What's a Dutch oven anyway?

Vegetarian Times, Nov-Dec, 2004

Q:

What's a Dutch oven anyway?

A:

Simply a squat, round or oval pot with two loop handles that's traditionally made of cast iron (because it soaks up heat and cooks food evenly). Dutch ovens were originally designed for outdoor cooking--think wagon trains and Civil War camps--but today they're used to saute or deep fry foods, simmer stews, cook casseroles, even bake bread. They're as handy on the stovetop as in the oven. Historians generally agree that the Dutch introduced American colonists to this hot pot. More than 200 years later, it has an online fan club: the International Dutch Oven Society, www.idos.com, for tips, recipes and more.