The Best Overall Dutch Oven, According to America's Test Kitchen

The multi-cooker may be the kitchen gadget d'jour, but the Dutch oven is a timeless classic that will never go out of style. It boils, braises, bakes, fries, sears, simmers, and steams with precision. The only trouble is, enameled cast iron can be on the pricey side. That's why we've turned to the experts at America's Test Kitchen, who reviewed 11 different Dutch ovens, to find the best of the bunch. Though price can often be a deterrent for many, ATK argues in the intro of the post, "[Dutch ovens] might just be the busiest pots in our kitchen." If you want to know which bestselling pot is actually worth your hard-earned cash, here is what they deemed the best (and second best, if you are looking for a bargain buy).

Le Creuset 7 ¼ Quart Round Dutch Oven ($384): A Dutch oven is the MVP of a home cook’s kitchen, and this model is the best-performing — and one of the best-looking — available. It’s substantial enough to hold and distribute heat evenly without being unbearably heavy, and the broad cooking surface saves time since you can cook more food at once. It’s expensive, but it’s exceptionally resistant to damage and will last you a lifetime.

Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron Covered Casserole ($76): For a less expensive option, we recommend this as our best buy. It’s shaped very similarly to the Le Creuset, with a broad cooking surface and low, straight sides for maximum efficiency and easy maneuvering. It’s 3 pounds heavier than our winner and has smaller handles, but it costs almost $300 less. Like most of the models in our lineup, both of these pots come with a limited lifetime warranty. But the Le Creuset held up better to the kind of everyday wear and tear not covered by the warranty; the rim and lid of the Cuisinart model chipped cosmetically during our durability tests, while our winner emerged from testing looking as good as new.

RELATED: ATK's Steak Recipe Is So Good, Your Date Will Love You (Even More)

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by other, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.