The Four Percent
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So what’s the difference between a $400 Dutch oven and those you can buy for $50? Although many perform roughly similarly, they can vary in quality of materials, ease of use, heat conduction and longevity. It’s important to find one that warms up fast, browns well and is well-built enough to handle safely and won’t chip with normal use, whether it’s a relatively affordable model or an investment purchase you plan to use for years. The five Dutch ovens below have performed well in tests at Consumer Reports, America’s Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, Serious Eats and more ― as well as in our own kitchens.
(Although experts love 6-to-8-quart Dutch ovens for most things, many home cooks buy them in the 5-to-6-quart size, so we’ve priced the five brands below in that range. But keep in mind that if you have enough space on your stovetop and oven to accommodate them, you can often find larger-sized Dutch ovens for less. Here’s how to choose the right size for you.)
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Le Creuset Signature Round Dutch Oven (5.5 quarts)
Oven safe to: 500 degrees
Care: Dishwasher safe, hand wash recommended
Colors: At least 20
What’s good: Le Creuset tops tests by Consumer Reports, America’s Test Kitchen, Wirecutter, and others, proving that although these Dutch ovens have become something of a fancy status symbol, they also just plain work the best (and they’ll do so for generations). Produced in the same French factory since 1925, these heat quickly, brown foods really well, clean up easily and offer big, easy-to-grip handles on a relatively light body. Users also say they like the fact that interior enamel is light-colored, so you can well see what’s going on with your sears. There’s also the fact that Le Creuset offers a limited lifetime warranty and will send you a new one if yours is damaged during normal use. That they come in amazing colors and frequent special editions and collectibles is a bonus.
Get it from Le Creuset ($370), Amazon ($296-$369.95), Bed Bath & Beyond ($369.99), Wayfair ($369.95) and more.
Staub Cast Iron Round Cocotte (5.5 quarts)
Oven safe to: 500 degrees with lid, 900 degrees without
Care: Dishwasher safe, hand wash recommended
Colors: At least 10
What’s good: Like Le Creuset, Staub’s Dutch ovens are meant to last for decades — and they cost nearly as much, too, with equally devoted fans. The most notable difference beyond pot and lid shape is that while Le Creuset’s enameled interior is beige, Staub’s is dark. The company says its matte black enamel helps ensure perfect browning, and Consumer Reports notes Staub does perform really well at this (along with excellent heating speed and great bread baking). Each lid has little spikes on the underside designed to re-circulate condensation back onto the food for moister meat and optimal basting (you may want to remove this lid when finishing off soups or stews). In its tests, Serious Eats recommends Staub alongside Le Creuset as the top options among heritage brands, noting Staub’s bottom surface area is just a bit larger. The company’s glossy finishes, which contain mineral pigments and glass powder, are especially beautiful.
Get it from Amazon for $282.25+, from Staub for $349.99+, from Williams Sonoma for $349.95+ or from Target for $349.95.
Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven (6 quarts)
Oven safe to: 500 degrees
Care: Hand wash only
Colors: 26
What’s good: Testers at Wirecutter recommend both the Lodge and Le Creuset, noting that the Lodge has a wider base and shorter sides than some other Dutch ovens. This allows steam to escape more easily, they said, producing a better sear and more concentrated flavors. (That the Lodge is relatively affordable helped their decision a lot, too.) Consumer Reports was especially impressed by how easy it is to clean the Lodge oven and how well it baked crusty bread, giving it the second-highest score of brands they tested, just behind Le Creuset.
Get it from Amazon for $62.17-$80, from Walmart for $79.90, or from Target for $79.99.
Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron Round Covered Casserole (5 quarts)
Oven safe to: 500 degrees
Care: Dishwasher safe
Colors: Red and blue
What’s good: Cook’s Illustrated named the Cuisinart a “best buy” among medium-sized Dutch ovens, alongside its top pick — you guessed it — Le Creuset. Cooking in both was equally good, reviewers said, noting the Cuisinart has a slightly smaller capacity than its fancier French cousin — though Serious Eats pointed out it still has a wider bottom surface area. For the price, though? It’s tough to beat. Serious Eats named it a top budget pick alongside Martha Stewart.
Get it from Amazon for $99.95 or from Target for $99.99.
Martha Stewart Collection Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven (6 quarts)
Oven safe to: 500 degrees
Care: Hand wash only
Colors: 7
What’s good: Martha’s Dutch ovens closely resemble those from the more expensive heritage brands, with their Staub-like straight sides, shiny ombre finishes and a light interior like Le Creuset. The lid features interior concentric “condensation rings” intended to better circulate moisture, and Serious Eats, which named this a pick for best budget Dutch oven, was a fan of this pot’s ample bottom surface area for browning. (We’ve had these in our own kitchen for several years and haven’t experienced any chipping, staining or other issues.)
Get it from Macy’s for $84.99.
Now that you’ve picked out a great Dutch oven, check out these recipes you can make in your new pot.
And if you want to take the next step or add to your enameled cast iron arsenal, the products below will help you master or expand your Dutch oven game, from adding grilling capabilities to nailing specialty foods and seasonal style to matching your personal aesthetic or keeping your pots looking good.
A highly versatile 2-in-1 grill pan and cocotte
Get it from Food52 for $199+ (comes in four colors).
A speckled Dutch oven that’s the perfect size for smaller meals
Get it from Macy’s in blue, red or black for $47.99.
An enameled cast iron cleaning kit
Get it from Amazon for $21.76.
An extra-wide Le Creuset Dutch oven
Get it from Amazon for $379.95.
An immersion blender for soups and sauces
An oval or coq au vin Dutch oven
An extremely stylish Dutch oven for when looks matter, too
An enameled cast iron skillet, your new best friend
A sous vide machine to make your Dutch oven even MORE versatile
Get it from Amazon for $119.
An affordable Dutch oven in chic gold and black
Get it from Walmart for $62.03 (also available in blue, gray, sage and white).
Souper cubes for freezing soup
Get it from Amazon for $19.95.
A pumpkin-shaped Dutch Oven that’s perfect for fall
A Dutch oven made for the holidays
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