Product reviewed: Emile Henry Delight Round Dutch Oven, 4.2-quart
It’s embarrassing to admit I’ve been a registered dietitian nutritionist for more than 25 years, and I have never owned a Dutch oven. Gasp! Whenever I crave homemade soup or want to cook a larger volume dish such as a batch of meatballs or chicken cacciatore, I always scramble to find the most appropriate piece of cookware. Not anymore! Emile Henry’s gorgeous Delight ceramic Dutch oven is my new favorite kitchen tool.
Emile Henry has been producing cookware for six generations in the southern region of Burgundy, France. Emile Henry cookware has a beautiful, sleek design perfect for high-quality food photos. This ceramic cookware is made from natural clay and durable materials allowing you to brown, sauté, simmer, roast and more all in one pot. It’s compatible with all heat sources and is oven- and microwave-safe. It is resistant to sudden changes in temperature and can be taken directly from the freezer to the oven.
The cooking experience is delightful. This Dutch oven is highly reactive to heat, which is evenly distributed across the entire surface for better temperature control. With a highly resistant glaze, the surface is scratch-proof, even when using metal utensils. This Dutch oven also maintains temperature (hot or cold) for much longer than standard cookware, so it’s ideal for serving at parties, when food needs to remain at the proper temperature. And there’s no need to transfer soup or stew to storage containers — simply place the Dutch oven right in the fridge.
I prepared turkey meatballs in the oven and made matzoh ball soup on the stove. Both cooked evenly and as expected. They also stayed warm for significantly longer than when I make them in stainless-steel or typical ceramic bakeware. As a simple comparison, I used the Dutch oven to boil water for pasta. As I suspected, it takes much longer for the water to come to a boil due to the thickness of the material, but if you are not in a hurry, there’s no need to rummage through your pots for a different one. The lid does not get scorching hot like other types of cookware. I was able to lift it without using a potholder, which is handy, but I will always take the precaution just to be safe, especially when using it in the oven.
The Emile Henry cookware is so nice that I’ve been leaving it on my stovetop between uses. It’s attractive enough to serve as décor as well as multipurpose cooking and bakeware. There are several options, including many sizes of casseroles, tagines and a braiser.
Overall, the Emile Henry Delight cookware performs beautifully. I very much appreciate the ability to ditch some of my lesser performing pots and bakeware thanks to the versatility of this Dutch oven.
