Kitchen Shoot Pip London

5. Dutch OvenIf you have the three pots and pans described so far, you could certainly make do without a Dutch oven. But do you want to make do without it? This heavy-duty, typically enameled cast-iron pot is beloved by cooks for good reason: It retains heat extremely well; goes from stovetop to oven to table with ease; and can handle everything from braises, soups and stews to a whole roast chicken or a loaf of bread. A 5½-quart pot is ample for most purposes, although you can certainly go bigger. But be warned: These pots are extremely heavy. I once dropped my just-washed Dutch oven on our glass-top stove, and it cracked the stovetop (with not a mark on the Dutch oven). Unless you inherit one, a Dutch oven is a pretty hefty investment — but its versatility and long life make it worth it.

5. Dutch oven. If you have the three pots and pans described so far, you could certainly make do without a Dutch oven. But do you want to make do without it? This heavy-duty, typically enameled cast-iron pot is beloved by cooks for good reason: It retains heat extremely well; goes from stovetop to oven to table with ease; and can handle everything from braises, soups and stews to a whole roast chicken or a loaf of bread. A 5½-quart pot is ample for most purposes, although you can certainly go bigger. But be warned: These pots are extremely heavy. I once dropped my just-washed Dutch oven on our glass-top stove, and it cracked the stovetop (with not a mark on the Dutch oven). Unless you inherit one, a Dutch oven is a pretty hefty investment — but its versatility and long life make it worth it.