I tested this Dutch oven out by making a small batch of soup and this was perfect. The instructions were extremely helpful and I hung onto them because it has good information regarding cleaning, and utensils you can use. It heated up quickly and evenly. It is a sturdy piece and held up well after being used, cleaned, hand dried, and then left to air dry. I absolutely love the ribbed design! It's wonderful to cook with and also a great decorative piece for my stovetop. It can be used for so many different dishes, and I can't wait to use it for bread next!