Difference Between a Dutch Oven and a French Oven

Dutch Oven vs  French Oven

Is there any difference between a Dutch oven and a French oven? One cannot come across many differences between Dutch ovens and French ovens. Both the French oven and the Dutch oven are cooking pots mainly used for slow cooking. Both the Dutch oven and the French oven are tall, cast iron pots with tight-fitting lids. Both ovens are mainly used for stewing and braising.

Though cast iron is mainly used for the making of Dutch and French ovens, aluminium and stainless steel are also used. The only difference that can be seen between the two ovens is that the French oven has an enamel coating. This means that French ovens may sometimes act as non-stick cooking pots. Moreover, the French ovens also come with interior designer colours which are not seen with Dutch ovens. Both the French and the Dutch ovens are placed on stovetops for cooking.

When looking at the history of Dutch ovens, no one is sure how the term was derived. One theory says that the name was derived after the Dutch travellers who sold cast iron pots. Another theory says that the name is related to the special method of casting iron designed by the Dutch. Yet another theory says that the name was derived after the Dutch people settled in Pennsylvania. The French oven is thus called as French people have designed it.

So what is the difference between a French and Dutch oven? Apart from the enamel coating and the inner design that the French oven has, there is hardly any difference between the two ovens.

Summary:

Both the French oven and Dutch oven are cooking pots mainly used for slow cooking.
Both the Dutch oven and the French oven are tall, cast iron pots with tight-fitting lids.
The only difference that can be seen between the two ovens is that the French oven has an enamel coating. This means that French ovens may sometimes act as non-stick cooking pots.
The French ovens also come with interior designer colours which are not seen in Dutch ovens.
One theory says that the name ‘Dutch oven’ was derived after the Dutch travellers who sold cast iron pots. Another theory says that the name is related to the special method of casting iron designed by the Dutch. Yet another theory says that the name was derived after the Dutch people settled in Pennsylvania.
The French oven is thus called as French people have designed it.

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