There was a time when I would confuse the terms Dutch oven and slow cooker.
(I envisioned a cauldron over a fire.)
Well, let the record show that theyre not the same.
Not only are they completely dissimilar in appearances, but they specialize in somewhat different cooking tasks.
The slow cooker
What is it?
Theres always a heavy ceramic vessel that sits snugly into the housing and this is where the food cooks.
Oh, and theres a lid.
On the front of every slow cooker is a control panel.
The options are usually high, low, keep warm, and the amount of time its cooking for.
Here’s the one I have, and it works well for me.
Most things that go in will take over an hour to cook.
(As long as you trust your cats to leave it alone.
Its a gamble for me.)
I think the keep warm function is the biggest boon for party hosting.
For example, you cant sear something in the slow cooker.
Its a better tool for boiling, steaming, or keeping moist foods and drinks warm.
The Dutch oven
A Dutch oven is not an appliance at all.
Im willing to bet that the word oven in the title is what throws off most people.
In the simplest terms, its a heavy-duty cast iron pot with a lid.
There are no moving parts, no plugs, and no instruction manual.
Ive been prettyobsessed with minethis winter.
Theyre also oven-safe up to 500F (and maybe higher, depending on the brand).
You wont have to keep messing with the flame to maintain a 350F temperature.
