Instant Dutch Oven Review
The Instant Dutch Oven is combination electric Dutch oven and a standard enameled cast iron Dutch oven. It is sometimes listed or sold as the Instant Pot Dutch oven, Instant Precision Dutch oven, or Instant Gourmet Dutch Oven. I recently purchased one for review and have put it through multiple tests. See the Instant Dutch Oven here on Amazon.
The short version of my overall review is that this is a great appliance for anyone who wants a quality Dutch oven for standard stovetop or oven cooking with the added bonus of being able to sear, braise, and slow cook with the product plugged in as a kitchen appliance. It does those extra things much better than the Instant Pot and honestly better than my slow cooker as well. As a standard Dutch oven it is high quality and rivals my Le Creuset. So, I wholeheartedly recommend the product.
So, with that said, here is my full Instant Pot Dutch Oven Review. My first tests of the product were done making this Instant Dutch Oven pot roast and Instant Dutch Oven apple dump cake.
Instant Dutch Oven Features
Cast Iron Pot
The Instant Pot Dutch Oven includes a 6-quart, heavy-duty, enameled cast iron pot and self-braising lid. The lid is oven safe.
This is a sturdy pot! It weighs as much as my Le Creuset and Lodge cast iron Dutch ovens. Thus, I expect it to be just as heavy duty and durable as my other Dutch ovens. It is also dishwasher safe. The durable enamel coating is a great non-stick surface, which allows for easy cooking and cleaning. It has a tight-fitting and self-braising lid, which is perfect for locking in flavor. The lid is also oven-safe.
The pot can be used in the electric cooking base, on the stovetop or in the oven. In theory you could even use this over a campfire if so desired, although personally I’ll stick with my lodge Dutch oven for that. Campfire cooking gets pretty messy and I like a more traditional pot for that. This one is a bit on the fancy side for sticking over a fire.
The product currently is available with pots in red, blue, or black.
The Electric Base
The electric base is sturdy and accommodates the pot well. It has a heating element and electric control panel that allows for various modes of operation along with manual temperature controls for precise cooking. I found using the appliance very intuitive. There is a touch screen and a turn knob for setting manual controls, and the panel is bright and easy to read.
The base and electric heating element is designed to maintain even temperature when braising and slow cooking. If you have an instant pot it will look pretty familiar. It is also energy efficient.
One thing I did note is that the bottom of the pot can cause items to stick when baking using the electric functions, despite the enamel coating. Be sure to grease the pot well or line it if you bake in it. Honestly you should do that with any other type of baking in other pots or pans anyway.
Added Accessories
The Instant Dutch oven comes with silicone handle covers for safe serving, a silicone protective pad to protect your countertop or cooking surfaces, a set of silicone cooking utensils, a getting started user manual, and a small recipe book.
Instant Dutch Oven Functions
Sear and Sauté
Braise
Slow Cook
Manual Settings
Keep Warm
The Instant Dutch Oven also has a keep warm function, which is perfect for keeping dinner warm once it has been cooked.
How to Use the Instant Dutch Oven
Becasue of its multiple functions, you can use your Instant Pot Dutch Oven for a variety of dishes. It is easy to convert any slow cooker or standard Dutch oven recipe for use in the Instant brand product. Overall, the Instant Precision Dutch Oven can be used for the following:
- Slow Cooking: Use the oven for anything you would normally make in a slow cooker. This makes it perfect for soups, stews, pot roast, pulled pork, chicken etc.
- Proofing Dough and Baking: The manual low function is great for proofing bread dough. You can also bake in the Dutch oven, either using manual electric functions or by placing the cast iron pot in your oven. It works well for casseroles, especially since you can slow cook with the electric base and then quickly brown the top in the oven if so desired.
- Stir Frying: Stir frying is possible with the pot using the sauté function, and you can also oil fry with the pot as well.
- Roasting: The cast iron insert is the perfect size for roasts. This is a great product for pot roast and whole chickens, which you can cook either using the electric base or in your oven.
- Soups and Simmering: The pot is perfect for preparing and simmering soups. It also is great for sauces..
Who Should Buy the Instant Dutch Oven?
Who Should Not Buy the Product?
This product is really not for those who already have it all. If you have a quality slow cooker and a quality Dutch and prefer to always use your Dutch oven on the stovetop or in the oven, the Instant Brand’s Dutch oven is going to be rather redundant for you. With that said, you still might appreciate the electric functions in varying circumstances.
In my case I have it all, and still foresee using the Instant product quite a bit as I like to avoid heating up the oven and I also like to have many things cooking at once. So, with the Instant Dutch oven, I can have a roast in that and have bread baking in the oven etc.
Overall Rating and Review
As previously noted, I initially tested the oven by making a dump cake and a pot roast. Both came out perfect. The oven baked my dump cake using the manual electric functions as well as my slow cooker and as well as making the same recipe in the Dutch oven in the oven. I later made chili and cornbread that also came out quite well.
My pot roast seared nicely and cooked to perfection using the slow cooking functions. I was extremely pleased. My only complaint would be that I would like a low and high slow cooker setting, but the settings are so easy to change that this is not a deal breaker by any means. You also will want to monitor things closely when baking so as to not overcook the bottom of your baked goods.
Below are my overall ratings:
Versatility (5/5)
The Instant Precision Dutch Oven is not just an ordinary Dutch oven; it’s a multi-functional kitchen appliance. Whether you’re in the mood for braising, searing, sautéing, or slow cooking, this appliance has got you covered. The ability to detach the cooking pot and use it directly on the stovetop or oven offers a versatility that traditional Dutch ovens lack.
Material and Durability (5/5)
Made from heavy-duty cast iron, this Dutch oven promises longevity and durability. The enamel coating is aesthetically pleasing and also ensures protection from wear and tear . Most important, it allows for easy clean up.
Design and Aesthetics (4.5/5)
The design is practical and the Pot is attractive. Overall it is easy to use. I gave it slightly less than a score of 5 because of that lack of a low and high default setting for the slow cooking functions. I also would like to see the manual settings go to longer hour settings.
Performance (5/5)
The electric precision control feature ensures consistent results by maintaining exact temperatures and cooking conditions, and does so better than my slow cooker. The product performed wonderfully for me both in baking and roasting tests.
Conclusion
This is a Dutch oven that can replace several products and has extra functions, including precise temperature control. Its combination of versatility, durability, and precision makes it a valuable addition to any kitchen. Those qualities also make the Instant Dutch Oven a recommended kitchen appliance for those who have a use for its functions.
Buy the Instant Dutch Oven on Amazon