Difference between Staub cocotte/ coq au vin/ french oven

I have been looking into expanding my Staub collection, and wondering if anyone can explain the fundamental difference between the french oven, coq au vin and cocotte specifically in the Staub line. I understand french ovens are a type of dutch oven etc in general. Really only interested in the difference as it applies to this brand. Thank you all for your wisdom!

NLerner
  • Posted by: NLerner
  • January 14, 2019
  • 19444 views
  • 4 Comments

4 Comments

Amy
Amy January 15, 2019
Oh, I think you might be referring to the "essential French oven." It has a rounded base, which is great for things like sauces where you want to keep food from getting stuck in the corners. However, I think the largest size they come in is 3.75 quarts. It is currently on sale, so if you're looking at purchasing your first Staub piece, and you're cooking for 4 people or less it's a great option. The cocotte on the other hand has a sharper angle at the base and can be as large as 13 quarts.
 
NLerner
NLerner January 15, 2019
Perfect! Thank you, that's what I needed to know. I actually have a number of Staub pieces, mainly Cocottes. But when I saw the French oven on sale, I couldn't wrap my head around what the difference was. Excellent. Thank you!
 
Amy
Amy January 15, 2019
For the purposes of Staub the cocotte and French oven are exactly the same piece. The naming differences usually vary by retailer rather than any difference in the pan itself. These pieces are round, and as you said, they are essentially Dutch ovens, a thick walled pot with a tight fitting lid made of enamel coated cast iron. The coq au vin is an oval shaped Dutch oven with a rooster knob. Most people prefer the round cocottes because they fit better on most standard burners.
 
NLerner
NLerner January 15, 2019
Thank you Amy for the response. The issue is that the Cocotte and the French oven are used as two separate names on two separate products with Staub. They are clearly different pieces of equipment with very different pricing. Trying to figure out why someone would buy one over the other. Thoughts?
 
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