Dutch oven

There’s no chili, stews, pasta, or boiled vegetables without a medium to large Dutch oven. Five to six quarts is the average size and will serve you in cooking for a small or large crowd. There are so many varieties, so consider what you might be doing the most. If you’re just boiling pasta, stainless steel will serve you fine. If you stew, make big pots of soup or chili, or make casseroles, consider a porcelain-coated cast iron.