Staub 8 qt. round or 7 qt. oval?

[drb2003]

I have a Staub 5 qt. round cocotte on the way and I'm looking to add to the collection while they still make the pimento red. I'm watching Amazon for sales but which one should I jump on. I'm in a two person household and don't plan on purchasing any more after this piece. Which one would be more practical? Thanks in advance!

[c oliver]

I ordered a 5 qt. Staub and thought I had ordered oval, but got round. Decided to keep it - mainly cause the return shipping would have been huge :) Wish now that I HAD returned it. The ovals definitely hold a roast better. And I think that a 5 qt. is a bit on the small side. Even though only cooking for two frequently, when I use a Dutch oven type pot, I generally want leftovers. I know OP has already purchased but this might help others.

[blondelle]

If you're going with Staub, and want just one oven I think the 6 qt. oval Coq Au Vin is the best choice. It's a great size and does just about everything you need one to do with plenty of leftovers.

[drb2003]

Got the 8 qt. round...thanks for all your help, you really know how to make a gal feel welcome!

[KTinNYC]

I'm sorry you didn't get a response in less than a day but board traffic is very slow on the weekends. Eight qt. is very big and will serve all your needs, from making stock to slow roasting large cuts of meat.

[MikeB3542]

Boy, that 8 quart round is pretty big -- an oval might be a better complement to your 5-quart round. The oval is ideal for roasts which don't fit well in the round ovens -- that 6 quart coq au vin oval with the brass rooster on top catches my eye!

These ovens tend to work best when moderately filled (half to two-thirds full), so no need to overdo it. Remember, bigger means heavier (don't forget that it isn't just the weight of the oven -- an 8-quart oven will easily hold 8-10 pounds of food. Oven+food will approach 30 pounds! Cancel your gym contract!)

Get the 8-quart if you find that you are regularly over-loading the 5-quart. With two, that seems unlikely unless you entertain a lot. The 8-quart is also ideal if you are big into making your own stocks.

You may want to go to W-S or a retailer that handles Staub or LeCreuset. The dimensions and weights are pretty comparable, so you should get a good idea of what you can handle.

[Smachnoho]

"These ovens tend to work best when moderately filled (half to two-thirds full), so no need to overdo it."
Why is that?
I have a smal 2 quart Staub which maybe I fill too much. I am in the market for anothr Staub, maybe 5 quart which I can still lift.
The Staub pot lids are good for arm exercises.

[karmalaw]

I use an 8 quart round Talavera enameled cast iron dutch all the time. I love the size. I think you'll end up getting more use out of it than an oval.