My wife insisted on buying this AnolonX Dutch oven. I asked her why it costs that much. However, believe me, it was a great choice buying AnolonX. With Sear technique, the stainless steel mess keeps the oil at the center and under the food. AnolonX works exactly like cast iron but lightweight and easily clean up. No more worried about scratched pots and pans. With AnolonX, we can use metal utensils without worries. AnolonX is build with thick, edge-to-edge, stainless steel base which distributes heat evenly for flavor-making on any cooktop. Most nonstick brands prefer hand wash, but AnolonX is dishwasher safe and oven safe up to 500°F. Thanks to my wife, now I love my AnolonX Dutch oven. If you need a dutch oven that easy to use, and has good quality, AnolonX is your choice. I highly recommend it.