Doufeu
A Kitchen Secret
At first glance, or even at first hearing the name, most will probably shy away a bit from the doufeu. What is it and what does it do? Why will one’s kitchen need it? The doufeu is often referred to as the original dutch oven. Its name literally means “gentle fire”, from the combination of the French words “doux” and “feu”. With such a definition, it should be enough to overcome one’s initial reservations at getting to know this most wonderful of cookware.
A doufeu brings something unique into one’s cooking arsenal, especially one from Le Creuset casserole dishes with its high quality enameled cast iron material. It has a lid that fits tightly over the pot and the lid is designed to be able to hold ice cubes while the food is cooking. Ice cubes? Yes, because as the ice cubes melt from the heat of the cooking pot, it creates condensation. The moisture produced by this is channeled into the pot through special dimples in the lid. The food inside the pot gets basted with the moisture and the result is tender, well-cooked meat that is not dry. Instead, the meat in the pot becomes juicy and acquires a melt-in-your-mouth texture. Even tough meats will succumb to the gentle heat of this cookware.
Dry cooked meats have always been a challenge in many kitchens. Worse is the dry and tough meat resulting from overcooking or applying the wrong level of heat. Sometimes one manages to keep it tender and moist but the flavor would have been all boiled out. A special pot like the doufeu addresses all these and more. It is built for slow cooking. It can easily handle roasts that require quite a bit of time as well as stews that need to simmer for a while. Even at a low setting, it is able to distribute the heat well and evenly so that everything is cooked properly. Give it many types of meats and vegetables and it will give back a hearty satisfying meal.
It can be used on any heat source such as gas stoves, induction stoves and electric stoves. In the olden times it used to be buried in burning coals and liquid added at intervals to keep the food from drying out. Imagine the convenience it has now for modern cooks.
When bought from Le Creuset, it also comes with a lifetime warranty. The same warranty applies even when it is gifted so consider it a double gift! Made of enameled cast iron, it is one of the toughest and best materials for cooking. Like any Le Creuset cookware piece, it comes in a variety of vibrant colors that will be a visually delicious addition in any kitchen.
So once in a while, indulge the family in a well-cooked stew or roast. Surprise friends with delicious mouth-melting meat dishes and make them wonder how you made it so. Serve the dish directly from the brilliantly colored cookware and gain loads of cookery points. Watch them savor each bite and smile to yourself, knowing that the secret is laid out there on the table before their very eyes.