Hey everyone! I really need your honest opinions. I bought this Hamilton Beach Programmable Slow Cooker about two years ago and use it at least once a week. It is certainly a work-horse in my kitchen. My query is regarding Dutch Ovens. I keep hearing all these wonderful things about them, but I just don't know if it's that much different than using this slow cooker, or if I could benefit from having both.
Now, I am not a "name dropper," so I don't need to impress anyone with this brand.
There are so many different brands, but most of them seem to be the same except for price. I know the inside surface needs to be smooth and the inside of the lid needs to have the grooves for self-basting. They all seem very heavy which poses another question -- size? For two people, would I really need one any larger than 5 quart? I'm not sure I could even lift one any bigger once it's filled.
Okay friends, toss out your opinions here. Do you have a Dutch Oven and do you use it a lot? What brand do you have and why do you love it or not? Do you also have a slow cooker?
Thanks so much for sharing your opinions!
I don't have one. I think I might like to get one someday but it's a question of storage space for me. Do you feel like you'd make foods you don't already make in the slowcooker? I think the main advantage might be that you could brown your meat right in the Dutch oven and then continue cooking the rest of the dish, but you could do the meat in any pan and then finish the dish in the slowcooker. Hmm...sorry I'm not more helpful. :)
ReplyDeleteOh I LOVE to give my "professional" opinions, lol. I have a dutch oven, not an expensive one mind you, and I LOVE it! Mine is not one of the big heavy thick ones, but it cooks wonderfully in the oven, and you know how I love to cook. Anyhoo, I did supper for hubby's office staff this past week end and had a corn recipe that called for the crock pot, which was occupied with a turkey breast, so I broke out the dutch oven, and the corn turned out so good, everyone was wanting the recipe before they left. I also love to cook roast, potatoes, and carrots in the dutch oven. I absoulutely love mine! Actually, mine is a rather small one, and I do believe I would benefit from a larger one. Go for it, get one!!
ReplyDeleteI have a slow cooker & a couple of Dutch ovens. I use my Dutch ovens all the time. One is Martha Stewart from Macys, the other is that beauty up above, the Le Creuset. I love them! They are very heavy, even when they aren't filled, so be prepared for that.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm absolutely no help because I don't own a dutch oven, but I do have a couple of slow cookers and I use them all the time. However, I have heard great things about the Le Creuset. It has wonderful reviews on Amazon. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteWish I could help, but I'm equally lost like you Carol, let us know what you find out!
ReplyDeleteI do have a le creuset pot like the one you show and I love it to cook my pinto beans and honey baked ham bones. I also have a cast iron dutch oven that was my mothers. I don't often use this one. But, I agree, the weight sometimes is too much for me and I do have to have my significant other pick it up for me. I haven't found a slow cooker that cooks my beans as well as the le creuset does. As we get older, my arms are not as strong. Merry Christmas.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you about the weight of the "dutch oven". I have a cast iron skillet and griddle and love the way they cook, but the weight of a dutch oven has kept me from buying one. I have a slow cooker and find I like that it doesn't heat up the kitchen in the summer like the oven would, if you use it for your dutch oven. The slow cooker is more energy efficient, too.
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