A Short History of the Dutch Oven
A short history of the Dutch oven, a particularly famous cooking device made of cast iron and used through much of the history of the United States, to cite just one country where it's famous, reveals quite a few interesting tales and facts.
Specifically, this kind of oven is a thick-walled cook pot that comes with a lid that fits tightly over the top of the pot.
While many people in the US know that a particular version of the oven has been in use here for quite some time, many don't actually know that it's been employed as a means of cooking food for literally hundreds of years.
In fact, the European versions of the oven probably made their first appearance some time in the 1600s, in the Netherlands, naturally enough.
Soon thereafter, the ever-resourceful Dutch began exporting the newfangled cooking vessel to other nearby countries, including Britain.
By 1708, the English had developed a specific process for creating these ovens and had patented a design.
They were particularly interested in making them widely available to not only British households but also to households over in their American colonies.
The oven, as it developed over time in America, gradually changed its shape somewhat, as a matter of fact.
Owing to the fact that many American households made use of large camp or cook fires, the pot itself became shallower while legs were added to the bottom so that it could be placed directly over a bed of coals.
Fairly quickly, this new oven came to be greatly valued by American colonists, mainly because its cast-iron construction made it extremely durable while its design helped to contribute to its notable versatility.
In fact, a housewife rarely needed any other kind of pot because it could be used for boiling, frying, stewing, roasting and even baking, in a pinch.
Eventually, a family that possessed a well-made Dutch oven considered it to be of heirloom quality, often including it in wills that specified just who in the family would be the lucky recipient of the oven when its current owner would pass away.
The famous American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made sure to take a number of them with them as they struck westward.
Today, the Dutch oven is still as ubiquitous as ever, especially out in the American western and southwestern regions.
There are several different styles of the oven, including a camping version and even some that are covered in a rich enamel.
Well-made versions of the oven can be relatively expensive, though cost will depend on not only construction but its specific purpose, so keep that in mind.
Specifically, this kind of oven is a thick-walled cook pot that comes with a lid that fits tightly over the top of the pot.
While many people in the US know that a particular version of the oven has been in use here for quite some time, many don't actually know that it's been employed as a means of cooking food for literally hundreds of years.
In fact, the European versions of the oven probably made their first appearance some time in the 1600s, in the Netherlands, naturally enough.
Soon thereafter, the ever-resourceful Dutch began exporting the newfangled cooking vessel to other nearby countries, including Britain.
By 1708, the English had developed a specific process for creating these ovens and had patented a design.
They were particularly interested in making them widely available to not only British households but also to households over in their American colonies.
The oven, as it developed over time in America, gradually changed its shape somewhat, as a matter of fact.
Owing to the fact that many American households made use of large camp or cook fires, the pot itself became shallower while legs were added to the bottom so that it could be placed directly over a bed of coals.
Fairly quickly, this new oven came to be greatly valued by American colonists, mainly because its cast-iron construction made it extremely durable while its design helped to contribute to its notable versatility.
In fact, a housewife rarely needed any other kind of pot because it could be used for boiling, frying, stewing, roasting and even baking, in a pinch.
Eventually, a family that possessed a well-made Dutch oven considered it to be of heirloom quality, often including it in wills that specified just who in the family would be the lucky recipient of the oven when its current owner would pass away.
The famous American explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark made sure to take a number of them with them as they struck westward.
Today, the Dutch oven is still as ubiquitous as ever, especially out in the American western and southwestern regions.
There are several different styles of the oven, including a camping version and even some that are covered in a rich enamel.
Well-made versions of the oven can be relatively expensive, though cost will depend on not only construction but its specific purpose, so keep that in mind.