Does beef/pork stew require a dutch oven?
I am learning how to make beef/pork stew. Every recipe I see says to use a Dutch oven, that will be placed inside the oven. Couldnt stew be made just as well with a regular stainless steel pot that I simmer on top of the oven range?
Best Answer
It can. There's nothing wrong with braising or stewing with a stainless steel pot. Just know that if you brown your meat before stewing it, it will cook faster in a stainless steel pot than in a cast iron or enameled cast iron pot, because cast iron retains heat well and conducts it evenly. So be careful not to over-brown your meaty bits.
Sometimes, braising on the stovetop is desirable, especially if you want to further reduce your liquid. When we cook in our commercial kitchen, half the time we braise in the oven with our enamel-ware, the other half we do in a stainless steel stockpot on the stove.
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Do you need a Dutch oven for stews?
Dutch ovens retain heat really well, so it's a great vessel for cooking large batch dishes, such as beef stew. First, using a Dutch oven creates flavor development. From browning the meat to cooking all the flavor boosters in one pot, making beef stew in the Dutch oven is perfect.What can you use instead of a Dutch oven for stew?
A deep oven-proof skillet can work if you don't have a Dutch oven, as can an oven-proof soup pot. And if your recipe doesn't call for putting the pot in the oven at all, any heavy deep pot will do.Is it better to cook a stew in the oven or stove?
Oven-cooked stews are better for two reasons. Hands-off cooking: One, you don't have to monitor the heat of the stovetop for hours, stirring and covering for the 2 1/2 to 3 hours most stews require.Can I use a casserole dish instead of a Dutch oven?
You can use an 8x8 or 13x9-inch casserole dish to bake almost anything that calls for a Dutch oven. There are a few different types of oven-safe casserole dishes, so feel free to use what you have on-hand. Ceramic baking dishes are great substitutes for a Dutch oven because they usually come with lids.The Dutch Oven Beef Stew! Easy and Delicious!
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