The iconic Round Dutch Oven and the elegant Oval Dutch Oven from Le Creuset serve different culinary purposes despite sharing the same superior quality. The primary difference is shape and its impact on cooking: the round oven is a versatile all-rounder, perfect for soups, stews, and baking on standard stovetop burners, while the oval oven is a specialist, designed to perfectly accommodate long roasts like whole chickens or large cuts of meat in the oven.
Here's everything you need to know to choose the right Le Creuset Dutch oven for your kitchen and cooking style.
Le Creuset Round Dutch Oven
The Round Dutch Oven is Le Creuset's most recognizable and versatile piece of cookware. Considered the workhorse of the kitchen, its classic shape offers uniform heat distribution on both the stovetop and in the oven, making it an essential for everything from simmering sauces and deep-frying to baking artisan bread.
- What it is: A highly versatile, classic enameled cast iron pot designed for a wide array of cooking methods.
- Key features: Symmetrical shape fits perfectly on standard burners for even heating, ergonomic handles, tight-fitting lid to lock in moisture, and a vast range of sizes from 1 qt. up to 13.25 qt.
- Price: Approximately $200 for smaller sizes to over $400 for larger models.
- Dimensions: Available in a wide spectrum of sizes, with the 5.5 qt. being one of the most popular for its versatility.
- Materials/Construction: Premium enameled cast iron made in France, featuring a durable sand-colored interior enamel that resists staining and is easy to clean.
- Style: A timeless kitchen icon with a classic silhouette, available in Le Creuset's signature vibrant color palette.
- Pros: Extremely versatile for soups, stews, braises, and baking. Heats evenly on round stovetop burners. Easy to stir from all angles. Wide variety of sizes available. The quintessential first Dutch oven.
- Cons: Not ideal for long or irregularly shaped roasts. Can be quite heavy in the larger capacities.
This shape is the perfect choice for home cooks who need a do-it-all pot for everyday cooking, from stovetop simmers to oven braises.
Shop this product: lecreuset.com/collections/dutch-ovens
Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven
The Le Creuset Oval Dutch Oven is the specialist's choice, designed with an elongated shape that makes it perfect for roasting. This design excels at cooking longer cuts of meat like whole poultry, leg of lamb, or pork tenderloin, and also works wonderfully for oblong loaves of bread and casseroles.
- What it is: A specialized enameled cast iron Dutch oven with an elongated shape designed for roasting and large-format dishes.
- Key features: Accommodates whole chickens, large roasts, and fish fillets with ease. Its shape can offer more efficient use of oven space. Sizes range from 1 qt. up to a large 9.5 qt.
- Price: Similar to round models, often starting around $250 and reaching over $400 for larger options.
- Dimensions: Varies by quart capacity, with the 6.75 qt. size being a popular choice for fitting a standard family-sized chicken.
- Materials/Construction: Built from the same robust and high-performing enameled cast iron as the Round Dutch Oven.
- Style: An elegant, sophisticated shape that makes for a beautiful serving vessel, transitioning seamlessly from oven to table.
- Pros: Ideal shape for roasting whole poultry and long cuts of meat. Creates more side space in the oven compared to a large round pot. Elegant presentation for serving at the table. Great for baking oval-shaped bread.
- Cons: Heats less evenly on a round stovetop burner, as the ends hang over the element. Can be more challenging to stir soups or stews. Less versatile for general-purpose cooking.
The Oval Dutch oven is ideal for the cook who frequently roasts large proteins or is looking for a secondary, more specialized piece to complement an existing collection.
Shop this product: lecreuset.com/collections/oval-cookware
Le Creuset Round vs. Oval Comparison
Shape & Cooking Performance
The most significant difference lies in how each shape performs for specific tasks. The Round Dutch Oven is the champion of the stovetop. Its symmetrical shape aligns perfectly with standard round burners, ensuring that heat is distributed evenly across the base. This makes it superior for tasks that start on the stove, like searing meat before braising or sautéing vegetables for a soup.
The Oval Dutch Oven excels in the oven. Its elongated design is custom-built for things that won't fit well in a round pot, primarily whole chickens, ducks, large fish, or long roasts like a pork loin. In the oven, where heat circulates, performance is excellent. However, on a stovetop, the ends of the oval pan will sit outside the burner's main heat zone, creating cooler spots that can lead to uneven searing if you aren't careful to rotate the pot or the food within it.
Materials & Construction
There is no difference in quality between the two shapes. Both the Round and Oval Dutch Ovens are crafted in France from Le Creuset's legendary enameled cast iron. This material is renowned for its durability and incredible heat retention and distribution properties. The vibrant, multi-layered exterior enamel resists chipping and cracking, while the light-colored interior enamel provides an easy-to-clean, non-reactive surface. Both come with heavy, tight-fitting lids that are designed to circulate steam and lock in moisture and flavor.
Price & Value
Le Creuset is a premium cookware brand, and both shapes reflect that in their price. For the same quart capacity, the prices are very comparable, though sometimes the oval version can be slightly more expensive due to its less standard shape. The true value comes from how you cook. The Round Dutch oven offers incredible value through its versatility - it can handle 90% of kitchen tasks with ease. The Oval Dutch oven's value is in its specialization, for someone who roasts weekly, its performance for that specific task makes it an invaluable tool.
Style & Versatility
The Round Dutch Oven boasts a timeless, iconic aesthetic that feels at home in any kitchen, from traditional to modern. It is the very definition of a kitchen staple. The Oval Dutch Oven, with its sleek lines, often presents as a more elegant and sophisticated piece, especially when used for serving at a dinner party. In terms of functional versatility, the round shape wins hands down. It's perfectly suited for stirring, making it ideal for risotto, stews, and sauces. The oval shape, while less versatile overall, has a specialized flexibility for roasting and baking dishes that the round simply cannot match.
Who Each One Works Best For
The choice ultimately hinges on your cooking habits. If you are buying your first or only Dutch oven, the round model is the clear winner due to its sheer versatility for everyday tasks like making soups, pastas, and breads. It's the dependable, do-it-all piece that will get used several times a week.
The oval model is perfect for cooks who already have a round pot and are looking to expand their collection with a specialized piece for roasting. It is also a great first choice for those who know their primary use will be making large roasts, whole chickens, or oblong loaves of rustic bread. If oven-based cooking is your main focus, the oval is a legitimate contender for your primary pot.
Which One Should You Choose?
Both cookware shapes are excellent investments that will last a lifetime, but they excel in different areas.
Choose the Round Le Creuset if:
- This is your first premium Dutch oven investment.
- You primarily cook soups, stews, chilis, and braises.
- You value superior versatility for both stovetop and oven cooking.
- You plan on baking round "boule" style loaves of bread.
- You want a pot that is easy to stir, with no awkward corners.
Choose the Oval Le Creuset if:
- You frequently roast whole poultry, large cuts of beef, lamb, or pork.
- You are looking for a beautiful pot to serve large family-style roasts.
- Oven performance is your top priority over stovetop evenness.
- You want to bake longer "bâtard" style bread loaves.
- You already own a round Dutch oven and need a complementary piece.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the main difference between Le Creuset's oval and round ovens?
The primary difference is the shape and its intended use. The round shape is a versatile-purpose pot perfect for everyday stovetop cooking like soups and stews. The oval shape is a specialized pot designed to accommodate longer foods like whole chickens, fish, and long roasts, making it ideal for oven cooking.
Is an oval Dutch oven better for roasting chicken?
Yes, an oval Dutch oven is generally better for roasting a whole chicken. The elongated shape conforms better to the bird, allowing for more even air and heat circulation around it, which can result in crispier skin and a more evenly cooked roast.
Which shape is better for baking bread?
It depends on the shape of your loaf. For classic round boules, a Round Dutch Oven is perfect. If you prefer to bake longer, oval-shaped loaves known as bâtards, the Oval Dutch Oven is the superior choice.
Does the oval Dutch oven heat evenly on the stovetop?
It does not heat as evenly as a round pot on a standard round stovetop burner. The ends extend past the heating element, creating cooler zones. For best results when searing on the stovetop, preheat the oval pot slowly over medium heat to allow the cast iron to fully absorb and distribute the heat across the entire base.
If I can only buy one, which Le Creuset should I get?
For almost everyone, the Round Dutch Oven is the best choice for a first and only Le Creuset piece. Its unmatched versatility makes it suitable for the widest range of recipes and cooking techniques. A 5.5-quart size is often considered a perfect starting point for most households.
Can I use both shapes for the same recipes?
You can, with some compromises. You can make soup in an oval pot, but stirring into the far ends is more awkward. You can also roast a chicken in a round pot, but you may need a smaller bird, and it might not brown as evenly as it would in an oval shape.
Is there a difference in quality or materials between the shapes?
No. Both the round and oval Dutch ovens are made from the same premium enameled cast iron, manufactured to the same high standards at the Le Creuset foundry in Fresnoy-le-Grand, France. Durability, heat retention, and overall quality are identical.
Which size is most popular?
For the Round Dutch Oven, the 5.5-quart model is a best-seller as it's a great all-around size for couples and small families. For the Oval Dutch Oven, the 6.75-quart model is very popular because it comfortably fits a 5-pound chicken, a common size for roasting.
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