What Size Dutch Oven Do You Need? (Size Chart)
A simple Dutch oven size chart by household and by what you cook, including the best size for sourdough bread, a whole chicken and a big batch of chili.
Dutch ovens are sold by volume in quarts, and the range runs from tiny 1-quart pots to huge 13-quart ones. For most households, a 5.5- to 7-quart round Dutch oven is the right first pot. It’s big enough for a family-size stew or a loaf of sourdough, and still small enough to lift when it’s full.
Here’s how to choose if you need something different.
Dutch oven size chart by household
| Household | Recommended size | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 people | 3.5 to 4.5 qt | Small soups, sides, rice, half-batch braises |
| 3 to 4 people | 5.5 to 6 qt | Stews, chili, a whole chicken, most bread recipes |
| 5 to 6 people | 7 to 7.5 qt | Big braises, pot roast, batch cooking |
| Large families, entertaining | 9 qt and up | Big holiday meals, stock, feeding a crowd |
Size chart by what you cook
| Dish | Recommended size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Sourdough bread (one loaf, about 1 kg of dough) | 4.5 to 7 qt round, or an oval bread pan | Room for the loaf to rise without touching the sides |
| Whole chicken (3 to 5 lb) | 5.5 to 7 qt | The bird needs room for the lid to close |
| Pot roast or short ribs | 5.5 to 7 qt | Room to brown meat without crowding |
| Chili or soup for a crowd | 7 qt and up | Liquids need headroom to simmer |
| Deep frying | 5.5 qt and up | Oil should fill no more than about halfway |
| Side dishes, rice, sauces | 2 to 4 qt | Small amounts heat more evenly in a smaller pot |
The best size for sourdough bread
Most home sourdough recipes make one loaf of about 900 grams to 1 kilogram of dough. A round pot of 4.5 to 7 quarts fits that well. Too small, and the loaf presses against the sides and lid. Too big, and the loaf spreads out flat with nothing to hold its shape.
If you bake long, oval loaves (batards), a round pot won’t fit them well. Look at an oval Dutch oven or a bread pan instead. See the best Dutch ovens for sourdough for both.
Round or oval?
Round pots fit a burner evenly, so they brown meat more evenly on the stove. They’re the better all-purpose shape.
Oval pots fit long cuts of meat, whole chickens and batard loaves better, but the ends may heat less evenly on a round burner.
If you’re buying one pot, get round.
Think about weight
Cast iron is heavy. An empty 5.5-quart enameled Dutch oven weighs around 11 to 13 pounds, and a full one can top 20. If lifting is a concern, consider a smaller pot or a lighter model, and always use both handles. Here’s how enameled and bare cast iron compare.
Will it fit your oven?
Measure before you buy, especially for pots of 7 quarts and up. Make sure there’s room for the pot plus its knob between your oven racks.
Still wondering?
What’s the most popular Dutch oven size? About 5.5 to 6 quarts. It’s the size most cooks reach for most often.
Is a 7-quart Dutch oven too big? Not for a family of four or more, or if you like leftovers. For one or two people, it can feel heavy and oversized.
Can I bake bread in a 5.5-quart Dutch oven? Yes. It’s a great size for a standard 1-kilogram sourdough loaf.
How do I know what size my Dutch oven is? Many are marked on the bottom or the lid. If not, fill it with water to just below the rim, one quart at a time.