{"id":1235,"date":"2018-07-18T22:34:07","date_gmt":"2018-07-18T22:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/?p=1235"},"modified":"2021-08-19T23:15:28","modified_gmt":"2021-08-19T23:15:28","slug":"6-qt-vs-8-qt-dutch-oven","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/6-qt-vs-8-qt-dutch-oven\/","title":{"rendered":"6 Qt Vs 8 Qt Dutch Oven&#8230;Which one is right for me?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 id=\"6-qt-vs-8-qt-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>It is a question I get asked many times here, 6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven &#8211; what is the difference and what should I get?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>I will discuss what we mean by quarts (qt), what you need to think about before choosing a Dutch oven and then briefly finish by letting you know what brands to consider.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"listen-to-this-post\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Listen to this post&#8230;<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-audio\"><audio controls src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/6-Qt-Vs-8-Qt-Dutch-Oven.mp3\"><\/audio><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"why-are-dutch-ovens-measured-in-quarts\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Why are Dutch ovens measured in quarts?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1.jpg\" alt=\"5 or 7 quart dutch oven\" class=\"wp-image-1237\" width=\"180\" height=\"180\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1.jpg 326w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1-65x65.jpg 65w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1-90x90.jpg 90w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/5-or-7-quart-dutch-oven-1-130x130.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><figcaption>5 or 7 quart dutch oven<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Before I answer that, let me just clarify what I mean by quart as it is not a universal measurement. Officially, a quart is two (2) pints or 1.13 liters. The use of quarts as a measurement is traditional, especially is the US where it is common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Increasingly though, there is a move towards liters, Le Creuset for example list their product sizes in liters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The use of quarts is used to distinguish between the sizes of Dutch ovens. The generally accepted view is that one (1) quart is equivalent to one (1) serving.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, to cook for two people, your Dutch oven would need to be a minimum two (2) quarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The reality is that you would need to get a bigger Dutch oven anyway as that assumes you fill it to the top. Obviously, that is not viable so to cook safely, you would get the next size up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-do-i-need-to-consider-before-choosing-what-size-dutch-oven-i-need\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What do I need to consider before choosing what size Dutch oven I need?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you make a decision about what you need, you need to consider a few factors. Once you weigh up all of them, you will be able to make a better buying decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So, what factors do you need to think about?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>The number of people you cook for<\/li><li>The diameter and depth of the Dutch oven<\/li><li>The shape<\/li><li>Your conventional oven and stovetop size<\/li><li>The weight<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Let me run through the list, hopefully it will give you some food for thought.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-number-of-people-you-cook-for\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The number of people you cook for<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4.jpg\" alt=\"Dutch oven size for family of 4\" class=\"wp-image-1239\" width=\"186\" height=\"186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4.jpg 350w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4-65x65.jpg 65w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4-320x320.jpg 320w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4-90x90.jpg 90w, https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/dutch-oven-size-for-family-of-4-130x130.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 186px) 100vw, 186px\" \/><figcaption>What size dutch oven for family of 4?<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>I can break this down into two questions\u2026the number of people you cook for normally and how many people you have to add when you have guests over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If I work on the basis of 6 quarts, that is equivalent to 6 servings. However, that does not include any leftovers based on that calculation\u2026people like leftovers! It\u2019s convenient for the next day and they can be frozen for another day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, think about how many people you need to cook for and how much you want left over at the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is also worth saying at this point that it is better to err on the side of caution and get a bigger Dutch oven. You can cook less in a larger oven but you cannot cook more in a smaller oven. Give yourself the maximum flexibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-diameter-and-depth-of-the-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The diameter and depth of the Dutch oven<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Depending on the range of foods you cook, this will become a relevant factor. The smaller the Dutch oven, the smaller the surface area of the base.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Therefore, if you are searing larger cuts of meat, this will have an impact and may limit what you can do in your Dutch oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The depth becomes relevant if you are baking. You need to give bread the room to rise, this is obviously more limited in smaller Dutch ovens. &nbsp;For this example, 6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven, the 8 qt will have more room to do this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-shape-of-a-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The shape of a Dutch oven <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>They are generally available in two shapes\u2026round and oval. Obviously, the oval shape has a wider diameter which is more suitable for a leg of lamb for instance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It goes without saying that the larger the oval Dutch oven, the more room you have for a wider cut of meat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"your-conventional-oven-and-stovetop-size\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Your conventional oven and stovetop size<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This point is linked to the shape of your Dutch oven. If you do use them on a stovetop, the wider oval versions may produce heat spots as the heat is centered in the middle. This may impact on the end result of the dish you are cooking. Consistent and even heat is necessary for a well-cooked dish.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The larger the oven, the longer it takes to heat and the more energy it takes. Having a suitable sized one is obviously more efficient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You might also want to consider the size of your oven\u2026will you be able to get it in their comfortably?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"the-weight\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>The weight<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>An aspect that is often overlooked is the weight of the Dutch oven. They are heavy with some reaching twenty (20) pounds. That doesn\u2019t even include the food in them!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Obviously, the larger the oven, the heavier it gets. Can you handle the weight safely? The difference between a 6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven can be 4 \u2013 5 pounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>**Always remember that it is not a good idea to overfill the Dutch oven. It needs room for the moisture to circulate.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-is-the-average-size-sold\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the average size sold<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Based on my own experience and looking at sales data, the best-selling sizes tend to be around the 5.5 to 6-quart size. This is based on numbers of items sold and reviewed online on places like Amazon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The numbers reflect this and it makes sense based on average family sizes and the measurement methods I have stated above.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>However, like with all things, it is worth checking dimensions for each product as each will be different. Some will be taller or wider so please check first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"average-dutch-oven-sizes\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Average Dutch oven sizes <\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Version<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Weight<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Size<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Serves<\/strong><\/td><td>&nbsp;<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>5 \u00bd Qt<\/strong><\/td><td>10.5 pounds<\/td><td>13.6 x 10.8 x 6.8&#8243;<\/td><td>5 &#8211; 6<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2FdqBrr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">View<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>7 \u00bc Qt<\/strong><\/td><td>12.8 pounds<\/td><td>11.6 x 14.1 x 7&#8243;<\/td><td>6 &#8211; 8<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2qzTqE5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">View<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>9 Qt<\/strong><\/td><td>16.5 pounds<\/td><td>12.3 x 14.9 x 7.8&#8243;<\/td><td>8 -10<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2FayPjM\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">View<\/a><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>13 \u00bc Qt<\/strong><\/td><td>21.3 pounds<\/td><td>14 x 16.5 x 8.2&#8243;<\/td><td>10 &#8211; 12<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2RDmpCq\">View<\/a><\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"what-are-the-best-dutch-oven-brands\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What are the best Dutch oven brands?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a number of very good manufacturers of Dutch ovens but at the end of the day, it is your budget that will determine what you buy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The premium end of the markets is held by <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/what-size-le-creuset-dutch-oven-should-i-get\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Le Creuset<\/a> and Staub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The mid-range has brands like Calphalon, <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/cuisinart-enameled-cast-iron-vs-le-creuset\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cuisinart<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/chasseur-5-5-quart-enameled-cast-iron-round-dutch-oven\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chasseur<\/a>, and the budget end has <a href=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/tramontina-vs-lodge-dutch-oven\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tramontina<\/a> and Lodge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"padding: 30px; background: #eeeeee;\">\n<div class=\"container\">\n<h2 id=\"recommendations-for-6-quart-dutch-ovens-or-closest\"><strong>Recommendations for 6-quart Dutch ovens (or closest)<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Click to view latest prices on Amazon<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SXePUA\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Staub 5.5 Cocotte<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2FdqBrr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Le Creuset Signature 5.5<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2Fae6g7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lodge 6 Quart<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2DtfUiK\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tramontina<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/2SU7BRg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cuisinart<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"frequently-asked-questions\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Frequently asked questions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-many-quarts-are-in-a-12-inch-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How many quarts are in a 12-inch Dutch oven?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>This question normally refers to outdoor Dutch ovens. When people normally refer to outdoor Dutch ovens, they do so in inches. For a 12-inch version of the Lodge cast iron, they are normally 6 quarts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"how-many-quarts-is-in-a-10-inch-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>How many quarts is in a 10-inch Dutch oven?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>There are normally 4 quarts in a 10-inch outdoor Dutch oven.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"what-is-the-size-of-a-large-dutch-oven\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the size of a large Dutch oven?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Assuming we are talking about indoor enameled cast iron Dutch ovens, the largest are around 13 \u00bc quarts. This is the case with Le Creuset bit you may be able to get bigger if you shop around. Just consider the weight if you do, you need to be able to handle it with care considering they get very hot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-layout-1 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/6qt-vs-8qt.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"since-you-are-herecan-i-ask-you-a-favor\">Since you are here\u2026can I ask you a favor?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>It would be really nice if you could&nbsp;<strong>share&nbsp;<\/strong>this image on&nbsp;<strong>social media<\/strong>\u2026it\u2019s just a couple of clicks for you but it means the world to me.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Thank you so much<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><em>What should i read next?<\/em><br><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/how-to-buy-cast-iron-skillets-and-dutch-ovens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">How to Buy Cast Iron Skillets and Dutch Ovens<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"text-align: center;\"><hr><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"video\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Video<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<figure><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube-nocookie.com\/embed\/nQebHYkvTaY?rel=0&amp;start=7\" width=\"560\" height=\"315\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4 id=\"citations\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Citations<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-normal-font-size\"><a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Dutch_oven#Enameled_ovens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wikipedia<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven? It is a question I get asked many times here, 6 qt vs 8 qt Dutch oven &#8211; what is the difference and&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1238,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[18,8],"tags":[2300,2301,1717,2302,2215,2303,2304,2305,2306,2307,2308,2309,2310,2311,1124,2312,2313,2314,2315,2316,2317,2318,2319,1584,2320,2321,2322,2323,2324,2325,2326,2327,2328,2173,2329,20,2330,1587,2331,2332,2333,1722,59,1781,2334,1721,2335,2336,2337,2338,2237,2339,2340,2279,2341,2342,1594,1595,2343,2344,2345,1643,2346,2347,2348,1602,2349,2052,2023,1701,1714],"yst_prominent_words":[877,63,872,870,875,871,878,98,79,76,90,874,238,239,99,879,873,882,537,876],"powerkit_post_featured":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1235"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1235"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1235\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4384,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1235\/revisions\/4384"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1238"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1235"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1235"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1235"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=1235"},{"taxonomy":"powerkit_post_featured","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dutchovenscookware.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/powerkit_post_featured?post=1235"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}