Prices taken at time of publishing.
Another BIFL (Buy It For Life) brand, Staub’s Dutch ovens are known for providing a consistent, precise cooking experience, brilliantly braising and roasting big cuts of meat. (It’s my choice for my annual Hanukkah brisket.) While Staub’s 6.5-quart oval cocotte is on the splurgier side, if you consider the cost per usage over your entire lifetime, it’s actually quite reasonable. And for me, it’s also a bit of a showpiece, meant to be trotted out when there’s an audience around the table to admire it.
Staub’s Dutch oven also boasts lid spikes that facilitate the recirculation of condensation, keeping roasts perfectly moist. The oval shape provides a vast cast-iron cooking surface that’s made for getting a perfect sear, and the dark interior means scratches from use are basically invisible — plus, there’s no need to worry about seasoning the enameled interior.
Pros: Biggest cooking surface and a reliably good sear; dark interior means blemishes are less noticeable.
Cons: The higher price point makes this a bit of a splurge; the large size may be too much for smaller kitchens.