The best Dutch ovens

The Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Deep Camp Dutch Oven makes it so you don't have to sacrifice delicious, flavorful cuisine in order to rough it in nature.

The Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Deep Camp Dutch Oven features a cast iron body and lid seasoned with soy-based vegetable oil for a nonstick finish. The 8-quart pot weighs 20 pounds and is 12 inches in diameter and 5.5 inches deep, which allows plenty of room for a large meal.

The lid inverts for use as a griddle and is flanged to hold hot coals. There are three legs on the base of the Dutch oven for added stability when placing it in a campfire. It's the ultimate Dutch oven for people who love to cook a good meal over an open fire.

It has a smart design, and the loop handle makes it easy to hang the pot up when you're done. Lodge says that the cast iron will offer a lifetime of durability, and many people say they've had their Lodge cast iron gear for decades.

Amazing Outdoor Adventures considers the Lodge Seasoned Cast Iron Deep Camp Dutch Oven to be the best cast iron Dutch oven for camping due to its long history of being made in the United States and the ability of the lid to double as a griddle. The Spruce and Cook Logic also recommend this Dutch oven.

Online reviewers were impressed with how easy it is to clean (as long as you clean the pot immediately after using it) and how helpful the included recipes are. One buyer recommended getting lint-free towels for drying and re-oiling, a charcoal starter, and a lid lifter to avoid burned fingers.

Pros: Can place coals on top for even heating, the lid doubles as a skillet

Cons: Impractical for oven and stovetop uses, too heavy for backpacking

If you rely on stews to warm up during cold weather, then the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Enameled Cast Iron Casserole may be the best Dutch oven for you.

The Cuisinart Chef's Classic Dutch Oven is made of heat-retaining and evenly distributing cast iron and covered with porcelain enamel on both the interior and exterior. The Cast-Iron Round Covered Casserole comes in a variety of styles, including 7-quart cardinal red, 5.5-quart oval Provencal blue, 5.5-quart oval cardinal red, and 3-quart cardinal red.

It is broiler, oven, and stovetop (including induction) safe. It's even dishwasher safe, though we don't recommend it. A good hand washing is always preferable and will help your pot last longer. This Dutch oven is well-loved because it is solidly built, easy to use, and makes excellent stews.

Expert reviewers highly recommend the Cuisinart Chef's Classic Covered Casserole. The Wirecutter said it produced the best stew of all the pots tested, but the testers found it somewhat unwieldy with its heavy weight and small handles. Good Housekeeping also took this Dutch oven for a test drive and gave it four out of five stars for its strong performance.

Some buyer reviews complain about the durability of this unit. One reviewer posted images of the interior enamel starting to chip after two years of use and said that Cuisinart would not honor the lifetime warranty.

Pros: Excellent for making stew, attractive design

Cons: Prone to chipping and durability issues, questionable customer support

The Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is ideal for home chefs on a tight budget who want a Dutch oven with a strong track record.

The French have the high-end Le Creuset, and America has the budget-friendly Lodge Dutch oven. In its South Pittsburg, Tennessee foundry, the Lodge family has been casting iron cookware since 1896, making it the oldest family-owned cookware foundry in the country. Despite this rich history, the Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is actually made in a foundry in China along with all of Lodge's enameled cast iron products (the seasoned cast iron Dutch ovens and pans are still manufactured in the US).

The Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven comes in six different sizes, ranging from 1.5 quarts to 7.5 quarts. You can choose from 10 colors, including red, Caribbean blue, and purple. Each is designed to withstand oven temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Lodge states that the Dutch oven is dishwasher safe, but the company recommends hand washing with warm soapy water after the cookware has cooled. Lodge offers a lifetime limited warranty on this Dutch oven.

Expert reviewers consistently rate the Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven very highly. In The Wirecutter's testing, reviewers found it rivals Dutch ovens that cost four times as much and that it "aced every test" they put it through. The Lodge Enameled was runner-up in Epicurious' tests, too.

Yet, if you look at buyer reviews, there are considerable complaints about the enamel chipping in transit. Most of these complaints are from buyers whose Dutch oven arrived in its original packaging.

Pros: Inexpensive, terrific for searing meats, large handles

Cons: Several complaints about the pot arriving chipped

The best electric kettles

Electric kettles boil water faster than a watched pot on your stove, and the best ones even offer adjustable temperature settings to ensure that the water is just right for your delicate tea leaves. Here are the best electric kettles you can buy:

• Best electric kettle overall: Krups Savoy Adjustable Temperature Kettle
• Second-best electric kettle: Cuisinart PerfecTemp Electric Kettle
• Best high-end electric kettle: Smeg '50s Retro-Style Electric Kettle
• Best cheap electric kettle: Secura Stainless Steel Double Wall Electric Kettle
• Best ceramic electric kettle: BELLA Electric Ceramic Tea Kettle
• Best giant electric kettle: 4-Liter Zojirushi Electric Kettle

The best cookie cutters

A great set of cookie cutters makes those delicious holiday treats even more of a pleasure to make and share. These are the best cookie cutters you can buy:

• Best overall: Ann Clark Cookie Cutter Set
• Best on a budget: Winblo 40-Piece Cookie Cutter Set
• Best for Chanukah: Rite Lite LTD Metal Chanukah Cookie Cutters
• Best 3D cutters: 3D Christmas Cookie Cutters Set
• Best indestructible set: Ateco Cookie Cutter Set in Various Shapes
• Best for kids: Wilton 101-Piece Cookie Cutter Set

The best loaf pans

High-quality loaf pans cook your baked goods evenly, release them with little fuss, and are made of heavy-duty materials. These are the best loaf pans you can buy:

• Best loaf pan overall: Wilton Recipe Right Bread Loaf Baking Pan
• Best aluminized steel loaf pan: USA Pan Bakeware Aluminized Steel Loaf Pan
• Best glass loaf pan: Pyrex 1.5-Quart Clear Basics Glass Loaf Pan
• Best loaf pan with handles: Farberware Nonstick Bakeware Loaf Pan
• Best meatloaf pan: Chicago Metallic Non-Stick 2-Piece Meatloaf Set