I Finally Tried Martha Stewart’s $80 Dutch Oven — And I’m Mad I Didn’t Get One Earlier

An enameled cast iron Dutch oven performs like a workhorse, while also having the eye-popping visual appeal of a fancy pair of shoes. A Dutch oven is like the most practical piece of cookware, plus the prettiest kitchen accessory — rolled into one. It can even make boiling water feel festive. Who wouldn’t want one? If it wasn’t for the triple-digit price tag, I’d have one in every color of the rainbow.

And there’s the rub: Enameled cast iron Dutch ovens, as practical as they are, are almost impractically expensive, making them out of reach for many cooks on a budget. Yes, they’re so versatile, long-lasting, and delightful to cook with that they’re worth the investment, but dang — a few hundred bucks for a pot can be a tough pill to swallow. 

That’s why I’ve fallen head-over-heels for the Martha Stewart enameled cast iron Dutch oven sold at Macy’s. Although the regular retail price is a cool $200, it’s often on sale for $79. Spending less than $100 for an enameled cast iron Dutch oven is a serious bargain! 

Although they retail for less, these Dutch ovens are the real deal. The 6-quart version is deep and capacious, able to accommodate huge batches of chili and a 4-pound pot roast, plus all the potatoes and carrots with ease. It’s now my go-to for roasting a whole chicken the French way (lid on for an hour for super moist and tender meat, then lid off for 15 minutes to brown the skin). 

It has a white enameled interior just like the ones from Le Creuset, Kana, and Italic, which makes it easy to see how veggies are browning. It’s really sturdy and heavy, too — 13.9 pounds with the lid on, which is about as heavy as Staub. 

The lid fits good and tight, with concentric circles on the underside to help condensation drip down to the center of the food during cooking. The metal knob is safe in the oven up to 500 degrees, so I have no qualms going from stove to oven.

I think what I like most is the pot’s pretty paint job. Not only do I love looking at it while I cook, but it also makes whatever I’m serving seem even more special when I bring it directly to the table. It comes in nine stylish colors, like classy white with a gold knob and ombré sunny lemon yellow and sky blue. I opted for “cherry,” which is the most gorgeous red I’ve ever seen on a Dutch oven. It’s a deep crimson red, like the sexiest lipstick or nail polish, with a slight ombré for added interest. 

Recently these pots (in all sizes), were on sale again, and I’m having a very hard time not ordering another. Maybe an 8-quart for $103 or a little 2-quart for just $39. At those prices, owning a rainbow of Dutch ovens might actually be possible. 

Do you have a Dutch oven you love? Tell us about it in the comments below.