Customer Reviews

9.5 Quart Oval French Oven

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After the initial "sticker shock" for Le Creuset Dutch Ovens, one finds so many reasons to make an investment in this beautiful line of oven-to-tableware. I use my Le Creuset 9 1/2-Quart Oval French Oven (in "Flame") on top of the stove to cook a large chicken, or for a large pot roast, with vegetables. This oval-shaped Dutch oven design seems unique to Le Creuset, and it comes in several sizes.

Why choose an oval Dutch oven over the same sized round Dutch oven? I think the answer is that some cuts of meats and poultry and game fit better in the oval oven. It sits well on one large burner, and, because it is enamel-coated cast iron, the heat from this burner is very evenly distributed.

While the initial time to heat up the pan for browning the meat is longer than with some other brand Dutch ovens, the actual cooking time is shorter because, with the lid in place, the Le Creuset oven keeps in the steam which cooks the food more quickly. The burner can be set to simmer level, and the foods cooked inside this Dutch oven will be so flavorful.

So with this one oven, you can sear or brown your meat at high temperature in a bit of oil, then add some liquid, and cook your meat until it is tender. With Le Creuset ovens, you do not have to add more liquid because it does not evaporate. When the cooking is done, you can remove your meat and vegetables and turn up the heat once again to make a tasty gravy.

Clean-up is a cinch because the enamel coating is easy-to-clean. I wash all my Le Creuset Dutch ovens, pots, and pans by hand. If some bits are stuck, I just soak the cookware in soapy water for a short time.

You can store your beautiful Dutch ovens on a decorative baker's rack, in a Dutch cupboard, or on a special cast iron corner rack, which is made by Le Creuset in colors to match their ovens, pots, and pans. Or you can simply stack them one on top of the other, with the lids inverted, with special small rubber clips to keep the enamel from chipping.