The dutch oven is by far the most used piece that I own in my kitchen. In fact, I don’t know how I managed to survive before I owned one!

Most think of the elegant and expensive Le Crueset when they think of the enameled cast iron pots. However, there are plenty of entry level options! Mine happens to be a Lodge, and it has held up beautifully over the last two years. It’s a luminous blue, and the performance and ease of clean-up has exceeded my expectations.

Let’s talk about the reasons that you should add a Dutch oven to your arsenal of kitchen cookware! First off, dutch ovens brown meat PERFECTLY due to the even distribution of heat. It may take an extra minute or to to “pre-heat” to the right temperature, but the minute you put that chicken thigh down, you will unfailingly get the perfect brown, crisp skin you are looking for in about five minutes. All-clad cookware is great for this as well, but a simple Dutch Oven is going to be your “multi-tool” that is good for oh-so-many things! Once you brown your meat, you can then begin a braise – braising has increased in popularity due to the “one pot” concept, and the phenomenal gourmet results. Just add some braising liquid to the pot (chicken stock, water, wine etc.) and some veggies, and stick it the oven for an hour! You’ll have fall-off-the-bone tender meat, and you can reduce the liquid on the stove for a flavorful & complex sauce to add to polenta or rice.

Here is my favorite dutch oven recipe that I *guarantee* will get you RAVE reviews from your guests from: Spiced Pork with Root Vegetables & Gremolata.

Last but not least, there is a rising trend of making bread from scratch and using your dutch oven to bake it. The famous concept of “no knead bread” by the Sullivan Street Bakery is so simple, anyone (even kids!) can make it. The recipe was first published here in the New York Times. For perfectly brown bread, you bake it in the Dutch Oven for one hour… No need for the pizza peel, the steam bath, or any other special implements!

Now if you still aren’t convinced, check out the BEST SELLING cookbook All About Braising. All you need is a dutch oven and this book to make gourmet meals for your family without complicated ingredients or tons of prep time. With a five star rating and almost 70 reviews, all these cooks have to be on to something!