Looking for a Lighter Dutch Oven

We love traditional Dutch ovens because of how versatile they are. We stock dozens of our top-rated models in the test kitchen, routinely using them to boil, braise, bake, fry, and more. Most Dutch ovens are made from enameled cast iron, and they’re quite heavy—we’ve tested options that weigh more than 18 pounds. In most cases this heft is helpful: Heavy cast iron retains heat well, which makes it ideal for baking picture-perfect, crusty loaves of bread as well as deep frying. It’s also great for searing and braising meat and making soups and stews. But cast-iron cookware can be too heavy for some home cooks, especially those with disabilities, arthritis, or otherwise diminished hand, arm, or back strength. So we set out to find a lightweight pot that is just as versatile and dependable as a cast-iron Dutch oven but doesn’t sacrifice quality for lightness.

Our research led us to conclude that there aren’t many criteria a pot has to follow to be dubbed a Dutch oven. Manufacturers throw the label on pots made from any material you can think of, from cast iron to stainless steel, aluminum, and even ceramic. Many have enameled or nonstick coatings. Some products are labeled “stockpots” or “casseroles'' as well as or instead of being called a Dutch oven. For this review, we focused less on name and more on certain characteristics. We selected pots made from stainless steel and aluminum, with sides no higher than 6 inches, since higher sides can keep cooks from being able to reach and manipulate food. We focused on models that held from 6 to 7 quarts—the size we call for in most of our recipes—and that weighed less than 6.5 pounds, which is far less heavy than our cast-iron winner.

The lightweight options we tested were easier to handle and maneuver than heavy cast-iron pots. Some seared meat as evenly and quickly as cast-iron pots. But what we gained in maneuverability, we lost in heat retention. The lightweight models couldn’t radiate enough heat to produce crusty, well-browned loaves of bread. Some were also unable to successfully trap steam and moisture, which is also necessary for bread baking, as well as braising. We still suggest using a cast-iron Dutch oven for baking bread, but the lightweight options we found are versatile enough to sear, braise, and fry, and we recommend them for people who prefer a lighter pot.

• Large Capacity: Our favorites were big enough for deep frying or for preparing large batches of soups, stews, or braises. We think a capacity from 6 to 7 quarts is good for an all-purpose model.

• Fully Clad Stainless Steel: The best pots were stainless-steel “tri-ply,” which means that they’re made with three layers of metal: a highly conductive aluminum core sandwiched between layers of durable stainless steel. They’re also fully clad, meaning that these three layers run through every part of the pot, from the bottom to the rim. These pots heated up fast, retained heat well, and distributed it evenly, making for a great sear without hot spots. Lots of fond formed, which was great for building complex, rich sauces during braises. In addition, their light-metal interiors let us monitor browning easily.

• Large, Easy-to-Grip Handles: Large, sturdy handles that stuck out allowed us to hold on to the pots securely when we carried them or maneuvered them into or out of the oven, even while wearing oven mitts.

• Wide Cooking Surface: The more space you have to cook, the more food you can cook at once. We liked pots with 9-inch-wide or larger cooking surfaces, which allowed us to brown meat in fewer batches and in less time.

• Straight Sides: We preferred straight sides that provided a clear distinction between the walls and the cooking surface, which maximizes cooking space.

• All-Aluminum Pots: Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor, but pots made completely from aluminum were more likely to heat unevenly and develop hot spots.

• Dark Interiors: Pots with dark interiors prevented us from seeing how quickly food was cooking or browning as well as how much fond was accumulating.

• Lids with Gaps or Holes: Holes or gaps designed to make draining easier or allow steam to escape did just that: allowed too much moisture to escape during braises, making for overreduced, thick sauces.

• Curved Sides: Curved sides take away valuable cooking space.

• The Pros and Cons of Nonstick: We love nonstick cookware for cooking delicate foods that stick easily, such as eggs, stir-fries, and fish. Some of the pots in our lineup had nonstick coatings, but we found it harder to develop fond in them. Fond is important when searing or braising; the caramelized bits of food that accumulate provide the foundation for a complex sauce. If fond doesn’t form, you miss out on flavor. Still, some cooks prefer nonstick cookware because it’s easier to clean; this was true for the pots in our lineup.

• Can you bake bread in a lightweight Dutch oven?
Dutch ovens made with cast iron retain heat well and radiate it throughout their interiors, which allows for even browning. They also trap steam, aiding crust formation. We baked Almost No-Knead Bread in our lightweight winner, and we got an underbrowned, but still tasty, loaf. Nothing replaces cast iron for baking a crusty loaf of bread, so if you’re looking for a Dutch oven for regular bread baking, we still think cast iron is the way to go.

• Can you fry in a lightweight Dutch oven?
Our lightweight winner’s sides are shorter than those of the heavy cast-iron Dutch ovens we regularly use for deep frying, but that didn’t limit the pot’s usefulness. Even when we filled it with 2 quarts of oil (the amount we regularly call for in our deep-frying recipes) and fried 1 pound of french fries, the contents stayed well below the top of the pot. We think our lightweight winner has an adequate capacity for most if not all of our deep-frying recipes. A good tip for deep frying: Once you add the oil, be sure that there’s at least 3 inches of room between the surface of the oil and the rim of the pot to prevent overflows and help contain splatters.

• Boil water, timing how long it takes to bring the water to a boil
• Make White Rice
• Make Beef Burgundy
• Wash 10 times with an abrasive sponge
• Whack the rim 50 times with a metal spoon
• Slam the lid onto the pot 25 times
• Winner only: Fry french fries and bake Almost No-Knead Bread