The 7 Best Dutch Ovens of 2024, Tested & Reviewed

We've narrowed down the competition using Lahey's expertise and data from our extensive lab tests to compile this list of the best Dutch ovens to add to your cookware collection.

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We also enlisted the expertise of Jim Lahey, James Beard-winning baker and bread cookbook author. Lahey introduced the no-knead bread method, which took the world by storm after being published by the New York Times in . Lahey admits he&#;s always been drawn to Dutch ovens. He has an extensive collection and helpful insights on what to look for.

Hardworking Dutch ovens can do anything from slow-cooking pork shoulder , braising short ribs , simmering tomato sauce , baking a loaf of no-knead bread , or even handling stir-fries if you don't have a trusty wok . We tested 24 models from big brands such as Le Creuset, Staub, and Lodge to find the best Dutch ovens. Not all Dutch ovens are created equal, and there are certain things you might not realize you need to consider.

Best Overall Dutch Oven

Staub Round Cocotte

PHOTO: Amazon

$419 at Amazon

$130 at Williams Sonoma

$400 at Nordstrom

Pros

• The performance and durability met the high expectations of the price point of this classic Dutch oven brand.

Cons

• We found slight sticking on a couple of chicken pieces, but everything could be lifted with a little extra force.
  

Staub's Cast Iron 5.5-Quart Round Cocotte won overall for many reasons. It performed well in our tests, perfectly getting deep brown caramelization on the chicken with a solid crisp and cooked rice. We found it easy to use and large enough to handle any task that requires a Dutch oven. We also found that given what buyers get in return, the price of the Staub is fair.

"I love Staub because of the manufacturing and quality," says Lahey. "They're built like a tank." The brand&#;s pieces are so well constructed that we barely saw a scratch on the exterior glaze from the durability test. An editor favorite among the staff, the Staub Cocotte features a dark interior, which we've found hides stains and discoloring from searing and long cooks that naturally appear using over time. Overall, it&#;s a superior product to its competitors in every way.

Heat capacity: 900&#; | Material: Cast iron | Weight: 12.9 pounds | Dimensions: 12.87 x 6.57 inches

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Best Value Dutch Oven

Cuisinart Covered Casserole Dish

PHOTO: Amazon

$100

$94 at Amazon

$100 at Target

$57 at Wayfair

Pros

• It feels like a much more expensive product until you see the price. 

Cons

• The coating did chip slightly during our durability tests. 

The Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron 5-Quart Round Covered Casserole wins for the best value at $99. We expected the price point to be higher after blind tests, given the quality of its construction, which makes sense given Cuisinart&#;s popularity amongst chefs and home cooks. There was only slight chipping during durability tests, and it cooked rice brilliantly. It is well constructed, built to last, and beautiful, making it an excellent choice for a gift or starter kitchen.

Heat capacity: 550&#; | Material: Cast iron exterior with enamel interior | Weight: 8 pounds | Dimensions: 11.6 x 6.22 inches

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Best Splurge Dutch Oven

Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Round Dutch Oven

PHOTO: Amazon

$460

$430 at Amazon

$260 at Williams Sonoma

$460 at Nordstrom

Pros

• We find Le Creuset worth the cost for its heirloom quality and how well it performs.

Cons

• Our durability tests exposed some cast iron under the enameled surface. 

The Le Creuset 7.25-quart round Dutch oven is a classic valued worldwide. Le Creuset is an aspirational brand for home cooking due to its heirloom quality and an endless variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. While you can find more affordable Dutch ovens, we highly recommend the Le Creuset. If we could only recommend one piece of cookware to someone serious about cooking, it would be this Dutch oven. Several editors have cooked with ours for years, and we stand by its durability and versatility. We love how easy it is to clean and that it is dishwasher-safe. There's a reason it's one of those classic French kitchen items.

 "Initially, I was worried the 7.25-quart size might be too big for everyday cooking, but compared to my other 5.5-quart Dutch oven, it provides a lot more surface area for browning," says Senior Editor Danielle St. Pierre. "I also really like the handles. They're slightly larger, rounded, and comfortable to grip. The enameled interior is slick and also very easy to clean. I look forward to testing this with roasts and braises this fall to see how it handles high heat in the oven."

Heat capacity: 500°F | Material: Cast iron | Weight: 13 pounds | Dimensions: 13.5 x 6.3 inches

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Best Dutch Oven for Gifting

Smithey Dutch Oven

PHOTO: Smithey

$225 at Food52

View on Smithey.com

$300 at Crate & Barrel

Pros

• The Smithey is pre-seasoned, easy to clean, and easily manages everything from braises to bread.

Cons

• Its rustic appearance might not be for every kitchen style.

Honoring the best vintage American design, the Smithey Ironware 5.5-quart Dutch oven combines the durability of cast iron cookware with a polished interior surface that only improves with time. Smithey is made in the U.S. and arrives pre-seasoned with pure grape seed oil so you can start cooking immediately.

&#;I&#;ve had the Smithey 5.5-quart and 3.5-quart for a few years now, and I&#;d never buy a different brand,&#; says editorial director Megan Soll. &#;I&#;ve made incredible dishes with the 5.5-quart, and cleanup is a breeze. I also love the rustic look of the cookware.&#; When hitting the Smithey with a metal spoon, no scratch appeared. It gets a great sear on chicken thighs and has consistent heat throughout the cooking surface.

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Jason Horn, Senior Writer, who has also been long-term testing the Smithey in his home kitchen, agrees: The Smithey has and continues to work wonderfully. My complaint, if any, is that it&#;s very heavy, but any cast iron pot of that size will be. The surface is smoother than the Lodge skillet I have, which is helpful for cleaning and maintaining the seasoning evenly."

The brand also offers engravings for all its cast iron products, making it a special gift for serious cooks.

Heat capacity: 986&#; | Material: Enameled cast iron | Weight: 14 pounds | Dimensions: 13.25 x 4.5 inches

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Best Cast Iron Dutch Oven

Lodge Dutch Oven

PHOTO: Amazon

$65 at Amazon

$70 at Williams Sonoma

$65 at Walmart

Pros

• There is plenty of cooking surface area to brown three to four chicken thighs. 

Cons

• The inside bottom lost a bit of the seasoning during our tests.

Lodge's 7-quart cast iron Dutch oven is amazingly durable. There were no signs of damage from durability tests, and we noted that "Lodge never disappoints." The Dutch oven is beautifully constructed and super sturdy; you can tell it will last several lifetimes. It performed well in cooking rice and chicken thighs. It's an excellent price for something versatile and a good addition to an existing Lodge cast iron skillet collection.

"The only problem I have with Lodge is because it's an unfinished iron, you can have a nice patina of carbon build up on the inside of it, which will flick away. And it can rust if you don't care for it properly," says Lahey. Lodge is a great Dutch oven option if you&#;re happy to care for your cast iron consistently.

Heat capacity: 500&#; | Material: Pre-seasoned cast iron exterior and interior | Weight: 13 pounds | Dimensions: 11.15 x 5.55 inches

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Best Oval-Shaped Dutch Oven

Great Jones The Dutchess

PHOTO: Great Jones

View on Greatjonesgoods.com

$180 at Saks Fifth Avenue

$180 at Urban Outfitters

Pros

• The Dutch oven performed well across all tests and feels much more expensive than its approachable price. 

Cons

• We found they had to increase the heat for an even sear across the surface. 

The Great Jones &#;The Dutchess&#; earned the title of best oval-shaped Dutch oven, but we found much more to love. At $160, this is a great price for a quality cast iron Dutch oven. The Dutchess may have a dainty name, but it is a workhorse that withstood our durability test and made easy work of chicken thighs and cooking rice. During testing, we found it to be heavy and durable, and according to Writer Nick DeSimone, "it feels like it will last forever."

Even though we made a mistake with the temperature during a test, there was no difference in the finished product during our initial tests, making versatility another selling point. Over time, we have noticed that it can heat unevenly, and the handles can be tough to grab with oven mitts on, so a watchful eye and added caution are recommended when handling.

With a 6.75-quart capacity, it's slightly oversized but still manageable to carry from stovetop to table thanks to its oval shape. And speaking of its oval shape and fun colorways, we think this Dutch oven would make a great gift, especially for someone with a fun style.

Heat capacity: 450&#; | Material: Cast iron exterior with enamel interior | Weight: 15 pounds | Dimensions: 15.75 x 6.75 inches

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Best Minimalist Dutch Oven

Milo by Kana Milo by Kana 5.5-Quart Dutch Oven

PHOTO: Amazon

$145 at Amazon

$145 at Food52

View on Kanalifestyle.com

Pros

• It is affordable for those looking for the performance of heritage brands without the high price tag.

Cons

• We wish the handles were wider to make getting the Dutch oven in and out of the oven easier.

The Milo by Kana Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a minimalist beauty offered in sleek white enameled cast iron and other colors such as dusty pink or emerald green. It's affordable, and it also performed across all tests. The chicken thighs browned nicely, achieving good color, and they quickly released. Rice cooked to a perfectly fluffy and evenly soft consistency with no sticking.

There was zero enamel chipping from our durability tests, although we would like to note that some long-term test results have shown very slight chipping and discoloration after six months of use or more.

As a die-hard, traditional cast iron loyalist, I'm surprised at how often I'm willing to pull the Milo out over my Lodge Dutch oven," says Updates Writer Dillon Evans. "I like that the Milo has a relatively light build and slender construction. This is especially enticing on those nights when I don't feel like cooking &#; plus, the enameling is much easier to care for. Albeit screwed into the top, the handle is very sturdy: I haven't had to retighten the screw even after several uses."

And while it's dishwasher-friendly, Evans suggests it's not even needed, simply because it's so easy to clean in the sink: "This pot is basically nonstick and just needs a quick scrub with a sponge and dish detergent. And speaking of nonstick capability, I've seared short ribs, browned ground meat, roasted vegetables, and even cooked biryani in this Dutch oven, and everything lifts from the surface easily. If there's any fond at the bottom, a splash of acid removes it all quickly, too."

Heat capacity: 500&#; | Material: Recycled iron and enamel | Weight: 10.58 pounds | Dimensions: 10.5 x 6 inches

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While cast iron cookware is all the rage, navigating the ever-growing universe of models and brands is downright enraging. Over the years, I have read a TON of reviews on cast iron Dutch ovens. I&#;m taking the time to make my own because they all suck.

Here&#;s why.

Most reviews focus on imperceptible differences in cooking tests but fail to test the variables that set this Dutch oven apart from that other Dutch oven. This is generally because the individuals testing them are chefs and have little, if any, knowledge of the manufacturing processes involved. The other reason? Only a handful of Dutch oven reviewers buy and test the products. Most just read about the products on the internet, which makes for unoriginal opinions. Not to mention the slight possibility that their reviews might be skewed toward one goal: earn affiliate dollars.

In this article, what you'll find is the definitive cheat-sheet, comparison chart and basically everything you need to know to make an informed decision.
Which you should want to, given that the thing will likely outlive you.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website 8 Quart Enamel Dutch Oven.