From Braising to Baking, These Dutch Ovens Have Your Back

• The Best Dutch Ovens for Every Kind of Cooking
• The Best Dutch Ovens
• Types of Dutch Ovens
• What to Consider
• How We Selected
• Lodge EC6D32 Dutch Oven, 6 Quart
• Enameled Cast Iron Square Dutch Oven
• 7) Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven
• Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• Le Creuset 7.25-Quart Round Dutch Oven
• Camp Chef Classic 10-In. Dutch Oven
• Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
• Tramontina Gourmet Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven
• Le Crueset Mini Round Cocotte
• Deep-fry, Braise, and Much More with a Dutch Oven. Expert Chef Elizabeth Briskin Tells You Why This is a Kitchen Must-Have!

The Best Dutch Ovens for Every Kind of Cooking

Every kitchen needs a workhorse, and if you’re sick of being the person who does everything, we have found a replacement for you: a seemingly magical pot capable of cooking, braising, roasting, and baking.

The Dutch oven is a deeply under-appreciated cooking tool, especially in small kitchens. A thick-walled metal pot with two handles and a tight-fitting lid, it can stand in for pots and pans as varied as a deep fryer, slow cooker, frying pan, and roaster. It even does nicely as a low-fuss bread maker. The durable pots are generally made with coated or uncoated cast iron, and you can use the thick lids to trap heat and steam ingredients while also helping food cook evenly. You can also cook without a lid for dishes that you want to brown or braise.

The Best Dutch Ovens

Types of Dutch Ovens

The original Dutch oven was the result of an 18th-century pot maker adapting a Dutch sand-casting technique to English iron. But similar robust pots exist in many cultures, including South Africa’s potjie to the Russian chugunok. They all work the same: The thick metal distributes heat evenly throughout the pot and dissipates it slowly — an ideal method for concentrating flavors and turning tough cuts of meat to tender, luscious stews and braises.

The standard form for a dutch over is deep and round with a flat bottom, which allows for frying stew meat and then filling high with stock, vegetables, and sauce. But there are different shapes and features for specific purposes: Shallower models are ideal for when the recipe requires less volume, like braising a roast and casseroles. Big 14-quart behemoths can cook up enough chili for the whole family. A conical lid creates convective air circulation, which helps concentrate flavors in bone broth and chicken stock. And camping Dutch ovens have legs for stability when heating directly in the fire, and a flat or concave lid for holding coals to heat from the top.

What to Consider

Dutch ovens come into their own during long and slow cooking processes usually involved in the making of dishes like casseroles, stews, and roasts, and especially for braising. Enameled cast iron works on gas, conventional electric, and even induction stovetops, and many of these are oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Good ones can cost a bit but consider it an investment. These pots also come in a variety of sizes, suitable for one or two-person meals or gigantic feasts, but all of them should be hand-washed. Treat one of these Dutch ovens with care, and it will last a lifetime.

Dutch ovens can tackle almost every cooking, roasting, and baking task. But there are a number of considerations to keep in mind if you want to find one that will suit you and your family’s needs. The biggest issues are the shape of the oven, how it’s built, and of course, its size:

Shape

The standard form of a Dutch oven is deep and round with a flat bottom, which allows for frying stew meat and then filling high with stock, vegetables, and sauce. But there are different shapes and features for specific purposes. Shallower models are ideal for when the recipe requires less volume, like braising a roast and casseroles. Big 14-quart behemoths can cook up enough chili for the whole family. A conical lid creates convective air circulation, which helps concentrate flavors in bone broth and chicken stock. And camping Dutch ovens have legs for stability when heating directly in the fire, and a flat or concave lid for holding coals to heat from the top.

Material and Finish

The other differentiation among Dutch ovens is construction. The best Dutch ovens are iron with a porcelain enamel finish. To create this coating, manufacturers apply glass particles to the surface of a new cast iron pot, then bake the pot at more than 1,000 degrees to fuse the glass into the surface of the metal. The protective layer keeps the pot from absorbing flavors or stains and makes it easier to clean and maintain.

The quality of the enamel separates budget models from higher-priced ones. Un-enameled aluminum is also sometimes used. This produces a much lighter-weight pot, but one that doesn’t hold heat as well as its iron counterparts (Tip: Reserve it for camping.) And pay attention to the construction of the lid: Although the body of most Dutch ovens can handle high oven heat, not all lids can. Keep that in mind, particularly if bread and broiled meat are on the menu.

Size

There are Dutch ovens that are perfect for one to two people (the smallest in our roundup has a capacity of 8 ounces), as well as others ideal for sprawling feasts (our biggest is 9 quarts). There are also many other options in between that we featured on our list.

How We Selected

Though the general shape of Dutch ovens is largely the same, not all are created equal. To find the best Dutch ovens for various kitchens and cooks, we surveyed products from the top brands on Amazon, Walmart, and Lowe’s. We considered customer ratings and written reviews, product descriptions, and personal experience using the pots. We narrowed down this list, which includes Dutch ovens in a range of sizes, materials, colors, and price points to ensure there’s a pot for every kind of cook.

The Expert: One of our writers, Lizzy Briskin, inherited her first Dutch oven from her grandmother, who received it for her wedding decades before. Years later, the pot remains in excellent shape (not a huge surprise, given her grandmother’s preference for reservations over recipes). Lizzy has always appreciated the pot’s versatility and regularly uses hers for everything from bread to braises. She now has Dutch ovens in several sizes, so she can feed either just two people or a crowd. This is the kind of multiuse piece of cookware that cooks of all skill levels can find a use for, whether you’re cooking on a stovetop, in the oven, or over an open flame.

For more great cooking gear, check out our top picks for outdoor pizza ovens and electric stoves.

Lodge EC6D32 Dutch Oven, 6 Quart

$69.90

This Lodge is Amazon’s number one best-seller, and it’s easy to see why. If you don’t know which Dutch oven to buy, this Lodge is a great wallet-friendly, versatile option. There’s enough volume to cook six to eight portions of soup or stew, enough floor space to brown a round of chicken breasts, and a snug-fitting lid for sucking all the good stuff out of bones.

Rated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it can handle most oven temperatures. The handles are easy to grip, which is key considering its nearly 14-pound weight.

Finally, Lodge is known for making long-lasting enamel, essential for longevity, easy cleaning, and low maintenance.

More: The Best Toaster Ovens Will Transform The Way You Cook

Enameled Cast Iron Square Dutch Oven

$43.99

This multipurpose Dutch oven offers a great alternative to the usual round shapes. The kitchen square pan is perfect for braising, baking, and sautéing, and works equally well inside the oven and out.

The medium 3.8-quart size is a great fit for smaller families, and the secured lid and comfortable grip handles make it easy to maneuver and work with.

It comes in bright red, blue, gray, and black, so you’ll be able to leave it on the stove for display if under-counter storage isn’t an option. Reviewers love the shape, especially for sourdough bread, chicken thighs, and other shallow bakes and braises.

7) Instant Electric Precision Dutch Oven

$229.95

If you’re not quite sold on the Dutch oven’s versatility, this Instant Pot hybrid may be ideal. It offers 5-in-1 functionality, with precision cooking settings that allow you to braise, slow-cook, sear, sauté, and more.

The matching lid and self-braising grid on the underside offer even cooking, and tender results. A silicone protective pad and silicone handle covers are included, which helps protect surfaces and makes serving a cinch. You can also use the Instant Pot app for recipes and inspiration.

Reviewers love the “large capacity,” “versatility,” and “outstanding” overall quality.

Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

$56.68

More than 85% of reviewers on Amazon give this Dutch oven 5 out of 5 stars. The Amazon Basics Dutch oven is a great deal if you plan to stick with traditional low-and-slow stovetop techniques. At 13 pounds, it’s heavy enough to distribute heat away from the base to prevent burning, but it is only rated to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, which is not enough for a lot of high-heat oven work.

The enameled cast iron helps with maintenance and cleanup, but it’s not the highest quality construction as the other ovens here — it will take a little more care to keep it cooking for decades. Nevertheless, reviewers say this oven is “everything I’ve been searching for,” “beautiful,” and “quite simply, perfect.”

Le Creuset 7.25-Quart Round Dutch Oven

$419.95

This Dutch oven is as stylish and impressive as it is great at cooking, braising, and baking. A Dutch oven is one of the most popular wedding registry gifts because it can last a lifetime — and Le Creuset is one of the best names in the niche. They are known for their tough, handsome pots with shock-resistant treatment on the enamel that resists chipping and cracking.

Oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, this Dutch oven is ideal for braising meat, crisping twice-baked pasta, and achieving perfectly crusted bread. More than 92% of reviewers on Amazon give this Dutch oven 5 out of 5 stars, saying it’s “the best on the market,” and “pricey but worth it.”

Camp Chef Classic 10-In. Dutch Oven

$45.21

Camp Chef’s Classic Dutch Oven is purpose-built for camping. The oven sits in or hangs directly over an open campfire and is great for baking cakes, frying crispy chicken wings, stewing chili, searing quesadillas, and more.

The long hanging metal handle, inset thermometer notch, and cast-iron feet make this the ideal companion for an RV or camping trip. The cast iron is pre-seasoned so you can pack less oil, and the lid has a low ridge around the perimeter that allows you to place coals on top and apply heat from all directions, without worrying about embers falling into your dinner. Once home, you can use this Dutch oven in your home oven, too.

Round Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

$42.98

This 3-quart Dutch oven is a great all-purpose pan, especially for small households. (It is also available in 5- and 7-quart sizes, in nine colors). On the stovetop, this smaller model doubles as a 10-inch frying pan or stock pot. The steep sides help keep veggies from flying out even if you’re making a stir fry. Plus, they’re great for safely deep-frying tempura or chicken without a splattery mess.

The pot is broiler-safe and oven-safe to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, and the shiny, colorful porcelain finish acts as a nonstick coating so you can use less oil to sauté and sear. It’s also easier to clean.

The pot still has just enough room to handle a meaty roast, and with less volume to heat up, things cook even faster. More than 87% of reviewers give this Dutch oven 5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with users dubbing it a “keeper” offering “fantastic value for the price.”

Tramontina Gourmet Cast Iron Oval Dutch Oven

$76.81

All the other Dutch ovens here are round, which works great until you have a chicken or leg shank that is anything but. Instead of cutting or cramming in the meat to fit, this oval Dutch oven creates a roomy space for oddly-shaped meat roasts and broils.

The thick, porcelain enamel iron walls allow for consistent browning from end to end, even over a medium-sized burner. For oven finishing, the stainless-steel knob can handle the heat, and ridges on the lid work like self-basters: collecting condensation and directing vapors and drips onto the food for moist, delicious results.

It’s oven-safe to 450 degrees Fahrenheit, so it’ll work for almost all your cooking except high-heat baking or broiling. Reviewers love this “gorgeous” Dutch oven’s “excellent quality,” saying they “highly recommend it” and “would buy it again.”

Le Crueset Mini Round Cocotte

$21.95

It would be hard to find a cuter Dutch oven. This small cocotte (the French term for Dutch oven) by Le Creuset is an adorable dish and the ideal size for serving individual portions. The timeless design features a shiny, cream-enameled interior, a round enamel top knob, and a tight-fitting lid that traps heat and moisture. This Dutch oven is also dishwasher-safe and oven-safe up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

These pretty dishes make a stunning presentation for a molten chocolate cake, and many customers use them to store butter at room temperature or as a covered dish for salt that’s easy to pinch while you cook.

Deep-fry, Braise, and Much More with a Dutch Oven. Expert Chef Elizabeth Briskin Tells You Why This is a Kitchen Must-Have!

PM: What is a Dutch oven good for?

EB: The high sides and tight-fitting lid of a Dutch oven make it the ideal environment to trap heat and moisture for stews and braises. These dishes require a long, slow cook and benefit from the great heat retention of heavy-duty cast iron. Dutch ovens can also be used to bake crusty bread, as the high heat capacity on all sides can shape a loaf and crisp up the exterior. The high sides also hold plenty of liquid, so you can deep-fry and make soups and sauces in your Dutch oven.

PM: Why is it called a Dutch oven?

EB: The name for these hefty pots comes from an Englishman named Abraham Darby, who discovered people cooking with high-sided, lidded “ovens” in the Netherlands. When he introduced the vessel back in England, he named it a Dutch oven.

PM: What size Dutch oven should I get?

EB: The right size for you depends on what you plan to make in your new pot. In general, larger vessels will be more versatile, as you can fit larger cuts of meat and more volume inside. However, if you usually cook for one or two people, a smaller 3-quart pot will be sufficient and easier to store.

Editor’s Note: Freelance writers Ryan Stuart and Kathleen Willcox contributed to this article.