Stock Pot vs. Dutch Oven / Sauce Pot
I currently have this on order and plan on using it for stocks, broths, and boiling grains/vegetables.
My question is: what are the advantages of a dutch oven / sauce pot over this when it comes to most other types of cooking? Rather than the advantages of cast-iron vs. stainless steel I'm more interested in the general question of why a stock pot isn't ideal for braising, sauteing, or stew/chili, especially when the one I ordered has a clad bottom and is oven-safe. Does it just come down to the tall, narrow shape and clunky size?
If it really does make sense to also have a dutch oven / sauce pot on hand, would I be wiser to start with stainless steel or enameled cast iron?
Best Answer
The answer is that both can be used just fine for the same purposes, however stock pots tend to have much thinner walls than the bottom and thinner than those found on Dutch ovens. The thinner walls mean that they retain less heat and so are less efficient at cooking on the stove top (e.g. soups), and more likely to burn or stick around the walls if placed in the oven - because of the faster heat transfer on these thin surfaces.
Stainless steel is more prone to sticking for some items too (e.g. eggs, meats), and is relatively difficult to season (it's generally not done to stainless), whereas cast-iron can be seasoned very easily, it's more or less mandatory for this material and essentially makes it more or less non-stick.
Enameled/ceramic-coated cast-iron pots such as the Le-Creuset ones are generally non-stick from the shop and have the same benefits as cast-iron.
Having said that I use an oven-safe stock pot for making things like pasta-bake, where it is in the oven for relatively short periods of time (~40 min - 1h), and don't generally have any problems.
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Quick Answer about "Stock Pot vs. Dutch Oven / Sauce Pot"
What's the difference between a Dutch oven vs a stock pot? Dutch ovens are made of cast iron, a heavy, versatile metal that heats evenly and can be used to cookIs a sauce pot the same as a Dutch oven?
What is the difference between a stock pot and a Dutch oven? The type of material is the most obvious difference between the two. Generally, a stock pot will be made from aluminum or stainless steel, and a Dutch oven will be cast iron (and sometimes enameled cast iron).Can you use a stock pot instead of a Dutch oven?
Pot. Another versatile alternative to a Dutch oven is the classic pot or stockpot - and the best thing about this substitute is that every kitchen should already have a large pot! Stockpots work particularly well, as they have high sides and a lid that will allow you to simmer your ingredients for an extended time.Can you make sauce in a stock pot?
Easy Homemade Spaghetti Sauce is the perfect addition to your next plate of pasta. This from-scratch sauce recipe is made in a single stock pot and is filled with tomatoes, ground beef, onions, garlic, and bell pepper. Making your own homemade spaghetti sauce is a must if you enjoy cooking at home.How does a stock pot differ from a saucepan?
The main difference between a saucepan and a stock pot is the size and the construction. Saucepans will have long handles and often a smaller helper handle on the other side. Stock pots will have two small helper handles, as their size is too big for one large handle.Difference Between Stockpot and Dutch Oven
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Answer 2
If you want to do stocks I would get the stainless steel one, biggest that'll work on your stove/have room for? If you want to do soups/stews roasting frying bread casseroles ...get the dutch oven ... you can do "stocks, broths, and boiling grains/vegetables" in either.
Answer 3
This article by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt (from Serious Eats and author of The Food Lab) may be helpful:
I am fortunate to have a Le Creuset Dutch oven that I received as a gift from my wife. In my opinion, it beats anything else out there. I seem to recall reading (America's Test Kitchen?) that the Tramontina brand ranked second to Le Creuset and is considerably less expensive, but have not personally compared them.
Though costly, I use it for a lot of different things (i.e., pot roast; chili; braised short-ribs; etc.) and have no complaints.
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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