What are Dansk pots useful for?

April 22, 2022 10:44 AM

I was gifted a Dansk 4-qt casserole (link inside for reference), and I don't quite know how to use it. What are some of your favorite uses/recipes for your Dansk pot? Assume no food restrictions, but my husband doesn't like onions.

Here's the link for reference: https://www.dansk.com/products/kobenstyle-midnight-blue-4-qt-casserole
I'm a competent cook, and I like to put my tools to their best use. I already have a larger Lodge enameled Dutch oven, and a large stainless steel pasta pot. This pot is significantly lighter than those (including, I think, the bottom) so I'm a little worried about burning things in it.

posted by CiaoMela to Food & Drink (8 answers total)

Best answer: I htink you could use that as a Dutch Oven. My friend makes pot roast in a Dutch oven - sirloin tips, pearl onions, potatoes, carrots, olive oil, red wine. I like casseroles, like scalloped or au gratin potatoes. You can make any good stew, cover with puff pastry & bake, for a great pot pie.
posted by theora55 at 10:59 AM on April 22, 2022

I had one of those years ago, and generally used it for casseroles. It made for such a pretty presentation. Be careful, though, the paint on the edges chips pretty easily (or at least used to).
posted by DrGail at 11:03 AM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

From this article:

Cooking:

• Kobenstyle is safe to use on all cook top ranges; gas, electric and induction.
• When cooking, apply heat gradually and always be sure there is some liquid, oil or butter in the ware.
• Using too high a heat may result in food sticking to the pot. Allowing the pot to boil dry will cause damage to the enamel.
• Do not heat over 450 F in the oven and use an oven mitt or glove when removing cookware.
• Only use wood, plastic or rubber utensils when cooking. Metal will scratch the enamel surface.
• For efficient cooking, use a burner that is similar in size to the cookware being used.
• Kobenstyle items with wooden handles are not oven safe and care should be used when cooking on the stovetop that the wood handle is not placed over the burner or come in contact with a flame.
• Kobenstyle is not oven to freezer to table safe.

Cleaning:

• Kobenstyle cookware is not dishwasher safe.
• After the cookware has cooled use warm or hot soapy water to wash the surface. Rinse with warm water and dry thoroughly with a soft absorbent cloth.
• Never use steel wool, scouring pads, oven cleaner or abrasive cleaners to clean the cookware. This will damage the enamel surface. If food becomes stuck, fill pot with hot soapy water for an hour. Then use warm or hot soapy water to clean, rinse and then thoroughly dry.
• Never place in cold water when the cookware is hot or pour hot water into the cookware when cold. The rapid expansion or contraction could damage the enamel.
• If the enamel does get discolored, use household vinegar in warm water to clean (one teaspoon of vinegar to one pint of water). Soak for 1 to 2 hours, then clean normally with warm soapy water, rinse and then dry thoroughly.

posted by MiraK at 12:50 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

My grandfather used to keep his Martin's pretzels in his Kobenstyle out on the countertop. Good for snack dispensing imo.
posted by rdnnyc at 12:55 PM on April 22, 2022 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Risotto. Chilli. Pasta. Soup. Pasta e fagioli, which is kind of midway between pasta and soup. Stew or pot roast. Corned beef and cabbage. Etc, etc.

Could you use a regular stainless steel type pot for most of these things? Sure. But you could also use this, and then when you serve you can just put the pot on the table (on top of its lid). Seems like a very versatile piece of cookware.
posted by Athanassiel at 1:51 PM on April 22, 2022

I have two and I often use them instead of my enameled cast iron dutch oven because they are so much lighter and it makes moving them into/out of the oven easier. I've not noticed that things burn in them because of the thinner material. Enjoy!
posted by museum nerd at 2:07 PM on April 22, 2022

We have a Le Creuset enameled cast iron pot. A dutch oven, if you will. A lot of it's use comes from being the largest pot in the kitchen. Put in the oven, it can do anything a slow cooker can do. Our latest new recipe is Chef John's pulled chicken. We have used it on top of the stove for a lentil soup w/ham bone which also cooks for a long time.
posted by SemiSalt at 6:35 PM on April 22, 2022

I just use all of them (I have 4qt vintage and 2qt and 1qt modern) as my sauce pans. I made mashed potatoes in my 4qt this week.
posted by magnetsphere at 3:16 PM on April 24, 2022