That is because both of these world-renowned kitchen appliances are able to prepare and cook the same recipe in much the same way. The main difference is the heat source that is used, how fast the food can be cooked, and the fact that you cannot sear in a slow cooker. Disclaimer: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases made on my website.
If you make a purchase through links from this website, I may get a small share of the sale from Amazon and other similar affiliate programs. A slow cooker or crockpot has a built-in heat source it is enclosed in the outer casing of the appliance. In basic models, there are usually 3 settings low cook, high cook and keep warm. It has a removable pot inside where the dish is cooked. Whereas the Dutch oven is more versatile as it can be used on many different heat sources as well as in a conventional oven.
You will also be able to prepare a meal in one pot. The cast-iron stays hot after cooking so the dish will keep warm for some time before serving. Slow cooker recipes require less liquid than other types of cooking methods. So when converting recipes to use a slow cooker you would probably need to reduce the amount of liquid required. Slow cookers usually have around 7-quart capacity.
This size will feed a family of 4 with leftovers or a large number of people if there are other accompaniments such as vegetables, potatoes, or rice.
Due to the nature of the slow cook method inside a slow cooker liquid does not reduce as much as it should for most dishes. To reduce the liquid you can place the contents of the slow cooker into a suitable pot and slowly reduce it on the stovetop. If your slow cooker insert can be used on a cooktop use it on the cooktop for reduction.
Alternatively, you can add a thickening agent turn the slow cooker to high and let the juice thicken like gravy. Remember to stir occasionally. Slow cookers are handy because they operate via a power cord and they can be plugged in anywhere there is an outlet.
Quite awkward and bulky to store and if you do put them at the back of the cupboard or pantry you will not use it as much as you probably should. If you are converting a slow cooker recipe to use it in a Dutch oven you will need to make certain there is enough liquid as the Dutch oven becomes much hotter and uses steam to cook its food. Along with its versatility to be able to prepare many different types of meals Dutch ovens are available in a large range of sizes and shapes, from 1 quart to more than 13 quarts.
There are also two types of Dutch ovens. The traditional raw cast iron ideal for campfires and the enamel-coated cast-iron Dutch oven designed for everyday kitchen use. The various shapes and sizes available make preparing any kind of meal easy. If you have more than one Dutch oven you can prepare a meal in one and either an accompaniment or dessert in the other. Handwash then dry thoroughly is what is required with Dutch ovens so they do not rust. They can then be stored stacked in your pot and pan cupboard or inside your conventional oven ready for the next use.
An article I wrote with great tips about the storage of cast iron you can see here. The recipes we like to prepare using the slow cook method whether in a slow cooker or other cooking pot are prepared in similar ways. Enamel cast-iron Dutch ovens can be used on various cooktops, like gas, electric, ceramic, glass, induction as well as in a conventional oven. Traditional uncoated cast-iron pots can also be used over coals, briquettes, and open flames.
The heat source you choose depends upon the type of Dutch oven you are using as well as the dishes you want to prepare. This is my absolute favorite thing about Dutch oven cooking.
The truth is you can cook a meal inside one pot. A Dutch oven is a slow cooker used on the stovetop or inside the oven, and a crock pot i s an electric slow cooker and used on a countertop. Both cook at low temperatures over long periods. No matter which one you use, the process is more or less the same:.
Dutch ovens and crock pots are both great for one-pot cooking and an excellent way to tenderize tough meat cuts. The pot's liquid usually becomes a delicious and nutritious gravy as it retains all the nutrients from the ingredients. Once you've decided to invest in a slow cooker, the next step is to choose one suited to your needs. Here is a basic comparison between the two pots:. Dutch ovens reduce liquids into lovely thick sauces whereby food made in a crock pot will be thinner. To reduce liquid manually, you have to remove the crock pot's contents and reduce it on the stovetop.
When you use a slow cooker for cooking a meal for a whole family or group of friends, size is important. No matter which slow cooker you choose, it should be able to accommodate plenty of servings. I often get asked this question. Normally one of my readers is looking to make a new purchase…invest in a new Dutch oven or give a slow cooker a chance. Lets consider the slow cooker vs Dutch oven question. Of course, they are not mutually exclusive…you are allowed to have both!
I do and they serve a purpose depending on different scenarios…. Let me just cover a few points first before I go into more detail. These are very general statements that I believe to be true based on my experience. Before I go further, let me clarify what they are and how they might be used.
If you already know, feel free to skip this section. They are counter top electric pots that cook at low temperatures…hence the slow cooker name. It takes a long time to cook which is actually an advantage. You can actually cook a wide variety of dishes in a slow cooker. Slow Cooker Advantages Disadvantages. Dutch ovens have been around for hundreds of years and they were essentially designed for one pot cooking.
The tradition of one pot cooking is still going strong and is a staple in lots of households. Essentially, they are lidded pots cast from iron. They have tight fitting lids and are very flexible.
You can use them on the stove or in the oven. Household versions are essentially enameled, a process designed by the leaders in enamel Dutch ovens, Le Creuset. Outdoor dutch ovens are popular with campers and those pans are seasoned instead of enameled.
In some ways they do similar things but essentially, they are quite different. There are a number of reasons why you would choose a slow cooker over a Dutch oven. One of the major reasons is cost. A basic slow cooker is relatively cheap to buy whereas a decent Dutch oven can be relatively expensive depending on the size. The other aspect to consider is the cooking cost. I will look at this in more detail further down but essentially, the cooking cost is a fraction of the cost of cooking in a conventional oven.
Another reason why it suits so many people is the convenience factor. Simply placing all the recipes into the slow cooker in the morning and arriving home later to a hot meal is fantastic…especially for busy households. Added to this, people a generally more comfortable letting a slow cooker cook at home while the home is empty. The worst that can happen is that it blows a fuse. Generally, people are not comfortable leaving an oven on while they are out for most the day. Slow cookers are also considered lower maintenance.
You can put the ceramic dish into the dishwasher whereas you cannot do the same with a Dutch oven. The biggest advantage is the sheer flexibility of a Dutch oven. You can pretty much do most kitchen tasks in one pot. This is what makes Dutch ovens marvelous and so invaluable in a kitchen. The slow cooker is limited in comparison to specific recipes and tasks. Having cooked for many years…including professionally, I have to say that if you cooked the same recipes using both these mediums, the Dutch oven recipe will taste better.
Its just that the Dutch oven does a better job. This may be a benefit to some…not to others. You can cook in half the time with a Dutch oven. Another advantage is the retention of nutrients. Slow cookers can remove so many of the nutrients in foods through their cooking process. This means that it may still taste good, but the health qualities are removed.
Dutch ovens do not suffer from this as much. There are ways around this, mainly through sauteing food before you cook them. Even still, the Dutch oven fares better. Over the long term, a Dutch oven can prove to be great value.
Firstly, the sheer number of tasks you can complete in them. Secondly, they can last decades is cared for properly. In comparison, a Slow cooker will have a limited shelf life in most cases.
Yes, you can. Essentially, the slow cooker was invented on the basis of the Dutch oven. The idea being that it saved cooks having to heat the oven. They both braise food slowly with a low heat. Therefore, you will find that many of the recipes can be adapted very easily to fit the Slow cooker…and vice versa. The biggest issue people have is the temperature.
0コメント