The 10 Best Dutch Ovens

Editor's Notes

April 07, 2020:

You'll probably notice that our top three selections all come from the same company, and that's no accident. The Lodge Deep is immensely well-known among campers and particularly Boy Scouts as one of the most versatile outdoor cooking implements around. The Lodge EC6D43, on the other hand, is an excellent choice for indoor cooking thanks to its flat bottom and nonstick enamel coating. In fact, it performs about as well as similar models that are far more expensive. The Lodge Double Dutch is another pre-seasoned that features a lid that doubles as a skillet, so you get two great cast-iron pans that can work together to cook nearly anything on a campfire or in an oven.

Speaking of campfires, the Camp Chef DO-14 is another convenient two-piece option, and unlike the Lodge Double Dutch, it has legs on the top and bottom for easier coal placement outdoors. The King Kooker CI5FGS lacks those legs, its lid isn't just a flat cast-iron pan, it also has a ridged griddle surface on the reverse side. The Stansport 16018 is similar to our top Lodge selection, although its seasoning isn't quite as good, so you'll be best served to add some yourself.

There are also some excellent high-volume models worth checking out for feeding large groups. The Camp Chef Square is another to feature a griddle-marking lid, while the King Kooker 12S is about as big as they come. The Bayou Classic 7475, meanwhile, is shaped perfectly for roasting multiple decent-size birds at once, though you'll need quite a few coals to keep it going -- we recommend charcoal briquettes for their consistency and convenience.

Finally, the Le Creuset Signature LS2501 is about as famous as a cast-iron Dutch oven can be, and although it is quite expensive, some home chefs consider it one of the finest ever made.