Help With Dutch Oven?

[Waitingindreams]

Last night my boyfriend and I bought a non stick Dutch oven at Stop & Shop. I read the directions and washed it with hot, soapy water and cleaned it before I started to cook. I made homemade black bean soup that's quick and easy, all you need to do is add the ingredients together and heat it up. You do have to bring it to a boil, but you don't leave it boiling for long. 

 

While I was cooking it, I got a whiff of a nasty odor (similar to what a new oven smells like when you use it for the first time) I didn't think much of it...I was hoping the odor wouldn't leech into the soup. It did. We have rinsed and re-washed it multiple times - we've also tried boiling water in it to get rid of the smell. I googled some suggestions online, but I couldn't find any tips for a nonstick Dutch Oven, just cast iron.

 

I'm not sure what to do, should we just return it?

 

[kareng]

I would return it.  Usually a good washing or 2 will take care of the coating or dirt.  Certainly washing and cooking something should have fixed it.

[Waitingindreams]

I was afraid of that. I do hope they take it back...we just bought it yesterday and we have the receipt/packaging for it. The bottom is now slightly scratched...not sure how as we used a sponge to wash it but didn't scrape at it. Ugh. 

 

I'm trying to look for stainless steel pots or possibly glass...but I can't seem to find glass pots anywhere and stainless steel is super expensive. This is ridiculous. I might look into Aluminum as well. We are thinking about looking at Kmart while we're out returning the dutch oven (assuming they take it back - -  )

 

My boyfriend's mother did give him some glass pots, can I use those if I just wash them thoroughly or should they be put through the dishwasher first? All this because I want some soup. They actually might be more like skillets, I'll have to double check. 

[cyclinglady]

I would return it. Get a cast iron, porcelain one. I have a Lodge. They have been making cast iron pans in TN forever! You can find them at Marshall's (or similar store). Can go right into the oven. Cheaper than a Le Creuset Dutch oven. It will last you a lifetime.

[kareng]

I was afraid of that. I do hope they take it back...we just bought it yesterday and we have the receipt/packaging for it. The bottom is now slightly scratched...not sure how as we used a sponge to wash it but didn't scrape at it. Ugh. 

 

I'm trying to look for stainless steel pots or possibly glass...but I can't seem to find glass pots anywhere and stainless steel is super expensive. This is ridiculous. I might look into Aluminum as well. We are thinking about looking at Kmart while we're out returning the dutch oven (assuming they take it back - -  )

 

My boyfriend's mother did give him some glass pots, can I use those if I just wash them thoroughly or should they be put through the dishwasher first? All this because I want some soup. They actually might be more like skillets, I'll have to double check. 

 

 

 I am not sure what you mean by a "glass" pot?  They are glass baking dishes but they will break on the stovetop.

[cyclinglady]

My SIL had a set back in the 90's and they cooked horribly! It may be one reason you do not find them around anymore. But in a pinch, you can use them if they have been passed on to you. Clean them well. Enjoy your soup!

[Waitingindreams]

Kareng, here is what I meant by "glass pots" - I don't know what the brand is or what they are used for specifically, but my bf claims his mother used them on the stove. These look exactly like the ones she gave us:

 

 

 

 

Cyclinglady - Thanks for the tips! We did return it, thankfully they took it back and we got a refund. We grabbed a 14 piece stainless steel set that came with a dutch oven for about $35.00 from Kmart - it will work for now. I tried making the soup again and it was much better, lol. Maybe I will eventually upgrade. I want so many cooking appliances - once I can eat more foods I can't wait to get a quesadilla maker! Lol. 

[cyclinglady]

Ha, Ha! Those were the pots my SIL had.....did I say had?

[GFinDC]

Those look like Corning glass cookware to me.  I have some also but more of a pinkish red color.  They work fine on the stove top.  Fairly easy to clean also, for most things.  I think both Sears and Kmart sell Corningware.  But lots of places sell it.

 

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[Waitingindreams]

Yup! My bf confirmed they were corningware. If they can be cleaned well and used for gluten free cooking, then I will definitely hold on to them. That's a big help. I wasn't really sure. She gave us a bunch of them. I'm still glad I got a cheap Dutch Oven though, one that doesn't make the soup smell/taste awful Yeesh.

[psawyer]

Yup, that's Corning glass cookware as I see it. Good stuff, and if you wash it there will be no worries. Stove top, oven, or microwave--all work with it. Just avoid sudden extreme temperature shifts, like out of the freezer into a preheated oven.

[Waitingindreams]

Thanks everyone! That is a big help. We just put a few in the dishwasher. I can't wait to cook with them! Phew. Definitely a money saver

[kareng]

Ok. I have seen those a few ( or more) years back. Lol. What Peter said about the sudden temperature change. They are glass. Glass isn't porous. They will clean up well And the price is right.

They may heat up a bit faster than regular pans so I would start on lower stovetop temps.

[Waitingindreams]

Great! I just wasn't sure if handwashing them was okay or if they should be put through the dishwasher first. Normally I would just throw them in the dishwasher regardless (which is what we ended up doing) but I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to find something else to cook my soup in, and we try to only run the dishwasher when it gets full, instead of running it a few times a week. 

 

Thanks everyone! I still can't believe that Dutch oven...blech.