A Le Creuset Dutch Oven is a serious investment for any kitchen. These hardworking cast-iron pots are synonymous with fall and winter cooking, turning out everything from casseroles to bakes, and slow-cooked braises.
But there’s no reason to tuck these heritage pieces away when the weather warms up. As some of the best cast-iron cookware you can own, they’re just as useful for chilled desserts and al fresco serving as they are for a Thanksgiving feast.
From refreshing summer desserts to outdoor entertaining, these are some of the experts’ favorite ways to use a Le Creuset Dutch Oven year-round.
1. Protected Outdoor Family-Style Serving
When setting up your outdoor dining ideas, one of the less glamorous considerations is how to keep pests at bay. While citronella candles (available at Walmart) can help, covering your food is the best course of action.
With a Dutch oven, you can pair convenience with style, using the lid as a cover while the whole dish acts as a summer table centerpiece, especially if you choose a bold color such as Nectar or Riviera.
Joanne Gallagher, Recipe Creator and Co-Founder of Inspired Taste, begins, 'A Dutch oven is useful for more than just soups and braises, particularly when the weather gets warmer! I enjoy using mine as a cold soup serving station for a large quantity of gazpacho, for example, since it can hold enough to serve a lot of people and keeps everything colder for longer than it would in an ordinary bowl.
'I love how the lid helps to maintain the cold temperature between servings when used outdoors,' she adds.
2. Marinating
Marinating containers are a barbecue essential; however, plastic tubs are tricky to clean and don't have much use the rest of the year.
Joanne continues, 'A Dutch oven can also be used as a convenient container for marinating, since the enamel does not react with acidic marinades, allowing me to put in chicken or steak, put the lid on, and take the pot directly from the fridge to the grill.' This makes it a smart investment for a non-toxic kitchen, too.
3. Drinks Serving Bowl
Beyond the kitchen, a Dutch oven (especially a Le Creuset Deep Round Dutch oven) makes a genuinely elegant punch or sangria bowl, Joanne says.
'They hold their chill (and never pick up odd flavors from citrus or wine) far better than plastic ever could. Honestly, once you start thinking of it as a hardworking serving piece and not just a cooking vessel, you'll find yourself reaching for it all summer long.'
You can also fill the base with ice to keep bottled drinks chilled all evening long.
4. Make-Ahead Desserts
The Le Creuset Dutch Ovens do not have a lower temperature limit, meaning they are safe for refrigerated food storage.
From jello to trifle and tiramisu, there are a whole host of chilled desserts that can be made in a Dutch oven, says Melissa Austin-Weeks, Expert Host and Creator of Home with a Twist. 'They can all be prepared ahead and served straight from the Dutch oven. Rather than transferring everything to another serving dish, I love letting a beautiful piece of cookware become part of the tablescaping. Less work, fewer dishes, and more visual impact.'
'I love that the lid is especially useful when entertaining outside, keeping flies and other unwanted guests away.'
When chilling your Dutch ovens, never move them from a cold fridge to a hot stove or oven (and vise versa) to avoid thermal shock, which can crack and ruin the enamel.
5. Ice Cream Maker
If you do not have one of the best ice cream makers, your Dutch oven can work just as well. As with the loaf pan pictured above, the cast iron gets cold enough for whipping up a fresh, artisanal batch in your home kitchen.
Mark McShane, a Chef and Food Safety Expert at Level 3 Food Hygiene Certificate, explains, 'If you don’t have an ice cream maker, a cast-iron pot will help give the dessert a smooth texture. Place the empty pot, along with its lid, in the freezer for a few hours. Once the cast-iron pot is ice-cold, pour the whipped ice cream base into it.
'Thanks to cast iron’s tremendous heat capacity, the mixture will freeze very quickly and evenly from the edges to the center, minimizing the formation of large ice crystals.'
What to Shop
From heritage Dutch ovens to the essentials for cleaning and caring for your cookware, these are the pieces I always keep on hand for healthier, year-round cooking.
All prices were correct at the time of publication.
Still want to invest in the big name? The Le Creuset Signature Round Deep Ovens are currently discounted by $170 so you can add a new piece to your collection without as eye-watering a hit to your bank account.
The STAUB stackable set is not much taller than a standard Le Creuset Dutch oven on its own, meaning it is a premium pick when space-saving is essential.
Silicone tools have become my go-to, being easier to maintain than wood, and safe for all cookware. This Bella set features everything you need from flipping to stirring, and come in a compact crock for easy counter storage.
Sponge cloths are plant-based, meaning they are free from plastics and decompose in compost heaps in around 10 months, making them an eco-friendly, hygienic alternative to traditional sponges and paper towels.
Approved by the Environmental Working Group as non-toxic, this gentle dish soap is perfect for caring for delicate pans without the risk of toxic residue.
These felt pan protectors can be cut to size and laid in your pan bases to prevent damage to the delicate non-stick ceramic.
Meet The Experts
Still not sure if Le Creuset is right for you? Check out my Le Creuset Modern Heritage Dutch Oven review (spoiler alert: It was an easy five-star).
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