Dutch Oven vs Slow Cooker?!
What are the advantages of a Dutch Oven over a Slow Cooker and vice versa -- given that they are both great at slow cooking and maintaining heat!. Please share your preference between the two and the reasons behind your preference!. Thank you!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Answers:
I have a lot of time to be home and do even my slow cooking while I am in the house!. If I were busy out side of the home, I might leave an electric slow-cooker on, but I would not leave the house and leave a dutch oven on a stove that was turned on!. There is the major difference for me!.
If I can use either, I prefer the cast-iron dutch oven because it seems that things cook faster, and seem somehow more "home cooked" than ingredients that are hiding inside a machine!.
Later: Why is someone giving thumbs down here!? These are opinions only!. Everyone is entitled to their opinion - there is no right or wrong about this!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
If I can use either, I prefer the cast-iron dutch oven because it seems that things cook faster, and seem somehow more "home cooked" than ingredients that are hiding inside a machine!.
Later: Why is someone giving thumbs down here!? These are opinions only!. Everyone is entitled to their opinion - there is no right or wrong about this!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Slow cookers, especially the new ones with removable pots, provide an excellent way to cook using little heat and no personal attendance required!. You can program them to start at a preset time, turn down to simmer after cooking, and hold food at temperature till ready to serve!. This makes cooking while not at home safe and feasible!.
Dutch ovens can provide the same service, but with the cook at home and in attendance!. One advantage the Dutch oven has over the slow cooker, is it can be cooked in over an open fire, or buried in the hot coals of a campfire!. Dutch oven (cowboy) cooking has experienced a new revival of late, due to the number of RVers gathering at round-ups similar to the old western round-ups!. Large groups gather and have cook-offs for anything from chili to desserts, all baked over an open campfire, or on outdoor stoves, in cast iron Dutch ovens!.
Both the Dutch oven and the slow cooker have followings, and numerous cookbooks written and designed specifically for their usage!. For me, the slow cooker is the answer for the home cook wishing to save time!. or mult-itask while preparing a good meal!. For overall flavor it is impossible to beat a good cast iron Dutch oven over an open fire, though!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Dutch ovens can provide the same service, but with the cook at home and in attendance!. One advantage the Dutch oven has over the slow cooker, is it can be cooked in over an open fire, or buried in the hot coals of a campfire!. Dutch oven (cowboy) cooking has experienced a new revival of late, due to the number of RVers gathering at round-ups similar to the old western round-ups!. Large groups gather and have cook-offs for anything from chili to desserts, all baked over an open campfire, or on outdoor stoves, in cast iron Dutch ovens!.
Both the Dutch oven and the slow cooker have followings, and numerous cookbooks written and designed specifically for their usage!. For me, the slow cooker is the answer for the home cook wishing to save time!. or mult-itask while preparing a good meal!. For overall flavor it is impossible to beat a good cast iron Dutch oven over an open fire, though!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As another responder said, the slow cooker is a device you plug into the wall and the dutch oven is a pot on the stove!. If you need to brown some meat before slow cooking, it is a little easier to that with a dutch oven!. The food can just stay in the same pot for the whole process!. However, you need to stay in the house while the oven is on!
With a slow cooker, you can just dump everything in the pot, go to work, and come home to a great dinner!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
With a slow cooker, you can just dump everything in the pot, go to work, and come home to a great dinner!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I am assuming that you mean a cast iron Dutch oven!.
It needs an external heat source, which means the oven or open flame!. A Dutch oven can change the flavor of tomato- or other acid foods cooked in it!. On the other hand, it can pick up flavors you might like as it seasons!. You can operate a Dutch oven at any temperature, so you can sear food and then slow cook it with only one pot to clean!. Dutch ovens are extremely durable!. If dropped, it will break the floor, not the other way around!. They can be immersed, but rust if left in water or left to dry!. If totally wrecked, steel wool and elbow grease will bring it back from almost any wretched state!.
A Slow (crock-pot) cooker is usually enamel on the interior!. This glassy surface will not impart a flavor!. It neither seaons, nor reacts to the food inside!. It cannot be immersed, and is fragile!. If dropped, the floor will break your pot, not the other way around!. Slow cookers are only electric powered, which may make them more expensive to operate than a Dutch oven over a low flame!. Eventually, a slow cooker will break, and you have another pile of trash!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
It needs an external heat source, which means the oven or open flame!. A Dutch oven can change the flavor of tomato- or other acid foods cooked in it!. On the other hand, it can pick up flavors you might like as it seasons!. You can operate a Dutch oven at any temperature, so you can sear food and then slow cook it with only one pot to clean!. Dutch ovens are extremely durable!. If dropped, it will break the floor, not the other way around!. They can be immersed, but rust if left in water or left to dry!. If totally wrecked, steel wool and elbow grease will bring it back from almost any wretched state!.
A Slow (crock-pot) cooker is usually enamel on the interior!. This glassy surface will not impart a flavor!. It neither seaons, nor reacts to the food inside!. It cannot be immersed, and is fragile!. If dropped, the floor will break your pot, not the other way around!. Slow cookers are only electric powered, which may make them more expensive to operate than a Dutch oven over a low flame!. Eventually, a slow cooker will break, and you have another pile of trash!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
As a chef I like the slow cooker strictly for convenience!. You put your ingredients in and set the timer and only check it once or twice!. Having said that, I like the Ditch oven because you do everything in the dutch oven, brown, saute', and cook!. With the slow cooker you dirty one or two more pans and I am constantly checking temp and stirring, and it takes up burner or oven space!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
have a lot of time to be home and do even my slow cooking while I am in the house!. If I were busy out side of the home, I might leave an electric slow-cooker on, but I would not leave the house and leave a dutch oven on a stove that was turned on!. There is the major difference for me!.
If I can use either, I prefer the cast-iron dutch oven because it seems that things cook faster, and seem somehow more "home cooked" than ingredients that are hiding inside a machineWww@FoodAQ@Com
If I can use either, I prefer the cast-iron dutch oven because it seems that things cook faster, and seem somehow more "home cooked" than ingredients that are hiding inside a machineWww@FoodAQ@Com
Slow cookers use less electricity!.!.!.they don't heat up the kitchen as much and they allow for a more even and slower cooking temp!. Dutch ovens keep the stove hot all day!. Temp changes can be more drastic there too!. They are great for braising meat, but not for slow cooking!. I also feel you end up adding more liquid and oil to keep the food from burning when it's on the stove!.!.!.but the slow cooker works so slowly!.!.!.burning anything is hard to do!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I hate slow cookers!. I always have the NEED to stir and constantly remove the lid!. I'd much rather cook in something that needs constant attention!.
Slow cookers don't regulate heat as well as you think!. As I open it and look, one side is boiling and the other side is not!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Slow cookers don't regulate heat as well as you think!. As I open it and look, one side is boiling and the other side is not!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Well the Dutch oven is the original slow cooker!.
But like everyone else said the slow cooker is a great no fuss cooking vessel!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
But like everyone else said the slow cooker is a great no fuss cooking vessel!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
Dutch oven usually requires supervision where the slow cooker can be set and cook during the day when you're at work!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
A prefer the Dutch Oven!.Www@FoodAQ@Com
I would just go for the Polish Oven!.Www@FoodAQ@Com