The 6 Best Dutch Ovens of 2023, According to Our Testers

The Bottom Line

Overall, the best Dutch oven is Great Jones’ The Dutchess. In addition to being a beautiful piece of cookware, the Dutch oven cooked everything we tested beautifully and was fairly sizeable, so there was enough room for all of the ingredients. 

Our Testing Process

To find the best Dutch ovens, we put 24 different styles to the test at our testing lab in Birmingham, Alabama. Throughout testing, six testers cooked the same recipe in each oven and used a pre-determined methodology to evaluate each one. Scores were given across three categories: ease of use, durability, and value. To determine each category, each tester cooked chicken and rice, as well as sauteed vegetables, the same way. 

Ease of use was determined based on how evenly testers were able to cook chicken thighs and rice. Testers took into consideration the size of the oven, as well as if there was any sticking while they cooked. 

To score durability, each tester hit the lid of the oven with a metal spoon 25 times, except for the ones with a glass lid. They repeated the same test on the inside of the oven and then recorded whether or not there was any scratching, chips, or dents as a result. 

After testing, each tester took into consideration their experience with the Dutch oven and their price to score the overall value. 

What to Know About Dutch Ovens Before Shopping

Size

As any home cook knows, everything requires adjusting to the number of people you’re cooking for, and that includes Dutch ovens. For a single person or a couple, a 1.5-quart pick is the best option if you’re primarily cooking for yourself and your partner. 

For a family of three or four, a 6-quart oven will churn out weeknight meals but has enough space to feed a couple of guests if needed (it will also fit about a 4-pound chicken). If you’re regularly cooking for potlucks or parties, a 7-quart oven (that will fit a 6-pound chicken)  will likely do the trick. 

Shape

Dutch ovens primarily come in either a round shape or an oval shape. Which one is right for you depends on what you’re planning to cook. The round shape is a better fit for a stovetop burner, while the oval shape is better at accommodating a roast or a bird. 

Material

Dutch ovens come in cast iron, enameled, aluminum, and ceramic varieties. Traditionally, though, they're made with seasoned cast iron. 

Weight

On average, a 6-quart cast iron Dutch oven weighs between 13 to 17 pounds empty. A 6.5-quart aluminum Dutch oven weighs 4 pounds and a 6-quart stainless steel Dutch oven weighs 6.3 pounds. These are all good factors to keep in mind when considering a Dutch oven, specifically if you have mobility issues.

Interior Color

The interior color might not be something you’d considered, but it’s definitely important. 

You're usually going to see either black interiors or a lighter color, like beige. You may want to look at a lighter color interior, as it allows you to see better into the pot while you are cooking. The brighter environment lets you keep an eye on the contents of the deep cooking vessel.

Other Dutch Ovens We Tested

Le Creuset 7.25 Quart Round Dutch Oven

While not one of our top picks, our testers did like cooking with the Le Creuset 7.25 Quart Round Dutch Oven. They found it took a bit of time to heat up, but it retained heat well, and nothing stuck while being cooked in the pot. However, you do have to be careful to not let the pot get too hot, and keep the food moving in the pan as it can burn. This is probably due to the coating, which does prevent sticking. Overall, it’s a very easy piece of cookware to use. 

Emile Henry Sublime Performance Ceramic Dutch Oven

The Emile Henry Sublime Performance Ceramic Dutch Oven had some durability issues our testers couldn’t overlook. After hitting the lid with a spoon to test how it stood up to kitchen wear and tear, the top cracked and completely broke in half. The pot also seemed to carry hot spots around the edge and browned everything cooked very unevenly.

Demeyere Atlantis 9-Quart Stainless Steel Dutch Oven

Our testers found the Demeyere Atlantis 9-Quart Stainless Steel Dutch Oven almost too large, with noticeable hot spots that had discoloration after cooking. The small batch of rice we tried out for testing was cooked unevenly, and the large handles make it easy to get in and out of the oven without issue.

Your Questions, Answered

What is the difference between a cocotte and a Dutch oven?

While you shop, you may come across both Dutch ovens and cocottes. Though they’re similar, there are a few key differences to keep in mind. 

“Cocotte is the ‘French’ Dutch oven that is beautifully covered in all colors of enamel,” says Coté. “A Dutch oven is very similar, but just straight cast iron. One major difference in a Dutch oven is that the cover usually has little spikes underneath it to help all the juices while braising make its way back to the food instead of getting stuck to the underneath of the cover.”

According to Lewis, regardless of which style you choose, you’ll want to ensure that it’s made of oven-proof materials, as well as that it has a tight-fitting lid and a thick bottom that can hold heat evenly without warping. 

Can you use a Dutch oven on a smooth cooktop?

Though some cookware may not be suitable for every cooktop, when it comes to Dutch ovens you won’t have to worry. 

“Generally, they are fine to use on smooth flat top surfaces when you are searing something,” says Lewis.

What can you cook in a Dutch oven?

The best Dutch ovens can be used for simple searing tasks, or more complicated cooking to create rich, layered flavors. The only real limit is how creative and time-consuming you want to get with your cooking.

“They can be used for simple searing on top of the range, but I think the best uses are for braising items,” says Lewis. “You could do a monkfish a lá Basque by searing a monkfish tail then adding white wine, peppers, garlic, red onion, and tomatoes, bring to a simmer on top of the stove then finish in the oven. Or, chicken pot pie where you braise the chicken in the pot, remove it, pick it when it's cooled, thicken the cooking liquid, add the chicken back and top it with pie crust or biscuits to finish in the oven."

“The options are limitless,” says Coté. “However, typically braised items or stews would be best.  At home, we sear a lot of meat in it and then continue to braise it. Short ribs, chop suey, braised lamb, and even an Uzbekistan dish called Plov are at-home staples.”

Who We Are

Tanya Edwards is an award-winning writer and editor with bylines at Better Homes & Gardens and other publications. She was previously the programming director of culinary at Food Network and has been writing and creating instructional content for home cooks for over a decade.

For this story, Tanya worked with the insights provided by the testing team at Better Homes & Gardens. She also spoke with Daniel Coté, executive chef at Pelham House Resort, and Phil Lewis, executive chef at Rochambeau for additional insight.

What Is BHG Recommends?

Next to all of the products on this list, you may have noticed our BHG Recommends seal of approval. Products that earn the seal have been put through rigorous testing to make sure they're worth a spot in your home. We buy most of the products we test ourselves, but occasionally we are provided samples by companies if buying isn't an option. In these cases, we use the same testing criteria we use to test the purchased products. 

Looking for more products that have earned our BHG Recommends seal of approval? Check out our picks for everything from picnic blankets to humidifiers.