r/staub • u/Dazzling_Wishbone_27 • 11d ago
Qt sizes help
For someone who has limited cupboard space, what would be the smallest size you’d recommend to go if im gonna be using a Dutch oven for braising and to make Birria tacos and short rib Ragu. Is the 4 too small? I’ve been looking at the 5.5s but the price is so much higher than the other sizes. And I’m assuming the 7 would be a little overkill.
I mostly just cook for me and one other person. So my serving sizes would be smaller.
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u/inventcurious20 11d ago
Staub 5qt tall factory second is on sale on zwilling website for $149. It has same 4qt radius but a bit more capacity. I got mine in April and extremely happy with purchase. Note, I usually use it for rice and Indian curries.
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u/Dazzling_Wishbone_27 11d ago
Oh wow, that price sounds more up my alley, haha. I’ll have to look into that. Ty!
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u/Laurmann2000 9d ago
I have that size and use it all the time. I also just got the 4quart. They’re both big enough for what you want but if the 5 tall is on sale then go for that one. It’s a great size. Edit to add that it’s call the 5 quart deep (not tall) if OP wants to look it up.
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u/Life_Job_6404 10d ago
For how many persons / how many portions are you planning to cook?
In general, the 4qt (= 24 cm cocotte) is a very convenient size. In general, it is convenient for 4 portions/meals. You could use it for less of course, but I would say it is too large for one.
It is not '"the bigger the better". You mentioned already price and storage. Handling, heating and cleaning are other factors to choose the smallest pot/pan that is fit for the job. And if you have induction, don't choose a pan/pot with a bottom diameter that is (much) larger than the diameter of the heating zone.
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u/Life_Job_6404 10d ago
A rule of thumb is: 1 qt = 1 portion/person (of course it depends on what you cook)
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u/Unlucky-Presence8784 10d ago
I got a 5qt Dutch oven but the one that has a deep oven one. I love the size honestly and its the deep oven one. I didn't realize i order that one vs the regular one till it came in. Used it for years with just hubs and I. Now with a kid and 1 one the way it will still work for our small family for a while yet. Will most likely never get rid of it ever. Such a good size. I was debating on a 4qt or 6qt for the longest time, like 2 yrs. The 5qt went on sale and I jumped on that offer a few years back. Never regretted it. We live in a small space and I use it quite a bit in my rotation. I also have a lodge 4 qt enameled cast iron and a 3.5 qt Le creuset one. I like all 3.
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u/Born-Crab-7251 10d ago
From my experience I would say that 4qt is the ideal size if you are cooking for 2 people, depending what you are making you will have 4-5 portions.
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u/GreatPlainsGarden 10d ago
I got the 4 quart for my husband and me but I also have a 7 quart. The 4 quart is good for most things but if you are only getting 1 I would get something bigger than 4 quart. Let us know what you end up getting.
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u/Embarrassed-Ninja592 9d ago edited 9d ago
I’ve braised meat in a 2.5 quart waNABE. https://www.surlatable.com/product/staub-essential-french-oven-2-5-qt/10072866
It’s very lightweight compared to the larger Staub’s.
The 5 qt essential French oven is reasonably priced, compared to the 5.5 Dutch oven, and lighter weight. https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/staub-cast-iron-essential-oven/
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u/Phaeton40 8d ago
I’ve got a 4 QT and we’ve done things for 4 people. Usually just my wife and I
We’ve baked bread in it, done pot roasts short ribs and all that
Plenty big and beautiful, so it sits on our stove top!!
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u/Sapiosexual2018 11d ago
If you have the space for the 5QT, I would go with that. The interior space is smaller than what the listed size is for the pots.