Upscale: Le Creuset’s Classic Dutch Oven
Le Creuset is the top-of-the-line classic Dutch oven ($350) for a reason: It’s gorgeously constructed with 8 sizes, 13 playful colors and the long-lasting durability you expect from enameled cast iron. Plus, it has a lifetime limited warranty even if you manage to bang it up a bit. Bring these Dutch oven recipes to a potluck to make everyone just a little jealous of your beautiful splurge.
Show-Off: The Pioneer Woman’s Dutch Oven
Who else would we trust to design a floral Dutch oven of our dreams? Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman, has decorated her 5-quart enameled cast iron version ($27) with 5 gorgeous floral patterns. And it’s comes in a smaller, 3-quart version, too. We’d use the larger Dutch oven to make a quick dinner on a busy night and the small one for a baked dessert or dip.
Test Kitchen-Approved: Taste of Home’s Dutch Oven
Yes, we have our very own line of cookware! You can now make your favorite Test Kitchen-approved Dutch oven dinners in Taste of Home’s 5-Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven ($60). The gorgeous green lid is heat resistant to an impressive 550˚F while the body can withstand up to 750˚F. And, signing up for the limited lifetime warranty is easy on Range Kleen’s website.
Lightweight: BK’s Steel Dutch Oven
Believe it or not, a Dutch oven can be under 10 pounds! BK owes the mere 8.2-pound weight of its 5.5-quart The Dutch ($100) to the oven’s pure carbon steel body which heats up quickly and cooks food evenly. The Dutch comes in 4 sizes and 4 shades of ultra-durable and chip-resistant glaze. By the way, this is why splitting the bill is called “going Dutch.”
Feminine: Martha Stewart’s Dutch Oven
This Dutch oven is too cute not to take to every potluck in town. Martha Stewart’s 2-quart version ($119) features adorable heart details on the lid, pretty lilac color and sturdy handles. It has a lifetime warranty, so this pot is a worthy heirloom investment. If the 2-quart is too small for your cooking needs, Martha’s line inlcudes Dutch ovens from 2 to 8-quarts and in 16 colors.
Budget-Friendly: AmazonBasics’s Dutch Oven
Get the most bang for your buck with this 6-quart, better-than-basic Dutch oven ($45). It’s one of the only pots in its price range that’s still made of cast iron, so it will distribute and retain heat as good as higher-priced versions. And it comes in vivid shades of blue or red and is a hefty 13-pounds, so guests would never guess it’s not a splurge. Here’s why we like enameled cast iron so much.
Sleek: Anolon Vesta’s Dutch Oven
The modern cook will appreciate this elegant Dutch oven ($89). Complete with an ergonomic stainless steel handle, stain-resistant matte interior and attractive red or umber enamel, it’s the centerpiece you never knew your dinner table needed. Whether you choose the four-quart, five-quart or seven-quart, this lifetime guaranteed cookware will soon become a staple. Be sure to avoid these common mistakes you might be making with your Dutch oven.
Multipurpose: Taste of Home’s Dutch Oven with Grill Lid
This beautiful sea green enameled Dutch oven with grill lid ($90) is two in one! In addition to the roomy 7-quart oven, the set comes with a pre-seasoned grill pan lid that’s oven-safe up to 400˚F. That means you can use this Dutch oven for everything from braised short ribs to cilantro lime shrimp. Read up on what happened when one of our editors tried this Dutch oven with grill lid out.
Outdoorsy: Lodge’s Dutch Oven
Take the cooking outdoors with this Lodge camp oven ($32). Perfect for cooking stews, casseroles, breakfasts and more, this cast-iron oven comes in six sizes, is pre-seasoned and expertly holds heat over the fire. Bonus: It comes with a lifetime warranty so you can take it on camping trips without having to worry about its durability.
Mini: Staub’s Cocotte Dutch Oven
This adorable, French-made .25-quart cocotte ($85) comes in 8 colors and is among the most versatile items in the kitchen. Perfect for baking single servings of your favorite foods (think macaroni and cheese or a peach cobbler), it allows you to eat what you love without leftovers.