My Le Creuset dutch ovens is the swiss-army-knife of my kitchen. I love to use mine for baking bread, making large batches of sauces and stir-fries, and making soups. These dutch-ovens can handle the hottest situations your oven can create, and are excellent at retaining heat. Their glossy enameled finish makes clean-up a breeze, and they come in just about any color you could think of. While their price points can be high, they are widely heralded as a 'buy it for life' brand, which makes them a great investment considering the decades it will spend as a work-horse in your kitchen.