Le Creuset enamelled cast iron dutch oven, 5.5 qt

What it is good at

• Holding a low simmer for hours without scorching
• Oven bread with the lid on
• Being usable for acidic braises, unlike bare cast iron

Check before you buy

• Capacity against your household: 5.5 qt suits two to four people
• Whether the enamel is on the cooking surface too (lighter interiors show staining)
• Weight when full, especially if you have to lift it to a sink

Who it is not for

Anyone who wants a light pot, or who cooks for one and has little storage.

An enamelled dutch oven is the one piece of cookware that pays for itself in convenience: it browns on the hob, goes in the oven, and comes to the table. The enamel removes the seasoning chore and the reactivity problem at once.

Buy the size you will fill. An oversized pot with a thin layer of food scorches; an undersized one boils over.