Can one really have too many pots in the kitchen? Should one only have a 1:1 ratio of pots to burners? Your answer will determine how serious a cook you are! I know personally I  have a different frying pan for the way I want my eggs to come out. Golden and crunchy, pillowy and soft - it's not just how you make it but what you make it in that's essential. I'm not a chef (obviously), so I cannot tell you the science behind why or how things come out in different pots. I just know that they do and how they do lol.

Recently I was very very kindly gifted a Le creuset dutch oven. I always knew I wanted to have one for myself, but it's one of those things that I figured could wait till I had a 'real home'...but boy was I wrong in waiting, this pot is amazing! I have never seen my tofu brown so well and quickly like it does in my dutch oven. My Chilli's taste richer, my curries fuller...I promise you. So this morn I present a round up of dutch ovens from various price points for your consideration*:

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41K3VC70F8L._AA260_.jpg" alt="Lodge dutch oven from Target" width="250/">

<strong>Target - 4qt  Lodge Dutch Oven</strong>
A steal at only <a href="http://www.target.com/Lodge-4-qt-Camp-Dutch-Oven/dp/B0007QVXXA">$39.99</a>. This is cast iron inside and out by the looks of it. It has me sold on those little legs and the reasonable price. Cast iron is quite easy to take care of if you <a href="http://www.kitchenemporium.com/info/castiron.html">season it well. </a>

<img src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/21TVBXhv6CL._SL500_AA175_.jpg" alt="Lodge dutch pot - amazon.com" width="175/">

<strong>Lodge Color Enameled Cast-Iron 6-Quart Dutch Oven</strong>
From Amazon.com this enameled, (inside and out), Lodge pot costs a little more and is a larger than the previous one. I have only seen a few colours for this pot; Carribean Blue, Cafe, Emerald. Currently priced at $58.40 it's not bad. Find it on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Lodge-Enameled-Cast-Iron-6-Quart-Island/dp/B000N501BK?tag=dealnewscom">Amazon.com</a>

<img src="http://images.surlatable.com/surlatable/images/en_US//local/products/detail/501288.jpg" alt="Staub Dutch Oven on SurLaTable" width="250/">

<strong>Staub® Grenadine Round La Cocottes </strong>
Available at <a href="http://www.surlatable.com/product/staub+grenadine+la+cocotte%2C+5+qt..do?keyword=staub&amp;sortby=ourPicks">SurLaTable</a> these beautiful pots are ranged from $99-$260. Nicely enameled and like all dutch pots  built for even heat dispersion, these pots also have tight-fitting lids with spikes inside to ensure continuous self-basting. Made in France.

NOTE: <a href="https://www.onekingslane.com/">One Kings Lane</a> an invite only interior design sample sale site has a Staub sale from today  at 11am til Friday. If you would like membership to One Kings Lane drop me an email at saerjr at gmail dot com with your name and email and I will send you an invite to join.

<img src="http://images.surlatable.com/surlatable/images/en_US//local/products/detail/455865.jpg" alt="Le Creuset on Surlatable" width="250/">

<strong>Le Creuset® Kiwi Round French Ovens</strong>
Le Creuset come in a wide variety of colours and are probably one of the, if not the most popular brand of dutch ovens. I know people who 'collect' Le Creuset pots like some people collect  baseball cards. With fervor and disregard for price - just look on ebay! Having owned and used Le Creuset for years I must say I love the way they cook and cannot fault them (lifetime warranty). Unlike stainless steel pots these and all enameled dutch ovens cannot be put on a flame without having anything in them - but that's not hard to remember. A bit more pricey yes, (from $189-$280 for dutch ovens), but these are the pots you're great grandchildren will be inheriting. Look for them on<a href="http://www.surlatable.com/product/le+creuset+kiwi+round+french+ovens%2C+3.5-qt..do?keyword=le+creuset&amp;sortby=ourPicks"> Surlatable.</a>
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<i>* Sadly I haven't had the chance to use all of these pots (I wish!), so can only show you whats out there and not provide a true 'tried and tested' evaluation of what works best.

images from <a href="http://www.target.com/">target</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">amazon</a> and <a href="http://www.surlatable.com/">surlatable</a></i>