One of Our Favorite Brands Just Launched a New Dutch Oven — And It’s Ridiculously Amazing
A Dutch oven is a kitchen staple — and, I’d argue, one of the only pieces of cookware you truly need. Typically made from enameled cast iron, a Dutch oven can sear, simmer, boil, braise, deep-fry, and bake (it can handle all your no-knead bread needs).
But, a great Dutch oven can be expensive — as in, $400. So, when one of Kitchn’s favorite direct-to-consumer brands told me they were coming out with a brand-new, more affordable Dutch oven, I was all ears. And that’s what brings me here today: Because Misen just launched their very first Dutch oven.
Misen’s Dutch oven made its debut on Kickstarter last year, garnering nearly 37,000 backers that pledged more than $4 million to bring the pan to life. Here’s why Misen made their own version of the cookware classic, according to their website: “Dutch ovens are a long-time favorite for home cooks. They’re incredibly versatile, and a great one will last a lifetime. But a quality dutch oven is prohibitively expensive, and the budget options cracked easily (making the piece useless). So we found the best materials possible, made a few thoughtful design updates, and made our own — for an affordable price.”
I got to test one out and, let me tell you, Misen’s Dutch Oven lives up to the hype. The 7-quart pot has four layers of enamel (for added durability) and wide handles that make it easy to pick up, even with oven mitts on. I made a batch of meatballs and was thrilled to find that the pan’s wide cooking surface easily accommodated an entire batch of generously sized meatballs and browned them deeply and evenly. I was very impressed.
But! I haven’t mentioned one of the best parts about Misen’s Dutch oven: You can buy it with either a traditional lid or a grill pan lid. The grill pan lid can act has a standard lid when braising, simmering, or boiling, but is also (you guessed it) a grill pan for all of your indoor grilling needs. You could, for example, use it to make burgers, cook salmon, or grill up one heck of a grilled cheese.
No matter what lid you choose, both versions of the Dutch oven also come with a bonus silicone lid. The silicone lid creates an airtight seal and is helpful if you’re using the Dutch oven base and the grill pan lid at the same time or need a lid to keep things warm when serving. Either trio costs $165.
You can get a black, red, or blue Misen Dutch oven starting today on the company’s site! The grey and green options will be available later this summer, a company representative told me.
Do you have a question about Misen’s Dutch oven? Leave it in the comments!