There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.
On Trial: Great Jones The Dutchess
The Tester: Jennifer Hussein, a beauty editor who can’t cook to save her life
The Brief: As stated above, I have neither the want nor need to cook. I didn't learn how to properly fry an egg until college, my current shipment of Hello Fresh has been collecting dust in my fridge, and I solely work to pay for my expensive Uber Eats addiction. While everyone was baking sourdough bread in the beginning of quarantine, I was napping until someone brought the bread to me.
But like most millennials that grew up in the Instagram age, I can't say no to a good kitchen aesthetic — because why buy plain pots and pans when you can have cheeky pastel ones? This is honestly what got me about a now-cherished item in my kitchen, Great Jones' The Dutchess Dutch oven. Coming in a gorgeous, technicolor array and in a textured matte textured finish, I knew this Dutch oven was the push I needed to kick off my own Betty Crocker moments at home, even if my current stash of kitchen gadgets sit untouched in my cabinets.
Even though I'm new to the cooking world, kitchen veterans can also appreciate this Dutch oven. Yes, it is absolutely gorgeous, but The Dutchess isn't just for show: This ultra wide pot has an oval shape and holds nearly 7 quarts so you can create an ample supply of your favorite meals in one pot, making it perfect for holiday gatherings (when possible) and meal-prep aficionados. Plus, this cast-iron Dutch oven has a gray enamel coating so you don't have to worry about building a seasoning on it like other cast-iron kitchen goods (it also makes cleaning a breeze). For my fellow veggie-obsessives, it also doubles as a roasting pan. Considering the fact that smaller Dutch ovens can cost upwards of $200, this enormous $155 pick is a true bang for your buck.
Two things I do want to highlight about The Dutchess: Although it is large, it fits perfectly in the cabinets of my teeny New York City apartment. But it is a bit heavy (about 15 pounds), which isn't uncommon for Dutch ovens. So if you're not into forced exercise, you may want to opt for a lighter option.
As weak as my arms may be, I was still intent on dipping my toes into the world of cooking that doesn't require a microwave. So, I finally got my hands on an Early Grey-hued Dutchess. But to be honest, I was pretty intimidated by it and we had a stare-down for the first few weeks. I mean, what does one do with a Dutch oven when they don't even know how to properly cook?
Well, to answer that question, there's a lot you can do with this. As my first-ever Dutch oven meal, I decided to go an easy recipe route and recreate this veggie jambalaya from Taste of Home, and The Dutchess was there with me every step of the way. It was a bit big to put on my stovetop, but not to the point where it wasn't heating up. And speaking of heating up, this Dutch oven heats up pretty quickly and evenly, which is a major plus if you want to avoid an unevenly cooked meal. The enamel glaze let me see how my ingredients were browning (which is oddly satisfying to watch, by the way) without having to scrape off any stuck on bits of food. And once it was time to cook the rice, the hefty lid kept an air-tight seal that left my rice at the perfect temperature and texture when it was time to eat.
I got a five-star rating from my roommate for that jambalaya, and that's all I needed to up my kitchen ego and get to whipping out The Dutchess again for more meals.
Closing Argument: Oh yeah, Great Jones's The Dutchess is totally worth every penny if you're looking to up your cooking game. It's easy to use, even easier to clean, and seriously transforms your kitchen into a House Beautiful cover star. What else could you ask for?
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