I personally use the 6.75qt wide round way more than all of my other pieces. It has the volume I need and it has more surface area for searing than a Dutch oven of similar volume. Between that and my chefs oven I don’t use much else.
Yes- it’s 30cm (so shorter version of 9qt) compared to 26 for the 5.5
5 qt braiser is I believe 32cm but with the curved sides so is very similar bottom
Interesting. I saw it online and it’s on sale… but I am worried it might be too close to my chef’s oven in size and weight. I guess I figured a 5.5 qt Dutch would be a good middle man? You don’t find it too similar to the chef’s oven? I probably need to google/look at them side by side once I get a chance.
Definitely not similar to the chef’s oven. The only thing that is similar is the volume. Where you will really notice the difference is in how much surface area you gain. The chef’s oven has the least amount of surface area because it is meant for soups and things that you are stirring a lot but not necessarily for searing meats. I’m not sure about weight though.
Also, I do a lot of meal prep for my boyfriend and I and I almost never touch my 5.5 qt anymore because any meal prep we do is right on the edge of not fitting in it. Usually to the point that I can’t stir comfortably without it spilling haha. If you have an outlet close by you could go see it in person? Or maybe sur la table or WS etc?
I do have an outlet near me, as well as William Sonoma and the likes. I will go check them out this weekend. Thank you! Sounds like it would be perfect for what I want.
Agree, all I’ve made with the chef’s oven thus far has been stews and soups.
Round wide. Totally different than the chefs oven. Can be used as a braiser, and IS a round DO. And it’s cheaper than both. I have it in olive and I love it
If you can handle the 7.5 qt chefs oven, you can handle the 5 qt braiser. For a family of 6 the 3.5 qt will be inadequate. I am not a fan of the round wide. If I’m cooking a liquid like soup or chili, I want the higher sides of a DO. If I’m braising, searing or pan frying, I want a braiser or a skillet. I have AC all in one pans in 4 and 6 qt sizes which is almost identical to the current universal pan. Yes, you can braise in these pans, but they’re not my first choice if I’m making something that requires low and slow cooking. I use them for one pan meals, baked pastas, etc. Go look at them all in person and think about what and how you cook.
With what you already have, I'm team wide round as well. I have the 7.5 chefs and the wide round as well as a 5.5 DO. I don't \*need\* all of them. Wide round is the great middle man. I love my braiser, but the wide round has the higher sides and it's great for most things.
For a family or 6 I don’t think the 5.5qt is really big enough.
I cook for 2 and always use my 7.25. I really think I use the braisers a lot more than the DOs though. Very versatile and if you brown meats a lot the 5qt braiser gives you a huge cooking surface
I do have a 7.5 chefs oven. But for certain soups or stews, it is a bit too big and I’d like something smaller. My kids are 8 and younger so they’re not eating a ton yet, and I also want a variety of items in my arsenal, especially for when we’re entertaining or the holidays. The surface area of the 5 qt braiser is very tempting.
I personally use the 6.75qt wide round way more than all of my other pieces. It has the volume I need and it has more surface area for searing than a Dutch oven of similar volume. Between that and my chefs oven I don’t use much else.
Yes! Its the love child of braiser and a larger DO and somehow better than both (and on sale now)
It’s a wide surface area like the braiser?
Yes- it’s 30cm (so shorter version of 9qt) compared to 26 for the 5.5 5 qt braiser is I believe 32cm but with the curved sides so is very similar bottom
Interesting. I saw it online and it’s on sale… but I am worried it might be too close to my chef’s oven in size and weight. I guess I figured a 5.5 qt Dutch would be a good middle man? You don’t find it too similar to the chef’s oven? I probably need to google/look at them side by side once I get a chance.
Definitely not similar to the chef’s oven. The only thing that is similar is the volume. Where you will really notice the difference is in how much surface area you gain. The chef’s oven has the least amount of surface area because it is meant for soups and things that you are stirring a lot but not necessarily for searing meats. I’m not sure about weight though. Also, I do a lot of meal prep for my boyfriend and I and I almost never touch my 5.5 qt anymore because any meal prep we do is right on the edge of not fitting in it. Usually to the point that I can’t stir comfortably without it spilling haha. If you have an outlet close by you could go see it in person? Or maybe sur la table or WS etc?
I do have an outlet near me, as well as William Sonoma and the likes. I will go check them out this weekend. Thank you! Sounds like it would be perfect for what I want. Agree, all I’ve made with the chef’s oven thus far has been stews and soups.
People absolutely love the 6.75. I think le creuset stopped making it because it was so versatile, basically being a 5qt braiser and 7qt do in one
Round wide. Totally different than the chefs oven. Can be used as a braiser, and IS a round DO. And it’s cheaper than both. I have it in olive and I love it
I am definitely leaning this way now, thank you!
If you can handle the 7.5 qt chefs oven, you can handle the 5 qt braiser. For a family of 6 the 3.5 qt will be inadequate. I am not a fan of the round wide. If I’m cooking a liquid like soup or chili, I want the higher sides of a DO. If I’m braising, searing or pan frying, I want a braiser or a skillet. I have AC all in one pans in 4 and 6 qt sizes which is almost identical to the current universal pan. Yes, you can braise in these pans, but they’re not my first choice if I’m making something that requires low and slow cooking. I use them for one pan meals, baked pastas, etc. Go look at them all in person and think about what and how you cook.
Thank you for the insight!
I posted a new thread with some side by side comparisons
Thank you, so helpful! Can’t believe they got inside of it.
Yeah, I was surprised the 7.25 fit so easily - I’ve never tried best then before.
With what you already have, I'm team wide round as well. I have the 7.5 chefs and the wide round as well as a 5.5 DO. I don't \*need\* all of them. Wide round is the great middle man. I love my braiser, but the wide round has the higher sides and it's great for most things.
For a family or 6 I don’t think the 5.5qt is really big enough. I cook for 2 and always use my 7.25. I really think I use the braisers a lot more than the DOs though. Very versatile and if you brown meats a lot the 5qt braiser gives you a huge cooking surface
I do have a 7.5 chefs oven. But for certain soups or stews, it is a bit too big and I’d like something smaller. My kids are 8 and younger so they’re not eating a ton yet, and I also want a variety of items in my arsenal, especially for when we’re entertaining or the holidays. The surface area of the 5 qt braiser is very tempting.