This Staub Dutch Oven Makes Everything from Soup to Sourdough — and It’s 75 Percent Off

Over the past few weeks, as I’ve been rotating between making my favorite standby recipes and riffing on ingredients in my pantry and freezer, the one piece of cookware I’ve reached for every day has been my 4-quart Staub cocotte. I received it as a gift for my birthday last year, and (full disclosure) initially thought the size was a bit too small. But it’s proven to be my most-used piece of cookware, and it could become yours too, because right now, Staub’s parent company Zwilling is offering select colors of this cast-iron kitchen essential for just $99 (normally $414) — the lowest price since Black Friday!

I’ve made two loaves of bread in my cocotte, and they’re better than anything I could find at the store (if I could actually find fresh bread anywhere)! Compared to bread I’ve baked in my 6-quart Le Creuset, I’ve noticed that the dough is rising more during its bake in the Staub, and the crust is extra crunchy and evenly toasted. I credit Staub’s tight-fitting lid that traps steam and their heavy construction that maintains an even temperature. My first sourdough starter should be ready any day now, and like many people baking their own bread, I’ll be using my cocotte. 

Besides turning out amazing loaves, my cocotte has other superpowers: I’ve been making weekly batches of perfectly fluffy grains and more soups than I can count. Both my go-to tomato sauce and oven-braised Korean beef recipes are prone to burning due to their sugar content, but I haven’t had this issue once in my Staub cocotte. 

Since the 4-quart size is compact, I’m even able to store cooled-off soups and recipes on a shelf in the fridge without taking up much space. I typically clean my cocotte with warm water and a mild dish soap using a plastic brush, and for anything stubborn, it stands up well to an overnight soak or even a quick simmer with water to loosen up any stuck-on particles. It’s easy to wipe dry, and normally, I just put it right back on my stove top.

Personally, I’m thrilled that I can buy a second Staub for under $100, and may even take the lead from my generous friend and buy one as a gift for someone else. If the past few weeks of constant use is an indication, I know it will be an indispensable tool in my kitchen for years to come!

Buy: Staub Cast Iron 4-Quart Round Cocotte, $99 (normally $414) for Cherry, Turquoise, Black, or White; a Turmeric version is also on sale exclusively at Food52

This post originally appeared on Kitchn. See it here: This Staub Dutch Oven Makes Everything from Soup to Sourdough — and It’s Currently $100