I've been haunting the discount cookware sites looking for Le Creuset pieces that won't put me in the poorhouse. I found two pieces that are similar size and price - one is a French oven and the other is a Dutch oven. There's nothing in the descriptions of them that tell me what the difference is between the two. Can anyone clarify?
Edited to add specific pieces
Ok, so the "Smart XXX Alec" in me wanted to start out by saying: "The French oven is more arrogant and less useful." But I refrained until I learned I was right.
Looking at these two similar products Dutch Oven vs. French Oven I notice that there is not much difference except that the "French Oven" is 4 times the price & only good to 350 degrees in the oven where the Dutch Oven is rated for 400 degrees (F).
So I think I have to stand by my original thought.
I've Gooooogled it and found there is no difference. According to these opinions the cookware is the same. The name 'dutch oven' is because of the dutch cookware in early US history. The French just named it French oven for marketing purposes.
This is confirmed by the Wikipedia.
It is really just marketing by Le Creuset and Le Chasseur (who has been known to do it also) - they're just trying to capitalize on the positive association between 'French' and 'cookery'.
There is no difference in the actual product (in terms of the name, I don't know about the particular pieces you're looking at).
I think the French oven might be enamel coated, while the Dutch oven isn't.
