacklock or Finex. Seasoning your cast iron cookware is not too difficult, but you can save yourself the convenience and purchase your Dutch oven ready to use right out of the box. 

Happy cooking!