Dutch oven

American  

noun

1. a heavily constructed kettle with a close-fitting lid, used for pot roasts, stews, etc.

2. a metal utensil, open in front, for roasting before an open fire.

3. a brick oven in which the walls are preheated for cooking.

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Dutch oven British  

noun

1. an iron or earthenware container with a cover used for stews, etc

2. a metal box, open in front, for cooking in front of an open fire

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Usage

What else does Dutch oven mean? In cooking, a Dutch oven is a type of heavy pot with a lid. But in slang, a Dutch oven is when you pass gas in bed and pull the covers over someone else's head, trapping it in like a Dutch oven traps heat. How is Dutch oven pronounced?[ duhch uhv-uhn ]

Etymology

Origin of Dutch oven

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

The first kitchen tools on my must-replace list were: a microplane and a Staub Dutch oven.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 11, 2026

I cubed the steak and browned it hard in my cherry red Dutch oven, watching it cast off its fat and leave behind a savory varnish on the enamel.

From Salon • Jun. 16, 2025

For King Arthur Baking, Kye Ameden evaluated Dutch oven breads, while PJ Hamel tested two dozen recipes; both found plenty to praise.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 2, 2024

“I just bought a Staub Dutch oven for like $100. And it’s normally like $400.”

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 3, 2023

I finished the rest of the peaches—slicing them and filling the Dutch oven.

From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English