The Misen Dutch Oven Costs Half as Much as a Le Creuset But Does More in the Kitchen

• Value:19/20
• Functionality:19/20
• Ease of Use:18/20
• Aesthetics:18/20
• Versatility:20/20
• TOTAL:94/100

What is the Misen Dutch oven?

TheMisen Dutch oven是一个7-quart pot with a cast-iron core and four-layerenamel coating. It comes in five classic colors—blue, black, gray, red and green—with the option for a traditional or grill lid (more on that later). It’s compatible with gas, electric and induction stoves and is *technically* dishwasher-safe (although we wouldn’t advise it). In short, it checks all the boxes for your basic Dutch oven. But here’s the kicker: It retails for $165, where most Dutch ovens of a similar capacity will costat least$300.

我们喜欢Misen荷兰烤肉锅

Aesthetically, Misen’s Dutch oven is slightly more minimalistic than our usual pick (aka the belovedLe CreusetandStaub), but it’s just as sleek and cheerful to look at on our stove. Its enameled surface is smooth and wide with plenty of room for searing larger cuts of meat (in our case, an entire brisket), and the handles are roomy enough to grasp with potholders for easy transport from the stovetop to the oven. (Yep, it’s oven-safe up to 500°F.) We found it performed just as well as our pricier Staub pot—it took a few minutes to heat up (itiscast iron, after all) and there were no hot spots.

The biggest difference between Misen’s model and the competitors? Flip over the lid and it doubles as a grill pan. This immediately takes the pot’s versatility to a new level (which is important if it’s the most expensivepiece of cookwarein your kitchen). It’s made from the same materials as the base, so it’s just as oven-safe and stovetop-compatible, and the cast-iron surface is ideal for browning. If we had to choose our favorite feature, this would be it.

A small aside: We didn’t test the pot’s standard lid option, which includes a handle but no grill surface, but wedidtry the brand’suniversal silicone lidinstead. It fits over the Dutch oven (and all our other cookware, for that matter) and cleans up easily, plus it can eliminate the need for plastic wrap if you use it on mixing bowls.

Honestly, we couldn’t find much to dislike about the Misen Dutch oven. Our one gripe is that the color options are a little more “basic box of crayons” than “96 piece set with sharpener included.” We’re suckers for the vibrant iterations of blue and green that other brands, like Le Creuset, put out. But what this Dutch oven offers in return is so much better than color choices. It takes a versatile—but cost-prohibitive—kitchen item and makes it evenmoreuseful at a more inclusive price point, all while retaining quality and durability.

If you already own a 7-quart Dutch oven, you probably don’t need to buy this pot. But if you’re just building out your cookware collection or are in the market, theMisenjust might have your name on it.